Save Your Balls; Self-Examination For Men

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Save Your Balls; Self-Examination For Men

A key element in maintaining a healthy lifestyle is making sure that every aspect of one’s body is in good physical shape. For a man, one of his most vital organs are the penis and testicles.Monthly checks of the “balls” may help in early detection of testicular cancer; giving a man the upper hand in removal, treatment and possible avoidance of cancer.

Before starting the self-exam course, it is crucial that a man know his own anatomy. Take a moment to peek at the chart below:

Photo courtesy of Summit Medical Group

 

Statistics:

 

 

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for testicular cancer in the United States for 2014 are:

About 8,820 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed.
About 380 men will die of testicular cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for the United States were for 2012:

  • About 8,590 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed.
  • About 360 men will die of testicular cancer.

The rate of testicular cancer has been increasing in the United States and many other countries. The increase is mostly in seminomas. Experts have not been able to find reasons for this increase. Lately, the rate of increase has slowed.

Testicular cancer is not common; a man’s lifetime chance of developing testicular cancer is about 1 in 270. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000.

Photo courtesy of Summit Medical Group

How to do a Self Exam (Video)

 

Who should do testicular exams?

Most doctors agree that checking a man’s testicles should be part of a general physical exam. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related check-up.

The ACS advises men to be aware of testicular cancer and to see a doctor right away if a lump is found. Regular testicular self-exams have not been studied enough to show if they reduce the death rate from this cancer. This is why the ACS does not make recommendations about regular testicular self-exams for all men. Still, some doctors recommend that all men do monthly testicular self-exams after puberty.

Men with risk factors, such as an undescended testicle, previous testicular cancer, or a family member who has had this cancer should seriously think about monthly self-exams. If you have risks, talk it over with a doctor. Each man has to decide for himself whether to examine his testicles each month. Here are instructions on how to do it if you decide it’s right for you.

If you choose to check your testicles, you will learn what is normal for you and be able to tell when something is different. Always report any changes to a doctor right away.

((Originally published Oct. 2012. Updated June 15, 2014))
Resources:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/testicularcancer/detailedguide/testicular-cancer-key-statistics

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