Guys: Check Your Balls!
Many of you know about and might have already joined in this Movember. Growing a moustache in November has become an annual tradition among the men of the world since almost a decade ago to help raise awareness of men’s health issues, especially male cancers. We’ve discussed prostate cancer before and today, we’ll be targeting testicular cancer.
Testicles are a man’s most valuable asset, as they produce the sperm that carry our genetic half when making babies. And it ‘s from those cells that produce sperm that cancer starts and unfortunately affects almost one percent of all men at a younger age than most cancers between the ages of 20 and 40.
Luckily, it has one of the highest cure rates among all cancers, with a fiver year survival rate in excess of 90% and almost 100% if it has not metastasized (spread to other body organs). And even for those cases that have spread, modern chemotherapy offers an 80% cure rate. So it is easily manageable, yet deadly if not diagnosed early and taken care of in its early stages.
Treatment consists primarily of surgery in addition to chemotherapy sessions that vary in count according to the disease staging. Surgery involves removal of the affected testicle (usually only one is affected), which might seem like a harsh procedure, but it doesn’t affect your manhood, ability to have children or even your performance in the future. In addition, implants nowadays are being used to replace the cancerous testicle for aesthetics.
I cannot stress this enough: The key in the treatment process is early diagnosis. It is very easy and free and you can do it yourself on a daily basis as part of your morning ritual: Testicular Self Examination (TSE) i.e. Check your balls.
On a weekly, or preferably daily, basis during showering, one must first familiarize himself with his own body. Get to know the ragged texture of the scrotum (skin pouch covering testicles), know the size of your testicles and how far they usually hang low when you’re relaxed. Most men have the left testicle hanging lower than the right one. And then your quick examination begins. Here is how:
- First, just relax – you’re in your own shower.
- Move your penis upwards for easier access to the scrotum.
- Go through the whole scrotum looking for abnormal texture or palpable lumps and don’t forget the back.
- Gently grab each testicle and check for abnormalities in shape or any palpable lumps.
And that’s all.
Other symptoms include: sense of heaviness, pain, difficulties in urination or ejaculation or even appearance of blood in the stream. So whenever you detect or feel something abnormal, seek medical attention ASAP and save yourself all the trouble.
Stay safe!
WE SAID THIS: How’s your Movember this year? Send us your mustache selfies on Instagram @ScoopEmpire to help raise awareness of men’s cancers!
