Men's Health

Alright! You’re a college man now! Life is good. You’re on your own. You’re young and strong and nothing’s going to stop you! You feel immortal. All of those diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, enlarged prostate, and so forth are so far in your future you don’t need to think about or worry about them! Right?

Wrong!

There are some diseases that are more common in college age men than any other age! One of these is testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer occurs most commonly in men ages 15 to 34 and is one of the most common tumors seen in men under 40!
If detected and treated in its early stages it is nearly 100% curable. If, however, left untreated it will spread.

Read about Lance Armstrong's successful battle with testicular cancer

Starting at age 15 monthly self-exams of the testicles are an effective way of getting to know this area of your body and thus detecting testicular cancer at an early and treatable stage.

HIGH RISK ALERT!!!

Are you a white male between the ages of 15 and 40? White men have four times the risk of African-Americans of developing testicular cancer.

Do you have undescended or late-descended testes? Men whose testicles are undescended or descended late are at higher risk.

Do you have a family history of testicular cancer?

Have you ever been diagnosed with inguinal hernia? Doctors have found a positive correlation between hernia and testicular cancer at an early age… this link is still under study.

If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions, you are at increased risk for developing testicular cancer. Pay special attention to the testicular self-examination on the next page!

HOW TO DO A TESTICULAR SELF-EXAMINATION

Any male 15 or older should practice monthly testicular self-exam. The test only takes a few minutes and is easy to do. Most lumps are not cancer but ANY LUMP SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED BY A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER!!!

When should the testicles be checked?

The best time is right after a warm shower when the scrotal skin is relaxed and its contents can be felt most easily.

How do I check my testicles?

Support the testicles in one hand and feel each with the other hand.
Gently roll each testicle between the thumb and the fingers. You’ll feel a smooth tubular structure that covers the top, back and bottom of each testicle. Gently separate this tube from the testicle with your finger to examine the testicle itself.
Feel for any swelling or lumps.
If you detect swelling or lumps see a medical practitioner without delay!

For more information on performing the testicular self exam (TSE) click here

Other signs of testicular cancer to keep in mind are:

Any enlargement of a testicle
A significant loss of size in one of the testicles
A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin
A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
Blood in the urine
Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.

Okay, guys, there you have it!

While it’s true that testicular cancer represents only 1% of all cancer in males, it is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in young men.

So do your exams monthly... and if anything out of the ordinary occurs “down there” get it checked out… any pain, discharge, bumps, lumps, warts, itchiness…get the picture?

If it wasn’t there yesterday and it’s there today and you don’t know how it got there, get to your medical practitioner and have it checked out.

Hey, you’re in college now. It’s the beginning of the rest of your life. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!

We are here to help.

For an appointment call 973 761-9175. It's free and confidential!