Did you know that early detection of many types of cancers like testicular can lead to a successful treatment and cure? While some testicular cancer cases never showed any outward signs of the disease, many cases however did. These cancers can be caught in their early stages. It is all a matter of being in tune with your body and not ignoring what is not quite right.
Early diagnosis of testicular cancer usually happens to men who experience symptoms that were aggravating enough to seek the advice of a doctor. For many men, pain in the groin or even a lump on a testicle is the first warning sign that something is not quite right. Of course, as mentioned above, some cancers do not manifest themselves until they have reached the advanced stages of the disease.
What Should Be Done by Doctors
A majority of doctors concur with the fact that an examination of the testicles should be a normal part of a man’s yearly physical check-up. Even the American Cancer Society and other cancer organizations agree that basic cancer screenings such as the physical diagnostic testicular tests should be a normal part of the examination routine.
What You Should Do
Doctors recommend seeking their advice quickly should you find a lump in the testicular area, even if the lump is not painful. In addition, the American Cancer Society suggests men to brush up on their risk factors for cancer, particularly the testicular version and seek out other instances in the family tree as genetics could play a role in the chances of getting the disease.
Just as women are encouraged to conduct monthly breast self-examinations, men are encouraged to perform self-exams themselves by seeking any abnormal shapes or lumps in the testicular area. Because testicular cancer can strike males primarily from their teens and up, doctors are encouraged to show their male patients the proper way to conduct a self-exam, using models.
If you have any risk factors for testicular cancer such as family members who have had it or have a history of an undescended testicle or fertility issues, you should definitely be conducting self-exams. The optimal time for an examination on yourself is right after a shower when your skin around the scrotal area is most undisturbed and pliant.
During your testicular self-examination, you will need to position your penis to the side so that you can study each testicle, one at a time. Using your fingers and thumb, hold your testicle and manipulate it gently, rolling back and forth. During this time, look for any sooth looking knots or hard bumps along the area. Also, examine the overall feel and shape as well for anything that appears out of the ordinary.
There are several non-cancerous conditions which can cause unusual bumps or lumps. The best course of action is if you discover anything; visit with your doctor for a proper medical examination. Chances are, an ultrasound can easily rule out cancer and pinpoint another cause. However, if it is cancer, you would be lucky to catch it early, thanks to self-examination.
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