Did you know that 200,000 men are diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year, killing 10 men an hour. This simple step by step guide below will help you to check for signs of testicular cancer. Remember if in doubt or if you’re worried about any changes, lumps or bumps in your testicles, then go see your GP.
Information supplied by Balls To Cancer charity.
What are lumps in the testicles?
Quite a lot of men, and some boys, can develop lumps in their testicles. Most lumps are harmless but very occasionally they are an early sign of cancer. If you learn what normal testicles feel like, you can find lumps when they are very small.
If these cancerous lumps are found and treated early most boys and men can get rid of the cancer completely and quite easily.
How can I examine myself?
All men should do the quick ‘feeling test’ regularly, after a shower or bath. (We’ve added a reminder each month.)
Have a relaxing, warm bath or shower first; it will make it easier because you are more relaxed and the skin is softer. Examine yourself when you are standing up and preferably where you can see yourself in a mirror.
Look first to see if one testicle is hanging differently from usual.
Using both hands, feel each testicle in turn.
‘Weigh each one’ in your hand to see if they are the same size and weight as usual.
Put your thumb on the top and your first index finger beneath each one.
Gently roll around the testicle and you will find a hard, sausage-shaped, ridge at the top of each one. This is normal, it is your epididymis – the sperm tube.
Support the scrotum in the palm of the hand to help you to notice changes in the size and weight of each testicle.
Using both hands gently roll each testicle between the thumb and fingers, check for lumps, irregular swellings and changes in firmness.
What should I look out for?
– A dull ache in your testicle, very rarely a sign of trouble.
– Small, hard and painless lumps.
– Painful lumps, especially at the back and top (in the sperm tube or epididymis).
– Sensitive areas.
– One testicle becoming larger, one testicle becoming heavier.
– One of your doctors or nurses will show you what to do and what to look and feel for.
What should I do if I find a change?
Don’t worry. Most changes will be normal for you or harmless or temporary. This doesn’t mean you should just forget about it. If you are at all worried, have a chat with your GP.
Visit www.BallsToCancer.co.uk for more information and diagrams on how to check yourself.
About Balls To Cancer.
We are Balls to Cancer – a registered charity, and it is our aim to fight cancer with fun! We are raising funds for male cancer awareness and education. We occasionally donate a proportion to other associated causes and research. 100% of funds raised go towards our main aims below…
– Spending money on a nationwide awareness campaign through the media, social networks, leaflets and posters, to try to make both men and women more aware of the dangers of cancer and to help men help themselves.
– To open a male only contact point for those who have been diagnosed with cancer or are worried about cancer.
– Funding an education programme for teenagers to help them understand & take away taboo of discussing testicular cancer.
– Funding to help individuals who need specialist treatment, or support for families affected financially due to treatment.
– We’ve given money to many research projects as well as funding special sensory equipment for Children’s Hospitals.
– We fund a luxury holiday home for the use of cancer sufferers and their families, completely free of charge. The idea behind this is for the charity to provide holidays for people/families at a difficult time.
200,000 men are diagnosed a year with cancer in the UK, killing 10 men an hour.
Your donations help us to fight this. Thank you.