Video
Dr Dawn:
Unlike most cancers, testicular cancer doesn’t get more common as you get older. It’s primarily a young man’s disease and those aged between 15 and 35 are most at risk. Men should be checking their testicles around once a month but the truth is less than one in five actually do. Early diagnosis however, can be life saving.
If you’re a guy and you don’t check your testicles regularly or if you’re not sure you’re doing it properly then watch on I’m going to show you how to check yourself. (Victor if you could just remove your towel for me.)
Now a really good time to self-check is during or after a hot bath or shower when the muscles of the scrotal sack are relaxed and the testicles hang down lower but any time is better than not checking at all. So the first thing you should do is to rest your testicles in the palm of your hand a bit like a weighing scale. Compare one testicle with the other for equal heaviness. Now it’s quite normal that one testicle is larger or hangs down slightly lower than the other and you’re probably used to them looking and feeling slightly different, which is a good thing: it means you’re familiar with your own balls and more likely to notice any changes.
At the back of each testicle is a thickening. This is the epididymis, which is the narrow tightly coiled tube that carries the sperm to the penis. As you know it’s extremely tender so be gentle with yourself here. Is that OK?
Victor: Yes
Dr Dawn:
Now place your fingers behind the scrotum and using your thumb gently roll the testicle between your thumb and fingers you’re feeling for any small hard lumps or a slight enlargement or firmness of the testicle. A normal testicle is oval shaped and feels firm, but not hard. And this one feels fine. Do you want to do the other one Victor?
So that’s it, just rolling the testicle between your fingers and thumb, good. Most testicular cancer is diagnosed because of a painless lump in the testicle, but there are other signs. Look out for a pain or discomfort in your scrotum or testicles, a heavy or dragging feeling in your scrotum, a dull ache in the lower stomach or groin area, a build up of fluid inside your scrotum, blood in your sperm at ejaculation or discharge from the penis. These are all signs that something maybe wrong.
Now there are lots of other things that can cause these symptoms beside testicular cancer but they should not be ignored.
If you do find a lump or notice any of the other symptoms, there’s two things you should do. One: make an appointment to see your doctor and two: stay calm. There’s a very good chance that it isn’t cancer as most abnormalities down there are a result of injury, infection or a non-cancerous swelling. Having said that, don’t get into the mindset of it’s probably nothing. On the small chance that it is something, then the sooner it’s investigated the better.
Testicular cancer has doubled in the last twenty years but it is one of the easiest cancers to treat successfully. Over 95% of cases are curable if treated early, but if ignored it can kill. That’s why checking your balls regularly is so important.
How To Check Your Testicles
Testicular cancer is a young man’s disease, and yet this is the age group that has the greatest sense of invincibility from the illness. Dr Harper demonstrates the technique you can use to self-examine your balls, and as it’s best carried out in the shower, it’s a great excuse for taking a bit longer in the morning.
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I'm 14 and every morning when I wake up my balls get itchie. And it also happens at night any suggestions of what it might be because it's very painfull. Thanks
Only in bed???Sheets clean, mites in the bed, change the washing powder,body wash changed, non cotton underwear/clothing, ???? There could be allot of variables.. Is your skin in that area flaking, looking dry, weeping in any way??? If none of the above fits the criteria, perhaps a visit to doctors and a possible skin scrapping test... Visits the pharmacy and speak to the male pharmacist and ask him for a cream for your private parts to alleviate itchiness .... Sorry Kevin, that is all I can think of.. Doctor if persists..
just now i seen my testicle are lower that it normal is it ok
I have recently noticed I get a bump at the bottom of my right testicle only when I have an erection .It is not painfull and disappears when my erection goes down .The bump feels hardish but totally vanishes ?What is going on ?
for the past week i have been getting severe pain attacks mainly in my left testicle but some times both, and makes me feel naseous too. i have checked myself out but everything looks and feels ok.i have also been having hurtful migraines too! im 48years old
Possibly two separate situations... Restrictions in the testicle, gland twisted or blocked??? Underwear not restricting??? If it continues go and see a Doctor.. My friend had a problem of pain just under the testicle.. ended up being a blood clot..dont take chances with your health, confer with a professional doctor who seen all this before.
Im a man aged 40 l was born wth one testicle.l hv never gone 2 see a doctor 2 check if l can be able 2 make a woman pregnant because l have no kids. If that can be the problem can it be solved by the doctors? Please help me.
Borshi, my brother had to have a testicle removed as a young man.. He is a proud father of a 10 yer old girl and is now 45 years old.. But still go and see a Doctor, may be other reasons not the one that is physical in you vision..sperm count and other things.. Get your assurance from a medical doctor, so when the right woman comes alone, she might want to know and you can answer not guess..
I cycled 100 miles last Saturday and during it I felt some discomfort in my left testical. It's now Wednesday and felt pain at the back of my left testical where the tubes and veins attach.any ideas what it could be?
Im 16 and i just got off work and took a bath. I felt some discomfort in my left testicle and when i felt my scrotum i felt a lump that went away now i just feel like my left teste is dragging and i feel it in my stomach please help me.
Calum cyclist are renown to have problems down stairs.... go and check this out, something may have twisted???... blood clot?? which can traverse to heart, lots of variables Calum, dont muck about, ten min consultation will take a mountain of worry off those shoulders..
I have a lump on my right testacle and still dont know wether is cancer or any thing else,it keep grow recently but it got no pain also it keeps me uncomfotable,what should i do, . .
i have a small hard lump at the top of my right tetical at the back the size of a grain of sand could it be the appendix of testis?
I am 15 and a lump has recently grown on my scrotom above my right testicle, I'm really worried that it might be cancer but I'm to embarrassed to tell anyone about it... Could someone help me?
I note that my left testicle is bigger than the right but no pain. Should I see GP about it? I am at 71 years old in good health.
I too have a testicle much larger than the other I am 68