Why Testicular Cancer Awareness Month Should Be A Big Deal

And Why You Need to Test Your Testes

You may have missed the memo on Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in April. But that’s okay, we’re here to remind you now. Depending on when you are reading this, it may be the end of April and the end of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month (or not even April at all). So what’s all the fuss we’re making about Testicular Cancer Awareness Month now when it is no longer “in season” or when everyone else has probably been writing about it since the beginning of April?

Now, when everyone is starting to forget about Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, may be the best time to remind young people to “test their testes.” That’s the very reason why we are trying to renew awareness. Because in this time of easy-to-access social media, with everyone trying to grab your attention, we tend to forget what we we were doing ten minutes ago. And checking for cancer is far too important to ignore for a whole year until the next Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in April.

Testicular cancer is the leading cause of cancer in males between the ages of 20–34, with a median age of 32. The highest number of deaths from testicular cancer also occurs between this same age range. If caught very early using a simple testing procedure that you can do yourself, testicular cancer does not have to mean a lifetime of doom and gloom. The survival rate is very good. However, you would have a far better chance of living a healthy life if you are able to examine yourself regularly and consult with your doctor.

If you read on, you’ll be even more convinced to continue the discussion on Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and why you need to screen for testicular cancer.

Why is Testicular Cancer So Important to Check For?

It may seem a bit odd that we are writing about Testicular Cancer Awareness Month towards the end of the month, and not at the start of the campaign, but there’s an important reason for it: we figure a lot of people have already forgotten. And making sure that you are cancer-free is really important throughout the entire year, not to mention your entire life.

The fact that you can get testicular cancer at such a young age should be enough to make it a priority. Some people think of cancer as a disease of the elderly when often it is not. It is also worthy to note that in many cases, testicular cancer is very treatable if detected early. Early detection survival rates are very high. That is why we urge everyone with testicles to get tested, or test themselves, for this disease.

For many reasons, Testicular Cancer Month is such a big deal because testicular cancer does not have to be a serious illness if you just do a simple check every so often. So the bigger the deal we make out of it now, the more we hope you will take action, and the more we can detect cases of testicular cancer that may have gone unnoticed. Yes, our inconvenient nagging about “checking your balls” just may save a life. And that’s worth taking some heat over.

So even though this is being published while Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is more than half over, we are here to remind everyone that checking your testicles for abnormalities should be a regular routine. In fact, we hope that the test for testicular cancer does not end because you no longer see a post of it on social media, or you don’t see a banner anymore on a website you visit. Testicular cancer is one of the most preventable or curable of cancers — if you check for it regularly.

That is why we hope you, or someone you care about, does not ignore this opportunity to check your “boys”. The month of April was merely meant for the awareness that there is always a need to check for testicular cancer. It was never meant to stop there.

Testicular Cancer Cases per Year

It is true that compared to many other cancers, testicular cancer affects a much smaller number of people, about 6 per 100,000 men per year.

However, unlike many other cancers, testicular cancer has a very high rate of recovery if detected early. Some estimates say up to 95%. It is partly because of the diligent efforts to detect testicular cancer that the success rate has been so high. If undetected, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause further complications and even possibly death.

Why Men Don’t Test for Testicular Cancer

As we mentioned, testicular cancer is one disease that surprisingly affects young men more than anyone. According to the National Cancer Institute, 51.8 percent of new cases occur in men between the ages of 20–34 years. No one really knows why, but some suspect that higher levels of sperm production and testosterone may contribute to the higher risk in younger men. That is why it is so important to test for it as soon as possible.

So why aren’t we checking our “balls”? Well, I believe some of the reasons may lie in the following:

“I’m too young to have cancer” — When we are young, we probably don’t think too much about our mortality. After all, many cancers are correlated to age-related issues. But testicular cancer is not correlated with age in the same way. Young men, between 20–34, and mostly males of European descent, have been found to have a higher risk of testicular cancer. Don’t be fooled into being young and foolish. Check.

“But I don’t feel any pain there” — oftentimes even if you do have testicular cancer, you won’t experience any sharp pain or maybe no pain at all. If anything, you might feel a dull ache. It’s tricky and symptoms may not be what you think they are.

“I’m afraid if I find something” — There is perhaps a chance that we are afraid we may actually find something — a lump, some tough area on the gonad. “This could be the end of my life as I know it!” or “I’m afraid my girlfriend will break up with me and think we don’t have a future together.” Even though it seems it could be the worst day of your life to find that you have testicular cancer, as we mentioned, the survival rate is extremely high if you detect it early.

If you have concerns, it is best to go see a urologist to get examined and discuss your options.

Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is so important. If, at first, it may seem awkward to feel around your testicles, know this — testicular cancer is mostly a treatable disease but can spread like any cancer if not detected early. Just like brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent gum disease and cavities, checking for abnormalities may prove life-saving to you.

Women have breast examinations every year, why don’t men have their testicles checked?

Get Tested or Test your Testes Yourself

As with any type of cancer, early detection increases the chances of eliminating it for a very long time. And just because it’s not April, it doesn’t mean you can’t check for testicular cancer whenever you want to. After all, this is cancer we’re talking about. Something this important needs to be monitored on a regular basis.

Another reason to check regularly is to know what your “normal” is. When you start to feel around, you will begin to know how your testes normally feel. Without this base of knowledge, it would be very difficult to monitor and check for irregularities. Once you establish what that is, it becomes easier to detect if there is some kind of change occurring to your testes. That’s when it may be time to talk to your doctor.

So, as we stress here, how would you ever know what is normal and what is not if you don’t regularly check? We suggest checking at least once a month, or if you can, once a week.

A little discomfort or feeling of awkwardness now could mean a lifetime of relief later.

How and When to Check

We would suggest checking once a week, or at least once a month if it’s more convenient. Try to check when your scrotum is more relaxed, for example, during or after you have bathed or showered. This would be a perfect time to check.

And by examining your testicles on a regular basis, you will find out what is “normal” for you. Feel around and become familiar so that if there are any inconsistencies that are found, you will notice them right away and can discuss them with your doctor.

Try performing a monthly self-exam during or after a shower, when your skin is loose and relaxed. Follow these steps:

1. Gently feel your scrotum (sac) and locate a testicle.

2. Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers. Roll it gently between your fingers.

3. As you are rolling, feel for any lumps or hard masses.

4. As you get used to sensing the size and consistency of your testes, note any changes in size, shape, or consistency (note: it is normal for one testicle to be larger than the other)

5. Repeat this procedure with the other testicle.

6. Follow up every week, if possible, but repeat many times to become familiar with your condition.

7. Discuss anything abnormal or unusual with your doctor on your next visit.

Warning signs of possible testicular cancer (discuss with your doctor if any symptoms exist):

• Testicular cancer pain can vary and may actually feel more like an ache than a sharp pain
• Swelling, pain, or discomfort in the scrotum
• Felt a lump or swelling in either testicle, could be painless
• Some noticeable change in how your testicles feel
• A dull ache or heaviness in your groin area

Does Masturbation Improve Testicular Health

There is yet to be any evidence that masturbation can help improve the health and wellness of your testicles, although there have been many articles relating to prostate health and masturbation. Overall, it would not be a bad thing to begin your wellness practice by also incorporating sexual health and sexual wellness techniques into your routine, such as masturbation. It can have a profound effect on your mental and emotional outlook and help you begin to make important decisions about your wellness.

We urge you to take a look at some of the TENGA and iroha self-pleasure items available to you, as well as partnered pleasure to help facilitate sexual intimacy between partners.

Conclusion

Having been diagnosed with testicular cancer is not a death sentence. However, as with all cancers, it is better to detect it earlier than later.

It is understandable that there may be a bit of apprehension in checking for testicular cancer, but you won’t know whether you have testicular cancer unless you start.

If you’re not going to do it for yourself, then think about those that depend on you, physically, financially, or emotionally. Are you a partner, a parent, someone’s child, someone’s caregiver? Whether you realize it or not, there is someone out there who needs you and would really like to see you around for a very long time.

You are appreciated and whether you realize it or not, you probably make someone happy just by being around. So it’s about time you took care of yourself!

Get your testes tested, or at least test yourself.

And remember, TENGA is here to help support your wellness and self-pleasure! There are many options and styles to suit your budget and your needs.

-M