TESTICULAR
SELF-EXAM
Men
aged 15 and older should regularly examine their scrotum
looking for any abnormalities or changes. (The man on the
right has a testicular lymphoma - usually lumps and bumps
are much smaller and not as "angry-looking.")
A monthly self-exam is important, as is an annual doctor's
exam. Since most testicular cancers have no symptoms,
the only way to diagnose it early is to be on the lookout.
To
correctly examine yourself, follow these instructions:
1. Check
yourself right after a hot shower. The scrotal skin is then
relaxed and soft.
2. Become familiar with
the normal size, shape and weight of your testicles.
It is common for one testicle (usually the left) to be larger
and hang lower than the other.
3.
Using both hands, gently roll each testicle between your
fingers.
4. Identify the epididymis,
a rope-like structure (like a bag of worms) on the top and
back side of each testicle. This structure is not an abnormal
lump.
5. Always be on the lookout for a tiny lump under the skin,
in the front or along the sides of either testicle. A lump
may remind you of a kernel of uncooked rice or a small hard
pea.
Other
things to be on the lookout for are:
- one
testicle may swell, or feel abnormally heavy
- your
breast may enlarge and feel tender
- a
sore may develop which does not heal
- a
small painless lump may develop on a testicle
Always
report any swellings, lumps, abnormalities, or concerns
to your doctor immediately.
Keep in mind that most of the lumps and bumps you discover
will not end up being cancerous, and even if they are, most
are completely curable and will not significantly effect
sexual activity or the ability to have a child.
