This is going to be a blunt conversation about testicular cancer. I will be using correct terms just wanted to give you a heads up.
You may not know yet but my husband had been diagnosed with stage 0 testicular cancer in 2004. He was only 33 at the time. If you read my last entry he was right in the target area for testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among men 19-34. So if this is the case why it that doctor is are not talking to men and boys about how to check them for testicular cancer? Doctors ask women about their self-exams, show them how to check themselves but no one is doing that for our sons! So I am going to tell you parents what you need to tell yours sons from when they are old enough to bath themselves on up about checking themselves. Although most testicular cancer is in men over the age of 19, infants and older men can get it as well. So if your child is too young to check themselves you need to do it for them. Your loved one may be at higher risk if they have undescended testicles, a family history but any male can get it.
This may seem like common sense but if you can get the males in your lives in the habit of checking they are more likely to catch it early.
First you should tell them if they notice any differences in how they look or feel they need to tell someone. The differences can be that one testicle is larger than the other one or that one just feels weird it should be checked out.
Second if there is any pain you need to get it checked out. Now when I say pain I mean if they notice all of a sudden they hurt you should be seen as soon as possible. Testicle’s can get twisted and that can be reversed if treated fast enough. Without treatment they could potentially lose the ability to produce sperm in that testicle.
Third when explaining checking them they should hold there testes in one hand and with a finger and a thumb they should feel for any lumps, hardness even small pea size nodules.
Now if they feel something don’t panics they could have enlarged lymph nodes from an infection or swelling from an injury but you should get it checked out. If you start talking about it when they are young they will be more comfortable to talk about it when they notice something.