Why Men Need to Check Too

Men have a bit of a reputation when it comes to their health. Ignoring symptoms, putting off appointments, or brushing things off with an ‘it’ll be fine’. It’s perhaps an unfair stereotype, but it is grounded in a fair bit of truth. Many men have a reluctance to take things seriously, especially when it comes to something as personal as their reproductive health. Which includes things like checking their testicles for signs of testicular cancer. A lot of emphasis and marketing is put into telling women to check their breasts, but the same priority isn’t given to educating men to check themselves. So today, in honour of testicular cancer awareness month, that’s what we’re going to do.

What is Testicular Cancer?

While it doesn’t get as much media time as other types of cancer, testicular cancer is actually much more common than you might think. In fact, it’s one of the most common cancers in younger men aged 15-45, which makes it the 17^th most common cancer in the UK. That alone makes it pretty unique, since many types of cancer are often associated with older age.

The good news is that testicular cancer has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers – almost 100%! Especially if it’s found early. That’s why checking is so important. The treatment options are highly effective, and most people who develop it go on to lead full and healthy lives.

But even though it’s common, and even though it’s easier treated if it’s caught early, many men either don’t know how to check, don’t think they need to, or just avoid it altogether.  

Why Don’t Men Check?

So the question is, why not? Why do so many men not check themselves, even though it’s so easy? And there are a few answers to that.

The first is embarrassment. Even though it’s an activity done in private, it can still be an embarrassing subject to discuss. So conversations around awareness don’t always happen, and the embarrassment wins out. Then there are those who assume it won’t happen to them. And in fairness to them, the odds are better than other types of cancer. 1 in 220 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer in their lives, but just because your chances are slimmer doesn’t mean it won’t happen to you. After all, it will happen to someone, and there’s no way to tell if it’s you or not. There are also those who don’t check because they’re worried about what they might find. They think if they don’t check, they won’t be able to find anything and they can go on living in ignorance. The problem with that is the same as with any cancer – if it’s not treated at all, then it can be (and almost always is) fatal, because it often spreads to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain.

And the final reason, not knowing how. That one is easy to combat, and we’re going to do it right now by giving you a blog-by-blow of how to check your testicles.

How to Check

Doing a testicle check is just as simple and easy as doing a breast check. It takes a few minutes, and if you can make it a habit, it might just save your life.

1. Take a warm shower. Doing these checks are much easier when you’ve just had a warm shower, since it relaxes your scrotum.

2. Hold your scrotum (that’s the skin that covers your testicles) in the palm of your hand.

3. Use the other hand to gently roll 1 testicle at a time between your thumb and fingers.

4. Do the same thing with the other testicle, using the other hand.

5. Gently feel behind both testicles, including the epididymis. This is the soft, tender tube that’s behind the testicle. A lot of people mistake it for a lump at first, but it’s completely normal!

During this process, you’re looking for anything that feels different to how it usually does. That’s one of the reasons checking regularly is important, because it lets you figure out what’s normal for you. You’re also looking for:

• Hard lumps or nodules.

• An area that feels different from the rest.

• Significant swelling or enlargement of one or both testicles.

• A feeling of heaviness or a dull ache in the scrotum.

• Any noticeable change in size, shape or consistency.

It’s important to remember that these symptoms don’t always mean you have testicular cancer. Things like testicle lumps and swellings are quite common, and they can be caused by a lot of different things. It’s still important that you speak to your GP, and they will be able to take the next steps to figure out what exactly is causing them.

Over the last few years, we’ve all been having more open conversations about what were once difficult topics. Mental health, fitness and general wellbeing. And that’s an amazing thing! But conversations around men’s health, especially things like testicular cancer, still aren’t happening enough. So this month, as it’s testicular cancer awareness month, we want you to spread the word! Send this blog to every man and teen boy in your life, and remind them that their health is in their hands. Checking yourself regularly is quick and simple, and it could be the best thing you do for your own health.