Check your testicles in the comfort of your home, it can save your life

POLOKWANE – With 43 800 minutes in normal months, taking only 10 of them to check your testicles may not only save your own life, but also your loved ones from heartache.

November is the male cancer month and the focus is mostly on prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The most common cancers among men are prostate, colorectal, lung, Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) (AIDS-related cancer) and bladder cancer.

You might also want to read: Be ‘Mo Bro’ or ‘Mo Sista’ in November

According to the South African Cancer Association (Cansa), testicular cancer is one of the common cancers in young men and is therefore important for young men to start self-examination of the testes immediately after puberty.

"Men from the ages of 15 to 49 need to examine their testicles every month, preferably after bathing or bathing, to feel a pea-sized lump that can indicate testicular cancer," said Christopher Combrinck, community activist at Cansa Polokwane.

The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown. However, there are several risk factors associated with testicular cancer. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, such as a person's age or race, cannot be changed. However, having a risk factor, or even some risk factors, means that a person will get the disease. There is no way to prevent testicular cancer.

Risk factors include:

• Has no testicle down (s)

• Has abnormal development of testicles and / or other organs

• Have a personal history of testicular cancer

• Have a family history of testicular cancer

• HIV infection

• Race

• Age

• Have fertility problems

• Work

• Has a family history of breast cancer or malignant melanoma

• Smoking marijuana

• Body size

• Have undergone a vasectomy – after undergoing a vasectomy does not increase the risk of testicular cancer.

• Has previous trauma to the testicles

• Genetic risk factors

Anyone who believes he is at risk for testicular cancer should discuss this with his doctor.

"If detected early, testicular cancer can be treated effectively. Symptoms include swelling or painless lumps in one or both of the testicles, pain or heaviness in the testicles or pain in the lower abdomen, back or groin. "

How to check your own testicles:

How to do a testicular self examination:

• Performing a self-testicular examination is easy: learn what your body usually feels and sees, in that way any changes or anything that feels strange can be detected early.

• First, decide regular time once a month to do your self-examination.

• Check your testicles directly after taking a warm bath or showering.

• Stand in front of the mirror and look for swelling.

• Support your testicles with one hand and feel each with your other hand.

• Roll the testicles between your thumb and finger, feel the lump – it's normal to feel a soft chord-like structure at the top and

Behind each testicle, a lump can be as small as a grain of rice and usually quite hard like hard rubber.

• Also check the area that feels soft.

• Consult your health practitioner if any abnormalities are detected.

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