GET A GRIP ON YOUR TESTICLES Signs/symptoms and treatments of testicular cancer

Testicular Cancer Male Self Exam Should be done once a month starting at the age of 13

Facts on Testicular Cancer Facts on Testicular Cancer  Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer for males between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can occur at any age. Testicular cancer is usually curable, but some men die from it. Early treatment greatly enhances the chances for a happy outcome. Men who were born with an undescended testicle have a greater risk of getting testicular cancer. Men who have a close male relative with testicular cancer are more likely to get testicular cancer. Caucasions are more likely than others to get testicular cancer.

Why is a self exam important?  Can find health problems before they become serious  Cancer of the testicles is one of the most common cancers in men and can be cured if found early  Other problems, including STI’s can also be found by a self-exam

Best time to give yourself an exam  After a warm shower or bath  Testicles hang down away from your body  Symptoms include:  Unexplained fatigue  A sense of feeling ill  Sudden development of fluid in the scrotum  Pain or discomfort in wither testicle  A dull ache in the abdomen  A lump in testicle  A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum

How to examine  #1:  Roll each testicle between thumbs and fingers of both hands  A normal testicle is firm, smooth and egg shaped  A testicle is about 1-1 ½ inches long  One testicle may be a little larger and one may hang lower in the scrotum

Self exam  Roll each testicles with both hands  Check after a warm bath or shower  Look at yourself in the mirror

#2 These could be signs of cancer even if there is no pain!  Feel the epididymis on each testicle  Should feel soft, rope-like and tender  It isn’t normal if:  If you feel a lump or hard area in the testicle  If the whole testicle feels harder than usual  If one side of the scrotum is very swollen

#3 Check the skin on your scrotum for sores or rough bumps  These could be signs of an STI  #4 If you are not circumcised, be sure to pull back the foreskin  #5 Look at the opening at the tip of the penis. It should not be red or painful or have any discharge  #6 Feel your groin area on both sides for any lumps or swollen glands

Ultrasounds  Testes with tumors

Tumor  Mass in testicle

Complications from testicular cancer  Losing a testicle  Men do not need both testicles to be fertile  Even with the loss of both testicles, men can still be sexually active  Can freeze sperm before treatment

Testicular Tumors  Sizes of tumors

ULTRA SOUND TESTS  Ultrasound of a normal testicle. Note the uniform appearance of the testicle. The white specks are microlithiasis, which is benign  This image shows the interior of a cancerous testicle. The darker (denser) sections represent cancer, which has taken over about three-quarters of the testicle  This image shows the testicle on the right, the epididymis in the middle, and a cancerous testicular mass on the left

Survivor  Lance Armstrong

4 Basic Treatments  1: Chemotherapy  2. External beam radiation  3. Removal of the affected testicle  4. Self donating bone marrow transplant

Implants  Implants and an MRI

Ultrasound-Guided Needle Localization  This is a new surgical technique that prevents the unnecessary removal of the testicle  Using this technique, hidden testicular tumors can be correctly identified and safely removed  Half of all hidden tumors are benign and may have their testicle removed for no reason at all

Cont.  Outpatient procedure  Involves insertion of a surgical needle into the testicle with the aid of ultrasound visualization and an operative microscope  Patients are able to return to work in 3 days