Let's get started - do you check for lumps?

Shiminay

An important one gents - do you regularly check for lumps/anomalies on your testicles?

I do as I had a neighbour who was very seriously ill with cancer when he was 18 and I was around 14/15 I think. This was at a time where cancer was whispered like it was blasphemy or something, so raised awareness for a lot of lads in the village.

I must confess though, I'm not aware of any specific or special ways of doing it, I tend to gently feel all around with index finger and thumb of both hands one at a time.

Thoughts, opinions, worries?

[edit]
Gah, I forgot to add the poll! Could a mod fire in a poll for "Yes / No / I don't know how" please?

brianthebard

I check sometimes, but not as often as I should tbh. Below is a link to the cancer societies leaflet on checking your testicles.

http://www.cancer.ie/pdf/Types_of_Cancer/testicularCancerLeaflet.pdf

*May contain graphic images*

Dave!

I do, cautiously, every so often...

But to be honest I'm not sure what I'm feeling for Obviously some sort of growth or abnormality, but I wouldn't be confident that I'd notice one unless it's quite explicit

What would help (and would be a good idea for schools and the likes) is if there were a replica set of balls (one of which had a 'cancerous' growth on it) in a replica scrotum sent around so that everyone knows what it might feel like in comparison to a normal one.

brianthebard

Yeah that would help but for now...I think if you can check them once very thoroughly, make a note of everything, how they feel (ie sore if pressed, how hard, etc) and then you will have that to mentally compare later (or write it down if you want). I imagine a trip to the doctor the first time would not be a bad idea. Does anyone know why you are more at risk if one of your testicles didn't drop?

Zaph

Not as often as I should, tbh. I heard that a guy I went to school with developed testicular cancer when he was around 30-ish. I was told that he made a full recovery, but it's the sort of thing that really should encourage me to check more often, but rather stupidly on my part, it hasn't.

AlmightyCushion

brianthebard wrote: »

Does anyone know why you are more at risk if one of your testicles didn't drop?

I didn't even know that if your balls didn't drop that you are more at risk. Shows how little I know. Any who, nope, I never check. I know I should but then again I know I should be doing a lot of things that I still don't do.

Mr Magnolia

God yeah. It's a must gents. I've gone to the doctor over an issue, been refered on to a couple of specialists, had scans and been given the all clear. Check yourselves. Also, I'm told that a constant longing to pee, followed up by an inabilty to pee can be a sign of prostate cancer, the guy who passed me that information found out to late, RIP.

Also, I hope this is the correct video, I don't have access to youtube at the minute and have found this via google. Would someone be so good as to confirm I've linked the correct vid, you'll know if it's the right one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu2K4eIqxd4

brianthebard

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I didn't even know that if your balls didn't drop that you are more at risk. Shows how little I know. Any who, nope, I never check. I know I should but then again I know I should be doing a lot of things that I still don't do.

I'm only going by what the leaflet I linked to said, I didn't know before that!

c - 13

To tell the truth not really, no.

I know I should but I might do it once in a blue moon and even at that I don't really know what to look for as others have said.

I think that this is something that's not really given a lot of public focus in Ireland an a lot of men are to embarrassed to ask.

Ill have a read of that leaflet later on, I'm in work at the moment.

Contrats on getting the forum approved by the way. I laughed when I saw that two of the mods also mod BGRH though

The Bollox

nay, only because I don't know how to check or what exactly I'm checking for. I will have a look at the linkie above later

smashey

I check regularly and especially since a cousin of mine was diagnosed with testicular cancer a couple of years ago. He has since made a full recovery and got married a few weeks ago.

Will

I don't check simply because i dont know what im looking for, i presume if there's places where it's more raised then i may have a problem

Delirium

No, because like a lot of guys, I don't know what I'm looking for. Will definitely be checking out the link.

Nevyn

http://www.carpetestes.org/

First thing to do is get just to the shape size and feel of them, so that if there is a change you notice it.

They say check once a month but there is no harm in once a week, until you know how they are ment to feel.

Can be a bit tricky as you have to get used to feeling them through the scrotum and to
run your thumb and index finger around each one feeling the surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu2K4eIqxd4

Deedsie

Forget it. Thaedydal beat me to it. Great instruction video.

Dord

Yep, I check regularly.

Mr Magnolia

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

Also, I hope this is the correct video, I don't have access to youtube at the minute and have found this via google. Would someone be so good as to confirm I've linked the correct vid, you'll know if it's the right one.

I didn't. I do now though :-)

brianthebard

One other thing, watch out for the tubing when you are searching around. Last time I checked the area where it goes into the testicles is sort of like a lump if you didn't know it was the tube, and its very painful if you are too rough, but if you feel something like that try to follow the tube back a bit to check that's what it is. Hope that makes sense.

Supercell

Nope except when I see posts here or stuff about testicular cancer on the telly.

ChewChew

Prostate cancer is rapidly rising. I suppose the main thing along with lumps and bumps is if guys notice any discomfort or difficulty passing urine. Bladder tumours are very common in men and not always cancerous.

LegacyUser

Reason why an undescended testicle has a higher risk of cancer -

Well the balls hang down right, so the temperature is a little lower than that of the rest of the body - however if you have one that has not dropped - well then its constantly trying to deal with a higher body temperature - which it isn't built for - this can lead to cancerous growths -

How do I know this??? .....well that's what the doctor said before he removed it!....

All grand now - and am the father of a boy & a girl......

brianthebard

Ah right so if you've had an op to move it down there's no increased risk?

Zaph

brianthebard wrote: »

Ah right so if you've had an op to move it down there's no increased risk?

Not quite. From http://www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-420.jsp

If left untreated, undescended testes carry a greater risk of testicular cancer and infertility.

* Fertility

Undescended testicles aren’t able to make sperm properly. Testicles are naturally in the scrotum because the temperature there is cooler than inside the body. A cooler temperature helps the testicles make sperm. If a testis is undescended, tissue changes occur that can affect sperm production. A baby boy with an undescended testicle can start to lose the ability to make sperm by 12 months of age. About 50–65% of boys who are treated to correct two undescended testes are fertile; 85% of boys treated to correct one undescended testis are fertile.

* Testicular cancer
Boys with an undescended testis are ten to twenty times more likely to develop testicular cancer (even after treatment). The cancer can occur in the normal descended testis on the other side. Testes that remain in the abdomen increase the risk of testicular cancer 40-fold. The peak age for testicular cancer is 15–45 years.

brianthebard

:eek:
This is rather disturbing news, I never knew any of this. I should probably have a check up or something, I'll have to find a new doctor now.

CathyMoran

I check my husband on a monthly basis, hope that is often enough, I include it as foreplay.

AlmightyCushion

ONEBALL wrote: »

Reason why an undescended testicle has a higher risk of cancer -

Well the balls hang down right, so the temperature is a little lower than that of the rest of the body - however if you have one that has not dropped - well then its constantly trying to deal with a higher body temperature - which it isn't built for - this can lead to cancerous growths -

How do I know this??? .....well that's what the doctor said before he removed it!....

All grand now - and am the father of a boy & a girl......

Glad to hear you got through it.

entropi

I do check myself every couple of weeks now through habit, usually know what to search for but still get caught out for a second by the epididymis, then realise my mistake :pac:

I should probably visit the doc every 6 months or so, even though i never get ill, even for just a general health testing/screening.

spider77

I went to doctor 2 years ago as was getting pains in one testicle. Turned out I had a cyst down there. It can be mistaken for a lump. I took medication which took it down but it is back again :mad: Anyway, just letting you know it may not be cancer if you find a lump. Depends where you find it. Doctor said cysts are quite common but as ppl dont talk about that stuff not sure how common it is

coillcam

Yes and I'd feel extremely silly not to do it or to have a hangup about it. Around once a month and it only takes a few seconds. If you have issues get someone else to do it, fun for all !!

Baldie

Ya I'd check them regulary. Most often when I'm lying in bed watching TV. Herself thinks I'm being naughty, but I'm not....

Star Lord

Only check every once in a while, don't really know what to look for, but I know to watch out for anything that feels like a lump, or if they are sore for no apparent reason!