April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Posted on April 4, 2010
Filed Under Health & Fitness
April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
by LaConnie Taylor Jones
For the past twenty years, I’ve worked as a community public health educator. After obtaining my Masters in Public Health, I opted against working for the health department. Instead, I decided to go into the drenches, teaching underserved communities the importance of preventative health. Every day, I interact with individuals who struggle with chronic diseases and wage war to find quality treatment within a fractured healthcare system. Despite their failures and the socio-economic deterrents woven around their lives, many have fought to overcome issues we couldn’t wrap two thoughts around. Why? Someone came along and dared to love them during the most hideous time in their lives. So when I threw my hat into the literary ring, I drew upon these real-life experiences. Hence, my stories deal with real-life health or social issues.
The premise for my latest release, If I Were Your Woman deals with cancer. Soon after the leading male character meets the love of his life, he’s diagnosed with testicular cancer. Needless to say, this news prompts a series of challenges and conflicts for the couple. April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and every man and for that fact, woman should become acquaint with six key areas of this disease: (1) what is testicular cancer (2) the detection of testicular cancer (3) the symptoms of testicular cancer (4) how is testicular cancer diagnosed (5) the treatment of testicular cancer and (6) the prevention and screening treatments for testicular cancer.
1. What is testicular cancer?
· Testicular cancer is a disease in which cells become malignant (cancerous) in one or both testicles.
Testicular cancer accounts for only one percent of all cancers in men in the United States. Annually, 8000 men are diagnosed, and approximately 390 will die from the disease. The occurrence of testicular cancer is seen in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 34. Testicular cancer is most common in White men of Scandinavian descent. However, the rate of this disease has double in White men in the past 40 years and has recently begun to increase in African-American men, although the incidence between the racial occurrences remains unknown.
2. The detection of testicular cancer
Most men don’t feel ill nor do they report any symptoms associated with testicular cancer. Hence, it is important for men to perform a monthly TSE (testicular self examination). This exam is painless and is an excellent tool for men to recognize any changes of their testicles. A TSE involves holding each testicle between the thumbs and fingers of both hands and gently rolling it between the fingers. Men should pay particular attention to any hard lumps within the testicles or changes in the way it feels.
3. The symptoms of testicular cancer:
· Pain or swelling in the testicles
· Lumps or nodules in the testicles, whether painful or not
· Enlargement of the testicles or changes in the way the testicles feels
· Pain in the lower abdomen, back or groin
· Swelling in the scrotum or collection of fluid within the scrotum
It is important to note that there are other benign conditions, which can be associated with the symptoms listed above.
Do not self-diagnosis any medical condition! You can’t be sure whether you have testicular cancer or not based on symptoms alone. That’s why it’s important for men to see a health care provider immediately if they experience any of these symptoms.
Remember, when detected early, testicular cancer is highly curable with a cure rate in excess of 90%.
4. Diagnosis of testicular cancer:
Testicular cancer is mostly commonly diagnosed through a testicular ultrasound. This ultrasound is 100% accurate in differentiating testicular cancer from other possible diagnosis. A testicular ultrasound determines the density, size and shape of a testicular mass. In most cases, when a solid testicular mass is discovered, it is a sign of a tumor since most testicular conditions involve fluid build-up.
5. Treatment of testicular cancer:
There are several ways to treat testicular cancer. The most common way starts with an orchiectomy, which is the surgical procedure to remove the testicular mass. Once removed, the mass is sent to a pathologist to determine if it is indeed malignant and if so, the stage of the cancer. Other treatment options include: Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, Chemotherapy, Radiation and Surveillance.
6. Prevention and screening treatments for testicular cancer:
There is no standard or routine screening test for the early detection of testicular cancer. Also, there are no proven ways to prevent testicular cancer. However, performing monthly TSE’s and knowing the symptoms of testicular cancer increases the possibility of detecting the disease at an early stage, when it’s most curable.
Until next time – stay well and be blessed!!
LaConnie
www.laconnietaylorjones.com
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