Getting to know your own body, being familiar with how it looks and feels, is a key factor in keeping good general and sexual health. It is important to be aware of any changes in your body that may be a signal of an infection or disease. With many conditions, if they are spotted early enough they can be treated successfully.
Cancer is a condition that affects both men and women, and has many different forms. Testicular cancer is a relatively rare condition, but it is the most common cancer found amongst men aged 20 to 35 years. This type of cancer is the most easily spotted and early diagnosis makes treatment of the condition much easier.
There is a simple check that you can do on a regular basis, once a month is best. Do this after a warm bath or shower when the skin of the scrotum (ball sack) is relaxed, this makes the examination easier to examine.
- Hold your balls in the palm of your hand, supporting their weight. Feel the size and weight of each ball – they should be roughly the same. A little difference is common, but any noticeable increase in size or weight could indicate a problem.
- Feel all around each ball in turn, looking for any unusual lumps or swelling – normally they have a smooth surface. Using both hands, gently roll the ball between your thumb and fingers.
- At the back and top of each ball is a soft tube. This is the epididymis and it's supposed to be there; it's the tube that carries sperm from your balls to your penis.
- Things to look out for are: any change in size or weight, lumps or swellings, particularly on the surface of the balls, a dull ache in the scrotum, groin or lower back.
If you do feel anything, get it checked out straight away, don't feel embarrassed. You can go to your GP or to a GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinic. It may well not be cancer; lumps and swellings can be caused by a number of things but it's best to put your mind at ease and get it checked out as soon as possible.
