What do testicles actually DO?
Your testicles hang behind your penis. They are ball shaped, and sit within a loose pouch of skin called the scrotum. You’ll notice a soft tube running down the back – that’s called the epididymis. It’s inside your testicles that sperm and testosterone are produced.
How often should I be checking my testicles?
Probably about once a month or so, but it’s good to make it a regular habit - because that way you’ll notice any changes.
How do I actually go about checking my testicles?
There’s three easy steps.
1. Warm it up
It helps if you’re warm and relaxed, so in the shower or after a bath is the ideal time to check.
2. Take a good look
Start off by looking in the mirror, and then by looking down. Hold your penis up so you can really see what’s going on and what things look like. The key is to get to know what’s normal for you.
3. Have a good feel
Next it’s time to have a good feel around. Take your index finger and thumb and gently roll the testicle between them. Make sure you feel the surface all the way around. It should feel smooth, without any gravelly lumps or bumps.
What am I looking for when I check my testicles?
• Any changes over time
• Any unusual differences between your testicles
• A hard lump anywhere on the testicle
• Soft lumps or swelling on the testicle
• Enlargement or an increase in firmness of one testicle
• Pain in the testicle or the scrotum
• A feeling of heaviness in one testicle
When should I worry?
Don’t panic. Most of these symptoms could be a sign of something completely harmless. But you should take anything you notice to your GP to be checked out.
Remember, 50% of the population has testicles. And you can ask to see a male GP if it makes you more comfortable. I promise we spend all day everyday looking at people’s bodies, there’s nothing we haven’t seen before - and there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about.
What happens if it IS testicular cancer?
It depends what type of testicular cancer you have, and what stage it’s reached. But treatment usually involves surgery to remove the affected testicle, which may be followed up by radiotherapy or chemotherapy - designed to kill any remaining cancerous cells.
The really good news is that testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers – with 98% of people going on to live for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Where can I get more information?
There’s loads of great information out there to help you check your testicles and understand more about testicular cancer. Some great websites include:
NHS
Cancer research
Testicular Cancer UK
Movember
What if I’m worried about something else?
It’s always better to KNOW than to bury your head in the sand, or worry by yourself. You should take any symptoms that concern you to your GP – ESPECIALLY the embarrassing ones!
If your company has made a Bluecrest Wellness health test available to you and you’ve not already been along for it, you should definitely book yourself in. One of the tests we can do is a Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA test. , A biomarker used to determine whether men are at an increased risk of having or developing prostate cancer. This is automatically included in our early cancer risk package or it is available as an add-on which you can also buy for yourself. It’s a great way to get peace of mind, and really take control of your health proactively.
As well as checking for prostate cancer, our early cancer risk package looks for elevated risks of stomach, kidney and liver cancer, all of which are often a bit harder to spot than testicular cancer.
