WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT...

Greetings--This letter concerns a subject most men have never
talked about, but we certainly should have: TESTICULAR CANCER. 
It is the MOST COMMON cancer among men aged 15 to 35. While it is 
extremely treatable, the treatment is MUCH easier if it is detected 
early, and detection is EASY: you just perform a simple self exam
every month. Yeah, it's embarrassing to talk about this, but guys 
have actually died simply because they were too embarrassed to 
get medical attention for something wrong "down there"...

Below you'll find detailed information on the monthly self exam.  
But before you read this, you should know that the point of the self 
exam is not to actually find cancer.  It's so you can become 
familiar with the way your testicles feel and you'll be able to know if 
anything ever feels different "down there" - this different feeling then 
deserves a trip to the doctor, preferably a urologist. Also note that 
most guys with TC symptoms often do not have TC, but some other 
urological problem that still needs treating.  There is a lot of information
about TC available on the internet - a good starting point is the 
Testicular Cancer Resource Center at http://tcrc.acor.org

Please read the detailed instructions below and then pass this 
information along to young men you know who could also use it.  
(PS - when you do send it along, please remove any of the address 
headers from others who have been sending it as well - thanks!)

========== The Testicular Self-Examination ==========

You might think of the self exam in terms which may sound familiar:
STOP, DROP, and ROLL:
 
STOP -- Stop for a few moments in the shower once a month.
DROP -- Drop your hands to your testicles, placing your index 
and middle fingers under the testicles with your thumbs on top.
ROLL -- Roll your testicle gently between your thumb and fingers. 

The self exam for TC is best performed after a warm bath or shower. 
[Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to spot anything abnormal] 

Try to follow these steps EVERY MONTH:

1 - Stand in front of a mirror. Check for any swelling on the scrotum skin. 

2 - Examine each testicle with both hands. Place the index and middle 
fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the 
testicle gently between the thumbs and fingers -- you shouldn't feel 
any pain when doing the exam. Don't be alarmed if one testicle seems 
slightly larger than the other, that's normal.   

*** The testicle should feel smooth and have an egg-like appearance with
the exception being where the epididymis attaches.  This is the soft, 
tube-like structure behind the testicle that collects and carries sperm 
- you need to be familiar with this structure so you won't mistake it for 
a suspicious lump. Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides 
of the testicle but can also show up on the front as well.

3 - If you find a lump, see a doctor, preferably a urologist, right away.  
The abnormality may not be cancer, it may just be an infection. But 
if it is TC, the chances are great it can spread if not stopped by 
treatment. Waiting and hoping will not fix anything - urologic or TC. 
When in doubt, get it checked out - if only for peace of mind! 

Other signs of TC to keep in mind are: 

 - Any enlargement of a testicle;
 - A significant loss of size in one of the testicles;
 - A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum;
 - A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin;
 - A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum;
 - Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum; 
 - Blood in the urine;
 - Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts. 

     *** Remember, only a physician can make a positive diagnosis *** 

This information is brought to you by the Testicular Cancer Resource
Center. The TCRC is a volunteer effort by former TC patients who's
sole goal is to help others in their fight against this disease.