Emma Howard: Hello! I am Emma Howard and I am joined by Dr. Jonty Heaversedge, who is an expert of men's health problems. Hello!
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Hi Emma!
Emma Howard: Jonty, I've got a question here, again lots of young men I think will be very interested to hear the answer to. There has been a lot of press recently about testicular cancer, but this young man wants to know how do I check myself for lumps? And if I find a lump how can I tell if there is anything to be worried about?
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Yeah, I am so pleased actually that he has asked this question, because I don't know but testicular cancer is actually the most common cancer in men aged between 15-35, so it's young man who get testicular cancer and often there are people who aren't checking.
Emma Howard: Yes, yes, there is young men who don't want to know there is a problem. All think they'll go away.
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely, and the great thing is it's curable if you pick it up early, it's genuinely curable. So the first thing to do is to check regularly, and I suggest usually about once month just so that you get used to the feel of your testicles.
Emma Howard: I mean somewhere in the shower is that a good place to check yourself out. They certainly tell women check their breasts out in the shower so it doesn't work for men too.
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely, yeah the scrotum is a muscle and actually when it's warm, it's more relaxed. So much better in shower or bath, warm conditions are ideal. And check one testicle at a time. And the way to examine them is to take the testicle between a thumb and the first two fingers and just gently roll it around between the fingers, so that you can feel the surface of the testicle.
What you normally feel is that the surface is smooth and the testicle is quite firm. And then at the back and this is confusing for a lot of men, at the back towards the top there is a sort of stringing structure that you can feel, it's little a bit more tendered, uncomfortable when you are feeling it, and that's called the epididymis and that's quite normal. But obviously alarm bells should sound if you are examining the testicle and you feel any lumps or bumps on the surface of the testicle.
If one testicle seems to increase in size or become harder or firmer to touch then I think it's worth going to see your GP and having it checked. Anything that you think changes or abnormal, it's such an important thing to get checked.
Emma Howard: And as we've already said, is young man who don't like going and checking these things out, they often think if there is a problem, it will go away. Testicular cancer unchecked is a potential killer, isn't it?
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely, it is, yeah, absolutely if you don't catch it early and treat it, then it does, it kills young men.
Emma Howard: But caught early, absolutely curable.
Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: It is absolutely if it's caught early.
Emma Howard: So no stronger message than that, if you think you've got a problem go and get it checked.
Well, if you have a similar problem, we do hope we might have given you some help, and remember, it's always best to go and see your own doctor for medical advice.
Thanks for watching, we'll be back with more health questions and answers.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services