It's Good to Play With Your Nuts

At Least Once A Month

How to Check Your Nuts

LOOK
Check your testicles just after you've had a bath or shower, when the muscles in the scrotum are relaxed, making it easier for you to feel any lumps, growths or tenderness. Stand in front of the mirror. Look for any swelling on the skin of your scrotum.
HOLD
Hold your scrotum in your hands and feel the size and weight of each testicle. It is common for one testicle to be slightly larger or hang lower than the other.

FEEL
Feel each testicle and roll it between your thumb and finger. It should feel smooth. It's normal to feel a soft, tender tube towards the back of each testicle. You shouldn't feel any pain when checking your testicles.
REPEAT
Once familiar with how your testicles feel, keep an eye out for any changes. If you detect a change, don’t freak out, just see a doctor as soon as possible.

By catching testicular cancer you can potentially diminish the severity of the disease. An early diagnosis can also shorten the length of treatment required. The four steps don’t take long — why not check yourself whenever there’s an opportunity?

The content is courtesy of Canadian Cancer Society

Signs and Symptoms

In addition to the four steps, you should also watch out for the following signs and symptoms. Many signs and symptoms of testicular cancer can be caused by other health conditions and are vague and often mild. But it’s important to have any unusual symptoms checked by a doctor, especially if they last longer than 2–4 weeks.

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer are:

Painless lump on the testicle – can vary in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres
Persistent lump on the testicle that does not go away
Feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen or scrotum
Painful testicle
Swelling of a testicle
Enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen or neck

If the cancer grows larger or spreads to other parts of the body, including other organs, additional signs may arise:

Back pain – if the cancer spreads to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen
Cough with or without blood-stained sputum – if the cancer spreads to the lungs
Shortness of breath due to buildup of fluid around the lungs

Rarer signs and symptoms include:

Excessive hair growth
Male breast tenderness or enlargement

If you notice any of the above signs of symptoms, don’t freak out. Just see a doctor as soon as possible. For more information about testicular cancer, risks, early detection, diagnosing testicular cancer, pathology, treatment, supportive care, research and prognosis for survival, click here.