How to Do a Testicular Self-Exam

The Three-Minute Exam That Can Save Your Life

A study done in 1998 proved that men living with HIV had a fifty times greater risk of testicular cancer than men without HIV. Each year in the United States, about 8,000 to 9,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer. Of those, about 300 will die. Luckily, testicular cancer can be successfully treated if detected early. There is a three-minute exam you can do that will detect testicular cancer early so you can be treated sooner.

What is Testicular Cancer?

What is a Testicular Lump

Who's at Greatest Risk for Testicular Cancer?

• males between the ages of 15 and 34 years old
• white males
• those with an undescended testicle at birth
• those with a family history of testicular cancer or who have had testicular cancer before
• men who are HIV-positive

Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

• a lump or hard nodule in the testicle that may or may not be tender or painful
• enlargement of one testicle
• enlargement of breasts or nipples
• heavy sensation in testicle, scrotum, or groin

How to Do a Testicular Self-Exam

• after a warm shower or bath hold your scrotum and gently roll each testicle between your thumb and first two fingers
• examine your scrotum in the mirror noting any swelling
• be alert for any firm, hard, or fixed lumps or nodules inside or on the testicle
• locate the tube-like structure known as the epididymis; it will feel "bumpy"; this is normal
• in addition to doing a self exam each month, you should ask your doctor to examine your testicles yearly

_{Source:
Goedert JJ et al. "Spectrum of AIDS-associated Malignant Disorders". Lancet 351(9119): 1833-1839, 1998.}

The Testicular Cancer Resource Center. "How to Do a Testicular Self Examination" 10 Oct 2006.