If you look at the headlines closely enough, you will notice that we are in the age of heightened awareness. Awareness about this thing or that idea. It has served to increase the anxiety levels and maybe we needed that so that we could clean up our act as occupants of this world.

Before we get exhausted, April is a testicular cancer awareness month. I am finding myself increasingly discuss men* and their health. We could say I am a tad biased. At least for April. My psychology lecturer cautioned that when addressing men, I need to be brief and be gone.  I will try to be exactly that in this blogpost.

Though little known or talked bout, testicular cancer affects men in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Some have been diagnosed at the tender age of 15. While prostate cancer is associated with increasing age, testicular cancer is sometimes considered a cancer of youth. The good news is that it is one of the most effectively curable cancers. Research shows that the average age at which men get diagnosed with testicular cancer is 28-33 years old. Surely you know someone if not someone that knows someone in this age group!

Unlike women, men are notoriously known for keeping things in and especially where their sexual and reproductive matters are concerned. This is especially true for the African man.  Many theories can explain this but that is beside the point. This testicular  ice breaker therefore is a custom-made vinaigrette of details for men to consume in their personal spaces.

What causes testicular cancer?

Just like any cancer, testicular cancer is as a result of mutation or changes of cells in the testes.  Lack of sex will not cause it. Just like lack of sex will not cause back pain. Enough with the medical myths already. We can treat testicular cancer completely once we diagnose it early. That is why you must familiarise yourself with your testes.

A friend on one of my social media pages wrote in  response to this conversation that poverty pays interest. That failure to examine your testes then they be found with a problem later in life will cost you money, time and all resources that you would have saved had you formed a habit of examining them. Once a month will do.

Basic Anatomy

Gentlemen, you have two testes/testicles. If you have one, then the condition is called cryptorchidism. It means undescended testes. In undescended testes, it means that while you were a foetus, one testicle refused to come down from the lower abdominal region where they usually are while a foetus is in the uterus.

This condition is actually one of the highest risks to testicular cancer. We need to perform a surgery to bring down the undescended testes to the scrotum. A scrotum is the sac-like skin structure that contains your testicles.

Behind the testicle where the sperms are made, there is a small, coiled tube called the epididymis where sperms mature. Connected to this is the spermatic cord which is a duct or a tube that transports semen to the penis. Knowing this basic structure helps us to know any anomalies.

How to examine the testes

Please note that testicles and testes are one and the same. Both are correct English.

Take a shower first. A warm shower. Neither hot nor cold. For every physical examination, we must start by visualizing. What do we see? Perhaps you want to use a mirror if you cannot see them. Probably lift your belly upwards to give you room to look at your testes.

An obviously swollen scrotum should make you visit the doctor for a check-up. Sometimes, water from the body collects in the scrotum making it feel heavy and swollen. This is an entirely different medical issue. Your doctor needs to attend to it.

After looking, we need to feel the testes. Is there any pain? Is there any change to how you have always known them? What changes are these?

Next, we must touch. This is perhaps the most significant bit.

Now, hold one testicle using both hands and roll it between your thumb and fingers. Do not ask your significant other to do it for you. I want you to do this one by yourself. You got this.

Apply slight pressure. Slight because we do not want you to hurt those lovely babies. Pressure because we want to feel the outline of the testicle.

It should feel smooth all well-rounded. However, be aware of the epididymis and the spermatic cords behind the testes. Please do  not confuse them for lumps.

A lump, painful or painless, is usually the first sign of testicular cancer. Please  talk to a doctor for further investigation. Run your fingers and thumb along the epididymis and spermatic cord  up to the point they disappear under the penis.

This is your anatomy. You were made this way. Embrace yourself.

Cup the other testicle in your hands and look out for the same features. If you have one testicle we need to talk to the doctor. Remember that it is normal for one testicle to be slightly bigger than the other. However, if one is remarkably bigger than the other, this is a concern a doctor should address.

These steps are understandably too easy as to be called silly. Yet testicular cancer affects sexuality of several men. Perhaps it explains the silent epidemic of liberal use of aphrodisiacs today. It may be that men have significant concerns about their reproductive health, and the society is just too busy creating new hashtags. Creating new problems while we are yet to deal with those that are staring down at us.

To every man reading this, it is alright to love yourself. Not through pointless positive affirmations or such cliches. It is by acting upon what you know. You now know a little about testicular cancer, the ball, pun unintended, is in your court.

*The use of the word men in this blogpost refers to people that have testes. It is not meant to discriminate or ostracise anyone in any way. It is purely for reference and context.