|
In
this article, I will talk about how you can check for Testicular
cancer, the three stages of Testicular cancer, and treatment
of Testicular cancer.
A
few facts
- Cancer
of the testicles accounts for only about 1 percent of all
cancers in men, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- About
7,000 Americans were expected to get the disease in 1999,
with an estimated 325 deaths.
- Compared
with prostate cancer, estimated to kill 40,400 of its 244,000
victims in 1999, testicular cancer is relatively rare. However,
in men aged 15 to 34, it is the most common cancer.
- For unknown
reasons, the disease is about four times more common in white
men than in black men.
Just some
information that I thought everyone should know first.
How
to carry out the Testicular Self Examination
TSE (Testicular
Self Examination) is best performed after a warm bath or shower.
Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to spot anything
abnormal. The National Cancer Institute recommends following
these steps every month:
• While
standing infront of a mirror, check the skin of the scrotom
for any swelling.
• Using both hands, examine each testicle. Place the index
and middle fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed
on top. Roll the testicle gently your thumbs and fingers (Dont
be alarmed if one testicle is larger than the other, this is
completely normal).
• Find the epididymis, the soft, tube-like structure behind
the testicle that collects and carries sperm. Its nearer to
the back of the testicle, and if you know your balls, you will
know what it feels like, and not be worried when you find it.
Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides of the testicle
but can also show up on the front.
• If you find a lump, see a doctor right away. The abnormality
may not be cancer, but if it is, the chances are great it can
spread if not stopped by treatment. Only a physician can make
a positive diagnosis.
Most tumors
are an enlarged, painless lump, although pain accompanying the
tumor is not uncommon. The lump is typically pea-sized, but
sometimes it might be as big as a marble or even an egg. Besides
lumps, if a man notices any other abnormality, either an enlarged
testicle, a feeling of heaviness or sudden collection of fluid
in the scrotum, a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin, or
enlargement or tenderness of the breasts, he should discuss
it with a physician right away. These symptoms can be caused
by conditions other than cancer. But only a doctor can tell
for sure, and it is critical to seek attention as soon as possible.
Now, I don’t mean to scare anyone with the next section
of the article, but I think its important to know what the stages
of testicular cancer are.
Physicians measure the extent of the disease by conducting tests
that allow the doctor to categorize, or "stage," the
disease. These staging tests include blood analyses, imaging
techniques, and sometimes additional surgery. Staging allows
the doctor to plan the most appropriate treatment for each patient.
There
are three stages of testicular cancer:
• Stage
1--The testicle itself is the only source of cancer.
• Stage 2--The cancer spreads to retroperitoneal lymph
nodes, located in the rear of the body below the diaphragm (a
muscle which is responcible for breathing as well as seperating
the rib cage and abdomen.
• Stage 3--Cancer spread beyond the lymph nodes to sites
in the rest of the body.
Finally,
I think it’s important to know that Testicular cancer is
curable, as well as rare. BUT, if you do discover during a TSE
that something isn’t right, and that you have Testicular
cancer there are a few ways to cure it.
Of course,
the most well known method for removal would be chemotherapy.
This involves radiation treatment, as well as some medications.
Another treatment would be the removal of the cancerous testicle
itself. The final stage is the removal of lymph nodes in the
abdominal area.
OVERALL,
I think that for ALL men, Testicular cancer is a big deal! And
even if you don’t like the thought of touching your balls
for a self examination… I think that you really should
change your mind. It might save your life, as well as your testicle.
Article
by Boner Man Copyright © 2002 penis-natural-enlargement.com
|
