April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month! This year, an estimated 9,470 men in the United States will be diagnosed with testicular cancer. About 1 out of 250 males will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime.1

Knowledge is Power

Increasing the awareness of testicular health and testicular cancer is a critical step in the early detection and diagnosis of the disease. It is also important to educate men and their families about risk factors and symptoms of testicular health and testicular cancer.

  • Most healthcare providers agree that examining a patient’s testicles should be part of a general physical exam during a routine or annual check-up.1
  • Some healthcare providers recommend monthly self-exams after a male reaches puberty, but each man has to decide for himself whether or not to do this. 1
  • The American Cancer Society advises men to be aware of testicular cancer and to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider immediately if they find a lump in a testicle.

What is Your Risk?

The following factors can raise a person’s risk of developing testicular cancer. However, it is important to note that the cause of testicular cancer is not known.2

  • Age: more than half of the people who are diagnosed with testicular cancer are between age 20 and 45.
  • Cryptorchidism: an undescended testicle, meaning that one or both testicles do not move down into the scrotum before birth. This condition increases the risk of developing testicular cancer.
  • Family History: having a close relative, particularly your father or a sibling, who has had testicular cancer increases your risk of developing testicular cancer.
  • HIV Infection: People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV have a slightly higher risk of developing seminoma.

Getting Educated

There are several organizations that provide valuable patient resources and information on topics such as early detection and prevention, screening and testing for testicular cancer, and much more.

Take time during Testicular Cancer Awareness Month to speak with a healthcare provider about testicular cancer risks, symptoms and screening.

If you are a healthcare provider, click here to become a client so you can begin ordering diagnostic tests from BioReference and GenPath today.

References

  1. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/testicular-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
  2. Net https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/testicular-cancer/risk-factors