Let’s Talk About Testicular Cancer
By Sean McCalley of Men’s Health Network
The website “Deadspin” recently ranked all the different types of balls in the world, from best to worst. The “worst” (#43) are hair balls. The “best” are Super Balls (the bouncy kind).
While I agree baseballs should be in the top five (#4), it’s surprising testicles (i.e. male balls) are lower-middle of the pack, taking the #28 spot. The list launched on April 1st, too; the first day of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s probably safe to assume the connection between balls and the awareness month never occurred to Deadspin. That’s normal: People don’t think about testicular cancer very often. Nobody likes thinking about lumps on a man’s ball, unless you’re someone with an odd way of viewing the world.
“Most urologists have a pretty good sense of humor,” said Dr. Tim Davenport from Tennessee, who uses robotic surgery to treat various cancers in men’s nether regions.
Why don’t men pay more attention to their balls? At least, pay attention in ways that could eventually save their life?
“Thinking about that stuff, the awareness is not where it should be because men feel like they’re indestructible,” said Davenport. “But to sum it all up, there are five things people need to keep in mind:
- Remove the stigma of talking about guys’ own health issues.
- Take the time to do a quick and cost-free self exam.
- Learn how to identify if something’s wrong. Basically, see if it feels like a small, painless stone is attached to your testicle.
- Have the courage to talk to your doctor immediately.
- Keep a sense of urgency, because the sooner you treat a problem like that, the lower your risk of morbidity. In other words, you end up paying a lot less money for treatment that’s way less intense.”
On top of conveniently speaking in list form for readers, Dr. Davenport knows what he’s talking about. Most testicular cancer cases are curable if detected early. For the many men who succumb to the disease, however, sometimes it’s a matter of not detecting or acting in time.
Testicular cancer is primarily a problem young men face between the ages of 15 and 35 years old. That’s probably the worst time to face a potentially deadly disease in a man’s life: Most young men never consider going to the doctor for anything, let alone for something many associate with a manhood problem.
“God gave us two testicles,” said Davenport. “If we have to remove a testicle, it typically will not affect testosterone or your reproductive potential. But make sure you talk to your doctor: that’s the most important thing.”
Even though that’s a simple reality, the idea of checking your own balls for lumps is still a tough sell. The key to changing the minds of young men is humor, according to the creator of the “Save the Doodads” campaign, Mike Leventhal of Men’s Health Network (MHN).
“I thought [a lot] about [the name of the program]… and I came up with ‘doodads.’ It’s based off “Save the Ta-Tas,” and it’s what I used to call them when I was a kid. So, when turned to several of my public health colleagues and asked their thoughts of this potential health promotion campaign, they all encouraged me to do it.”
And it’s working. “Save the Doodads” is a national program, but is the only testicular cancer outreach/awareness initiative within Tennessee encouraging this important health dialogue. Leventhal recalled a moment when the mother of a 17 year old battling testicular cancer reached out to thank him and MHN for creating such an important initiative:
“Her voice was trembling with tears when I answered the phone. She explained that her son underwent the last of his radiation treatments the day prior to her contacting me and his doctors believe he will be able to begin college in the Fall,” said Leventhal. “But most importantly, he will live cancer free. Her gratitude for Save the Doodads extended far beyond herself, her son, and their extended family. She was thankful for MHN’s efforts to inform communities about the risks of testicular cancer and the importance of early detection.”
Leventhal partners with universities and their colleges of public health across the country to highlight the problem during special events on campus. Soon, he hopes to collaborate with middle and high schools to stress being proactive regarding their health.
“Let’s be honest: A big part of the outreach is to raise financial resources,” said Leventhal. “But that money goes straight into programs dedicated to education and reaching more guys. The best feeling we get is when we have fun implementing projects that truly help people.”
So here’s the deal: If you’re a man, and you’re reading this, then take a minute to check out resources like www.TesticularCancerAwarenessMonth.com and/or www.savethedoodads.org. Find out how to do the self exam, watch some catchy videos, download brochures, and don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor if something’s strange.
Because no matter what you find, the exam usually includes a happy ending – you either find nothing (the best result), or maybe an early stage cancer that can almost always be cured.
Visit www.MensHealthResourceCenter.com to learn more about testicular cancer and other men’s health concerns.
