AwARneSs

During my last pathophysiology class our teacher who is a NP, emphasized doing our monthly examinations. The focal point was that not only do women need to be doing breast exams monthly, but men need to be doing testicular examinations. The average age for testicular cancer is 15-34!

Our teacher was very concerned because she recently diagnosed a 24 year old with metastatic testicular cancer, meaning it has already moved to other areas of the body. She said his prognosis isn't very good and his only symptom was an aching lowing abdomen. Monthly examinations could have helped him find his grape sized lump a little earlier :)

The testicular exam is very similar to the breast exam, look for a FROZEN PEA... Here are a couple of links with more information for both exams.

Women
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

Men
http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/testicular.htm