Man Up Against Testicular Cancer

Jason Morton is encouraging guys to man up and face the facts: testicular cancer accounts for 1 percent of all cancers in men in the U.S., occurring most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39.

Morton, PC support unit manager in the Department of Information Services, is a testicular cancer survivor. He said although most guys have heard of testicular cancer, they don’t know much about it.

Morton’s battle with stage III testicular cancer inspired him to become an advocate for Single Jingles, a testicular cancer foundation that provides education and support to young adult men, in an effort to raise awareness of the disease.

Testicular cancer survivor Matt Ferstler founded the group after his left testicle was removed in 2009 as part of his treatment. Since the surgery left Ferstler with one testicle, he coined the name, “single jingle."

Morton and Ferstler Share Their Stories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JFSn34LvOo

Allan Haynes, M.D., Texas Tech Physicians Urology, said although the thought of losing a testicle is unbearable for some men, the good news is that testicular cancer is one of the most treatable and survivable types of cancer.

Check Yourself

"The key is to do self-exams on a regular basis,” Haynes said. “Once a month, examine the size, shape and texture of your testicles. Notice when something is different."

Men should see a doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• a painless lump or swelling in a testicle
• pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
• any enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it feels
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back or groin

A physician will do a physical exam and may order lab and diagnostic tests that may include blood tests, ultrasounds or biopsies.

Haynes said most men with testicular cancer can be cured with surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. The testicle is removed through an incision in the groin. An operation to remove one testicle does not make a man impotent and seldom interferes with fertility.

"Even in late stages, odds of survival are quite high," Haynes said. "Yet, treatment may be tougher to get through and there are possibilities the cancer may spread to other organs. The best bet is to catch it early."