A 23-year-old Johannesburg man was “absolutely stunned and very scared” recently when he was diagnosed with cancer of the testicles‚ also known as testicular cancer.

“It was the last thing I expected to hear when my doctor told me the news‚” recalls the young man‚ who prefers not to be named. “I am young and fit‚ and couldn’t stop wondering how I could have developed cancer of the testicles at such an early age. I kept asking the doctor if he was sure the diagnosis was correct‚” he says.

Dr Johan Venter‚ a urologist who practises at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital‚ says South Africans tend to have a better awareness of the more common cancers such as prostate and breast cancer than they have of testicular cancer.

“Although testicular cancer is relatively rare in the male population overall‚ it is one of the most common cancers occurring in younger men between the ages of 15 and 35‚ although older men can also develop it. Most of us do not expect younger men‚ and particularly teenagers‚ to develop such a cancer‚” observes Dr Venter.

“There needs to be much greater awareness of this form of cancer in South Africa as early detection saves lives. Early treatment has a high success rate‚ with more than 95% of men who are treated timeously being cured. In addition‚ early treatment of this cancer‚ before it has had a chance to spread‚ or metastasise‚ enables doctors to better preserve a man’s reproductive and sexual functioning‚ so that they can retain their quality of life.”

The most common symptom of testicular cancer is a painless lump or swelling in the scrotum‚ which is the sac of skin beneath the penis that encloses the testicles. In some cases the cancerous testicle may become swollen or enlarged without developing a lump‚ or it may hang lower than the other one. Sometimes the disease may cause a dull ache or a heavy feeling in the lower belly or scrotum‚ but this is unusual.

“Just as women are always encouraged to examine their breasts for unusual lumps‚ so all men should self-examine their testicles on a regular basis‚ once a month. They should get to know what their testicles normally feel like and feel for any lumps or abnormalities‚” advises Dr Venter. ”If they feel any lumps or growths they should make an appointment as soon as possible to consult their doctor or a urologist‚ a physician who specialises in the urinary and male reproductive systems.

“It should be kept in mind that lumps in the scrotum may not necessarily be cancerous. However‚ we strongly recommend that any abnormalities in this area be examined by a doctor.”