According to Linda Greeff, the founder of Cancer Buddies, while South Africa doesn’t have a cancer registry, as it stands in 2011, it’s estimated that 15,000 men would be diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The good news is testicular cancer doesn’t have to be deadly. You just have to be well informed about the disease.
Here are the important facts about testicular cancer
“Testicular cancers are rare and highly curable, even when the cancer has spread beyond the testicle,” said Greeff in an interview with Destiny Man.
She continued:”Men who have an undescended testicle are at higher risk of developing testicular cancer than men whose testicles have moved normally down into the scrotum.”
A swelling in the scrotum is usually the first sign of testicular cancer. A doctor will examine the testicles to feel for any lumps. If any lumps are found, the doctor will perform an ultrasound examination, which uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the testicles.
The good news is you can do testicular self-examination to check for lumps. And it doesn’t even take longer than five minutes. Use these five steps to check for testicular cancer.
According to Greeff, if detected and treated early, the chances of survival and fathering children stands at 95%, even with if you lose one testicle. BUT, if left untreated for a very long period, the chances do diminish.
Be warned: While testicular cancer isn’t hereditary, your chances are greater if your siblings or father suffered from the cancer.
The important thing here is that cancer is no longer a death sentence. Conduct self-examinations regularly to check for lumps. Remember 90% of testicular cancer can be treated if caught early.
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