Wow! April is here with us and its the month for many celebrations such as easter. But did you know that April is the month for testicular cancer awareness for men? I bet yu should know. What about the testicular cancer awareness and what are the men supposed to know about this type of cancer? This article will give details and facts of TESTICULAR CANCER and how to self examine every month to acertain if you might be having the signs and what to do.

Facts

1. Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are located inside the scrotum, a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. 
2. Testicular cancer usually affects young men,age 15 - 34, in their prime of youth. If not detected early could lead to death.
3. Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35.
4. Unlike other types of cancer, testicular cancer is treatable even if its has spread even to other parts of the body ( beyond the testicle). However, depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments, or a combination.

How to do self-examination every month just to be sure your manhood is okay:

• Hold your penis out of the way and examine eachtesticle separately.
• Hold your testicle between your thumbs and fingers with both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
• Look and feel for any hard lumps or nodules (smooth rounded masses) or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of yourtesticles.

However, it should be noted that it’s normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other, and for one to hang lower than the other.

You should also be aware that each normal testicle has a small, coiled tube called the epididymis that can feel like a small bump on the upper or middle outer side of the testis. Normal testicles also contain blood vessels, supporting tissues, and tubes that carry sperm. Some men may confuse these with abnormal lumps at first. If you have any concerns, ask your doctor.

Also Read: What you need to know about Testicular Cancer

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:

A lump or enlargement in either testicle
A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
Back pain

However, it should be noted that Cancer usually affects only one testicle.  When detected early, 99% of guys can survive after treatment. As such, early detection is key for every man.

 This can be interesting for you: Janet Mbugua Ndichu Shares her struggle with Endometriosis

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you detect any pain, swelling or lumps in your testicles or groin area, especially if these signs and symptoms last longer than two weeks.