- Two minutes a month is enough for each man to perform a self-examination.
- The best time is after a warm bath because the heat relaxes the skin of the scrotum, making it easier for you to feel anything unusual.
- From June 13 to 19, International Men’s Health Week is commemorated.
In recent years, breast self-examination has gained popularity as a strategy to identify the first signs of a tumor in women. From the results obtained, it is sought to achieve something similar with the male counterpart. Therefore, encourage prostate self-exam It can help to detect various problems and go to a health professional immediately.
According to figures from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), in Mexico the prostate cancer It is the one that causes more deaths among men. To date, it has a prevalence of 9.8 deaths per 100,000. The same behavior is observed in Latin America, which, as a region, registers 413,000 new cases and 85,000 deaths each year.
Checkups all men should get
Due to the above, from June 13 to 19, the International Men’s Health Week. In this framework and in view of the panorama of prostate cancer in Mexico and Latin America, experts from Cleveland Clinic share some tips for performing a proper prostate self-exam.
According to the specialists of this Institute, with two minutes a month you can save your life. This is the time spent on a self-examination to check for Testicular cancer; however, most men do not get checked regularly. In fact, only four out of 10 men surveyed by the Cleveland Clinic reported doing regular self-exams of their testicles.
“That is a missed opportunity to get ahead of a health problem. Testicular cancer is very treatable, with a 95% cure rate, but you have to know that it is there to take care of it,” says urologist Samuel Haywood.
How to perform the scan?
This is a hands-on activity best done after a warm bath. The heat relaxes the skin on your scrotum, making it easier for you to feel anything unusual.
1. Use both hands to check each testicle. Place your index and middle fingers below the testicles and your thumb on top. Then gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers.
2. While feeling your testicles, pay attention to any hard lumps on or inside your testicles. These lumps can be pea-sized or larger and look like a small stone.
3. If you find a lump, contact your doctor to have it checked out.
“The left and right testicles can be different sizes. That’s fine. However, as you review from month to month, watch to see if your testicles seem to change in size, shape, or firmness. Any changes, it’s worth calling your doctor’s office.”
The doctor adds that while the prostate self-exam a cord-like element will be identified at the top and back of each testis. This is called the epididymis and it is supposed to be there. The tubular structure stores and transports sperm.
Why is it important to check the testicles?
Testicular cancer is usually curable, even in later stages. The overall cure rate is 95%. If caught early, that success rate jumps to 98%. This type of cancer is most common between the ages of 20 and 35.