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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Monthly self-exams aren’t just for women anymore.

For years, women have been told to examine their breasts on a monthly basis to help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages. Men, too, are also encouraged to perform monthly testicular self-exams to help detect that relatively rare cancer sooner, said Dr. Paul Monk, a researcher at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

“Historically, testicular cancer was such a dreaded disease, but now, thanks to earlier detection and better treatment, most men are surviving and living productive lives,” Monk said. “Many can even father children after treatment.”

Although testicular cancer is most common among young men ranging in age from teens to mid-30s, the disease can also occur later in life. The cancer is relatively rare, accounting for 8,000 cases or about 2 percent of all cancers diagnosed annually, according to Monk.

“It’s important for men to get to know their bodies, so they can distinguish when something has changed and can do something about it,” he said.

African Americans tend to have a lower risk of testicular cancer than white men or Hispanics. Men with a family history of testicular cancer may have an increased risk of developing the disease. Warning signs for testicular cancer may include lumps, swelling or pain in the testicles, Monk said.

“If you notice any of these signs, see a doctor immediately,” Monk said. “Testicular cancer is fast-growing, although cure rates are high when detected and treated early.”

Unlike some other cancers, testicular cancer has few known risk factors. Men born with an undescended testicle have a higher-than average risk of developing testicular cancer, Monk said.

The overall cure rate is about 90 percent, and about 70 percent of men can still father children following treatment, Monk said.

When discovered early, testicular cancer is often treated with surgery alone to remove the testicle, Monk said. Once the cancer has spread into lymph nodes and other organs, chemotherapy and radiation may be required.

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute is one of the nation’s leading centers for research on the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The OSUCCC – James encompasses six interdisciplinary research programs and includes more than 200 investigators who generate over $100 million annually in external funding. It is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and OSU’s James Cancer Hospital is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals for cancer care.

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