The testicles are an external part of the male reproductive system. The male reproductive system has two distinct external organs, essentially, the penis and the testicles. The testicles are a pair of oval shaped organs that are housed in a soft loose sac of skin and they hang below the pelvic region. The sac loosens and tightens based on the atmospheric temperature so that the testes are maintained at a temperature that is slightly below the temperature of the body. The testicles produce sperm which, in a mixture with semen, are ejaculated from the penis during the culmination of sexual activity. During sexual intercourse, this process is a part of the reproductive process. The testicles are extremely sensitive to touch and physical injury can be extremely painful.
Testicular cancer is a form of cancer disease which affects the testicles and the area inside the testicular sac. This form of cancer carries one of the highest rates of survival amongst cancers as it is fairly easy to diagnose. The testicles hang away from the body and are thus easily accessible from all sides for examination, either by you or by a healthcare professional. An at home testicular examination can be done visually or by touching the sac. Any visual increase in the size of the testicular sac is a sign of the formation of some type of tumor within the sac or of fluid accumulation within the sac. While this is not a diagnosis for cancer, it can be used as a reason to undergo further testing.
Another test that can be done at home is done by touching the area and attempting to discover any masses within the testicular sac that are not normal. Any presence of an unnatural growth is another reason to go in for testing. One can also diagnose a problem in the testes based on any pain that may be felt in the area. The pain may be dull or sharp, and intermittent or continuous. Without the occurrence of any external physical injury or aggressive sexual activity, such pains should be described to a doctor for diagnosis.
It is important to note that a full cancer diagnosis cannot be done by oneself and there is a requirement for testing tissue samples along with blood and urine samples before a diagnosis can be made. The home tests are performed just as clues of a possible condition that can affect you.
Submitted by M T on May 10, 2010 at 04:17