Testicular cancer is almost always curable if it is found early, so regular checks are necessary for early treatment
WHAT HAVE footballer Alan Stubbs, snooker player Jimmy White, cyclist Lance Armstrong, jump jockey Bob Champion and legendary US athlete Steve Scott got in common? They're all survivors of testicular cancer.
The fact that many of these were diagnosed with the disease in their prime and at the height of their careers says a lot about testicular cancer. It is largely a younger man's disease.
Although testicular cancer accounts for less then 2 per cent of all cancers in men, it is the most commonly seen cancer in young men aged 15 to 40.
Around 90 cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed in the Republic each year. In most cases, the exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown. Although it is still quite rare, the number of men who develop testicular cancer has been steadily increasing for the past few years. The reason for this is not known, but research is going on all the time into possible causes.
Testicular cancer is more common in men with an undescended testicle or who have a testicle that did not descend until some time after birth, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
There is a very small increased risk of developing testicular cancer if your father or brother had the disease.
However, it stresses that testicular cancer does not occur because of any sexual practice or lifestyle. No link between injury or sport strains and testicular cancer has been found, it says, but injury may cause a tumour to become more obvious.
The first sign is usually a swelling of one of the testicles, or a pea-sized hard lump on the front or side of a testicle. Occasionally there may be a dull ache, or, even more seldom, acute pain.
The best way to check for testicular cancer is to perform a monthly testicular self-examination, according to Liz Tobin, cancer information nurse with the Irish Cancer Society's helpline. Only 3 per cent of young men regularly check their testicles according to an Imperial Cancer Research Fund study.
"You will always hear about women and breastcheck and checking for lumps," says Tobin. "Men should really get into that routine as well and it is very easy to check with your hand to feel the testes and to get used to how they feel and what feels normal and then you will recognise what's abnormal."
The key issue is not to panic, according to Tobin - some lumps will turn out to be non-cancerous cysts. But it is important to see a doctor straight away. Testicular cancer is almost always curable if it is found early and early detection greatly improves treatment outcomes, says Tobin.
However, a major problem is that some men feel uncomfortable approaching their doctors about genital disorders.
"Sometimes embarrassment can be a thing with men but it is important that they go to their GP or the Wellman clinics to get it looked at," says Tobin.
In Britain, a novel approach to highlighting the disease was launched in 2001. Keep Your Eye on the Ball was set up by the Professional Footballers' Association, the Football Association and the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign four years ago in response to several high-profile players being diagnosed with testicular cancer and to make fans and players aware of testicular and prostate cancer.
"We are aiming to get young men's heroes to talk about it and maybe then they won't be so embarrassed themselves," explains Dominique Vincent, press officer for Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.
"We felt that working with the FA would raise awareness in the football community because obviously a lot of young men who might be likely to get testicular cancer support football and are fans. We have got to the stage where it is 99 per cent curable if you catch it early and we were quite keen to spread that message."
If your doctor confirms that you have an unusual lump or swelling, you may be sent to a urologist for further tests. Surgery to remove a testicle, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used alone or together to treat testicular cancer.
Tobin says that the removal of a testicle can take its toll psychologically on some men.
"Most of the time they are offered an implant at the time of surgery, so obviously that will reduce the psychological effects of having one testicle. They will still feel that they look the same."
The removal of one testicle will not affect your sexual performance or your ability to father children, says Tobin. However, chemotherapy treatment for men with testicular cancer commonly causes infertility during treatment and for a time after.
"If men are going on for radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment, they will be offered sperm banking," says Tobin.