Testicular tumors are most often discovered by men themselves, so learning how to perform an exam is a potentially life-saving achievement. Tumors often present as swollen and painless pea-sized lumps, although they can cause pain and be as large as a marble or even a golf ball.

In addition to lumps, symptoms such as a bloated testicle, a feeling of weightiness or sudden gathering of fluid in the scrotum, a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin or enlargement or tenderness of the breast-area should be examined by a healthcare provider immediately. Though these may be present for other reasons, they may indicate testicular cancer and should be taken seriously.

What to Do

Your chances of recovery should you have testicular cancer are greatly increased by early detection: the earlier you find a suspicious lump, the less severe the cancer may be.

The National Cancer Institute recommends monthly self-exams by doing the following:

To start, take a warm bath or shower to relax the scrotum.

Stand in front of a mirror and look for at your penis. Check the scrotum for swelling. Inspect each testicle with both hands by placing your index and middle fingers under the testicle with the thumbs on top. Roll the testicle gently between your fingers and thumb.

Locate the epididymis--a tube-like structure behind the testicles that transports sperm. If you learn what the epididymis feels like, you’re less likely to mistake it for a suspicious lump during an exam. Often cancerous lumps appear on the sides of the testicle, though they may appear on the front of the testicle as well.

See a healthcare provider immediately if you find something suspicious. Don’t let pride or embarrassment get in the way of seeking treatment. If it turns out that you do have cancer, your chances of survival are drastically increased the sooner you begin treatment; early detection gives you the best chance of getting treated early. As cancer survivor Glenn Knies said during an interview, “Fear shouldn't keep men from doing the testicular self-exam, men need not feel self-conscious about touching themselves there. It only takes a few seconds for them to tell if everything's fine. If they find something, they shouldn't be afraid to say something. Wishing it away isn't going to make it go away.”