I saw a young man in clinic today who was absolutely beside himself with worry over a small lump near his testicle. Thankfully, within half an hour, we were able to examine him and do an ultrasound that confirmed it was just a harmless little cyst. No treatment needed—he walked out feeling relieved and ready to enjoy his weekend.
It’s stories like his that remind me how important early action is. Unfortunately, not everyone comes in so quickly. A few months ago, I saw another man who’d had a lump for nearly three months. He kept hoping it would just go away. Sadly, his lump turned out to be testicular cancer.
He’s now cancer-free after surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy—but the reality is, if he’d come in as soon as he noticed the lump, we could’ve most likely avoided the chemo altogether.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. The good news? If we catch it early, it’s usually curable with just surgery. No chemo. No radiotherapy. Just one simple operation.
There’s no shortage of reasons men don’t talk about testicular lumps—embarrassment, fear, or simply thinking it’s nothing. But taking just a couple of minutes each month to check can make all the difference.
Here’s what I recommend:
● Men aged 14 to 40 should check their testicles once a month
● The best time is in a warm bath, when the scrotum is relaxed
● Gently feel each testicle, checking for lumps, bumps or anything unusual
● If anything feels off—get it looked at
After age 40, the risk of testicular cancer drops significantly, so routine self-checks aren’t usually needed. But if pain or a lump appears and doesn’t go away after half an hour, it’s time to speak to someone.
It’s quick, simple—and it could save your life
Most lumps aren’t cancer, and most don’t need treatment. But early diagnosis of testicular tumours saves lives. If you’re worried about anything, speak to your GP. If needed, they’ll refer you to a specialist quickly—no fuss, no delay. Getting checked early is always the better choice.