Education saves lives.
Education is the first line of defense against this highly-curable disease, and it’s where we want our efforts to run full-force into the future.
We’ve created so many effective ways to educate individuals, families and groups about testicular cancer and prevent the guys in our lives from dying of this eminently-curable cancer.
One way to get the word out is to use our physician-approved self-check-reminder shower hangers and our pamphlet, both available for download at the links under the Materials section.
Another way is to join high schools in the Seattle and Lake Washington School Districts and invite us in to chat with students. We approaching this serious subject with puns, snacks, and Jaimeson Jones’s cautionary story (check out the “Talks” section). Get in touch with us now to schedule one!
Yet another way is to invite us talk any group, including service clubs, business or networking organization, church group, sports team, class, health fair or community event, and we’ll lead a surprisingly-fun discussion on this lifesaving topic, including humorously enticing people into our Nut Huts – which are mobile self-check stations.
And of course, we provide education when we invite the community to the annual Family Jewels Pie-K, where we move runners, walkers and just-sit-and-eat-pie fans with Jaimeson’s story and honor his love of trail running, and pie.
Below are several aspects of our education program. From self-checks to in-school talks, we’ll help you get the word out and you’ll help us #SaveGuysLives. It’s gonna be Nuts!
Risk Factors
Risk factors include a history of an undescended testicle or history of smoking marijuana
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms may include: a lump or bump in the testicle (possibly but not necessarily painful), enlargement or loss of size in one of the testicles, sudden collection of fluid
in the scrotum, or enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.
Signs of advanced disease: Significant weight loss; back and/or abdominal pain; chest pain, coughing or difficulty breathing; headache; enlarged lymph nodes in abdomen and/or neck.
Self Exam
This is best performed after a warm shower or bath.
STEP ONE: Using both hands, cup one testicle at a time.
STEP TWO: Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers and roll it gently between your fingers. Use slight pressure.
STEP THREE: Familiarize yourself with the spermatic cord and epididymis. These are tube-like structures that connect to the back side of each testicle .
STEP FOUR: Feel for lumps, change in size or irregularities.
It is normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other one.
If you ever notice a change in your testicles, DON’T WAIT!
See your Primary Care provider as soon as possible.
Statistics
- Testicular cancer is the most likely solid organ cancer in males 15-44.
- It is 95% curable when caught early
- There are almost 10,000 cases diagnosed per year, and this number is growing.
- HALF of all who are diagnosed with this cancer do not seek medical care until after their cancer has spread.
- There are over 400 deaths every year of this cancer, and HALF of those occur between the ages of 20 and 33.
The Nut Hut
The Nut Hut is an opaque, single-person tent which provides a private place to perform a self-check of one’s testicles. It travels anywhere it is invited and comes with posters explaining how to do a self-check, the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, a medical-grade model of a scrotum with testicles if you don’t want to check your own, take-home information and, of course, Purell.
Talks
We are absolutely thrilled to come talk testicles with any group — service club, business or networking organization, church group, sports team, class, health fair, community event, you name it — and we’ll lead a surprisingly-fun discussion on this lifesaving topic, including humorously enticing people into our Nut Hut (see above for picture), a mobile testicle self-check station.
Materials
Download these physician-approved items to serve as reminders for all the guys in your life, including YOU!
