On your guard

As a TV chat show host, Jeremy Kyle is more used to hearing about other people’s torrid personal battles.

But lately it’s Kyle himself who’s been in the spotlight as he battles cancer.

The 47-year-old had surgery and chemotherapy following the discovery of a growth in his testicles shortly before Christmas. A message on his ITV show’s Facebook page says the father-of-four is now on the mend, and will be back at work “very soon”.

Although testicular cancer is rare (accounting for less than 1% of all cancers), it’s the most common cancer in men aged between 15 and 34. Each year about 164 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in Ireland. Risk factors include having an undescended testicle, a family history of the disease, mumps or repeated testicle trauma.

Testicular cancer is twice as common today as it was 20 years ago — but this isn’t simply a case of the disease being more prevalent, as it’s likely to be due to increased awareness too.

A lump can be felt in 97% of testicular cancer cases, and for about 86% of these it will be painless. A cancerous testis may not feel particularly uncomfortable or sore, but an infected testis usually will be very tender.

Roughly 31% of men diagnosed feel pain, while 29% are aware of a dragging sensation.

Rarely, men with certain types of the disease may have breast swelling or tenderness (gynaecomastia) caused by hormonal changes. If the cancer’s spread, there may be enlarged lymph nodes in the back.

The good news is that if testicular cancer is found early enough, the cure rate is an impressive 98%. And even if the disease has spread to other areas of the body, there’s still a good chance that treatment will be successful. However, the importance of a speedy diagnosis can’t be stressed enough. Left untreated, survival rates can drop to 8%.

Experts encourage men to check themselves every month, after a bath or shower when the scrotum is warm and relaxed. Here’s how:

* Check each testicle separately using one or both hands.

* Roll each testicle between the thumb and forefinger to check the surface is free of lumps or bumps.

* Be aware of the usual size, texture and anatomy of your testicles, and identify the epididymis (sperm collecting tube) that runs behind each testicle, which is sometimes mistaken for an abnormal lump.

* Encourage your partner to also be aware of the usual size, texture and anatomy of your testicles, as they may be more likely to identify a problem.

* For more, visit www.cancer.ie or call 1800 200 700.