Penis Pain: Does It Mean Testicular Cancer?

When a man suffers from penis pain, his worst fears start to dance around in the back of his mind. Even if he knows, deep down, that nothing is seriously wrong, he will begin to worry about what might eventually happen. And for most guys, that includes worries about testicular cancer.

It is very important to check for testicular cancer on a regular basis. It can be a virtually silent problem, one that causes no penis pain at all until it is in advanced stages. That’s why men should always take the time, at least once a month, to examine themselves properly to ensure that there are no problems or changes in their little fellows. In addition, a guy should have an exam done with a board-certified urologist at least once a year to help ensure that he’s not missing anything.

Doing a self-check is pretty easy. A man simply has to manipulate his testicles, feeling them thoroughly, and learn about the certain "landmarks" that are supposed to be there versus something that feels different. The more familiar he is with his testicles, the more likely he will be to spot a problem as soon as it starts.

What to Know About Testicular Cancer

When a guy is feeling his boys, he needs to know what to look for. Here are some points to keep in mind when it’s time to check.

- A healthy testicle will have some bumps. That’s because of the tiny tube between the testicles and the penis that carries sperm out during ejaculation. It might feel like a marble or a pea, or even a lump of about an inch or so. The key is making sure the same bump (or similar bump) is on both sides.

- There might be some slight pain. It’s important to remember that the testicles are very sensitive, especially when they are being manipulated. Keep in mind that this might be uncomfortable, especially if a guy is really feeling around with intent, but it should not cause penis pain.

- The testicles should feel soft. Though it should be easy to grasp and manipulate each testicle, they should feel soft to the touch. A guy should be able to squeeze them and feel some "give" to the tissue. If they feel hard and solid, that’s cause for concern. It’s also cause for concern if they feel a bit heavier than usual, such as if they were filled with fluid.

- Testicle size should stay roughly the same. There’s a myth about testicles that say they can change size from month to month. Though there might occasionally be some small changes if a man has had vigorous sexual activity or has sustained some sort of injury, the testicles should usually be about the same size each time a man does the exam.

- Testicles should hang unevenly. The testicles move around in the scrotum. This allows them to move into certain positions to maintain a proper temperature. So it’s not unusual that one of them hangs lower than the other at any given moment. However, if one is hanging much lower than usual and causing penis pain, it’s time to see the doctor.

- Check out the penis, too. When manipulating the balls, make sure the penis is also included. It’s important to look for issues that might occur with the penis while testing the testicles, such as discharge from the tip of the penis, any sort of penis pain, or redness or swelling. These might indicate a problem that a guy couldn’t feel during the testicular exam.

- Stop worrying. It’s important to remember that testicular cancer happens to a very small number of men, and that most conditions that might seem to be cancer are actually not. The more a man worries about it, the more fixated on bad outcomes he can get.

Take Care of the Penis

As part of good self-care, a man should reach for a high-quality penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Find an oil that includes vitamins A, B5, C, D, and E, as well as good amino acids that will help smooth, ease, and heal the skin.

Avoiding Penis Problems: Spotting the Signs of Testicular Cancer

In the world of penis problems, one looms large in the fears of men: testicular cancer. Horror stories abound about men who wound up with testicular cancer, including some high-profile individuals: Lance Armstrong is the first to come to mind for most, as well as figure skater Scott Hamilton and comedian Tom Green. The good news is that proper penis care that includes monthly checks of the testicles can go a long way toward spotting changes early, and thus getting a man in for treatment if anything is detected.

How to look for testicular cancer

Knowing and recognizing the signs of testicular cancer are the most important parts of a testicular exam. A man should take the time to become very familiar with this particular set of balls, so that he will have no problem noticing changes in the future. The first few times he does this exam, it’s all about getting that familiarity. Once he knows everything there is to know about the way his testicles feel, he can go about looking for the signs of testicular cancer at every new exam.

A self-exam should be done at least once a month. Here’s what a man should look for:

1. Changes in size. There should be no variation in size of the testicles from one month to the next. If it seems that one side (or both) is growing, swelling or otherwise changing shape, that could be a red flag that something is wrong in there.

2. Changes in hanging. How the boys hang could also be a factor to watch. Looking in the mirror every now and then to make sure they look the same is a good idea. It’s normal for one testicle to hang lower than the other. However, if one hangs much lower or they otherwise look different, pay attention.

3. Changes in lumps or bumps. Some men will have lumps or bumps in the sacks, and that’s normal. In fact, one such area might be the tiny tube that carries sperm - it sometimes feels like a pea or marble between the fingers. Remember, the key here is to look for changes. If there is a particular lump that has been there for years but never changed, it’s probably nothing. But if that lump does start to change, then it could be something.

4. Changes in softness. The testicles should be soft and spongy when a man pulls on them. They shouldn’t feel hard, waterlogged, or otherwise filled with fluid. If it seems they just don’t feel right, see a doctor to get a professional opinion.

5. Changes in pain. A testicular exam shouldn’t cause pain. A man should be able to roll the skin between his fingers, feel along the underside of the scrotum, poke and prod while looking for lumps or bumps, and even squeeze the area without any discomfort. If he suddenly feels pain or discomfort while doing these things, that’s a sign that he needs to get checked out.

6. Changes in the penis. Testicular cancer can also show up in penis changes. One of these is discharge of a clear or yellow substance from the penis when the testicles are manipulated. This could indicate something going on in there, or it could also indicate some sort of infection in the penis itself. This type of discharge always warrants a doctor’s visit.

A man should take care to do a self-exam at least once per month. He can help along his penis health and get a casual exam in while using a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) on a daily basis. Look for a crème that contains Shea butter and vitamin E for softness, as well as alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant that fights against free radicals. This great combination can help improve penis health and offer peace of mind for those worried about penis problems.

Testicular Cancer Quiz - What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

A monthly ball-check exam could help men to spot dangerous changes related to testicular cancer. However, those self-check moments only work when men know what they're looking for. While a self-exam is not a substitute for a regular penis health exam with a qualified urologist, this quiz will help men to test their knowledge and learn a little more about what they should be watching for as they probe things downstairs.

The Questions
1) True or false: Testicles change in size all the time, so an increase in size shouldn't cause a man any concern at all.

2) True or false: A healthy testicle has no lumps or bumps at all.
3) Testicles should feel: soft, waterlogged, hard.
4) Testicles should hang: evenly, unevenly.
5) True or false: A monthly exam should be somewhat painful.
6) What's one thing men should watch for as they manipulate the testicles?
7) Is there anything men can do to make these sorts of exams just a little more pleasant?

The Answers
1) False. The size of the testicles should be somewhat fixed, meaning that they shouldn't feel bigger one month and smaller the next. Big changes in size should always prompt a call to the doctor.

2) False. A tiny tube carries sperm out of the testicles and into the penis. This cord is easy for a man to feel between his fingers, and sometimes, it feels a lot like a pea or a marble beneath the skin. If this same bump is felt on both testicles, it is probably not caused by cancerous changes. A doctor can tell a man for sure.

3) Soft. Testicles do a significant amount of work, but they should feel soft and spongy when they're rolled between the fingers. However, if that softness begins to feel more like bogginess, as though the tissues are filled with fluid, that might be an issue to discuss with a doctor. Similarly, if the tissues feel very firm or hard, that might also be something a doctor should be aware of.

4) Unevenly. It's not unusual for one ball to drop a little closer to the Earth while the other stays a little closer to the body. As long as the relationship between the two parts of the sack doesn't change over time, it's not at all unusual for these balls to take up different positions.

5) False. An exam should be thorough, and men they carry it out, they should follow these steps:
- Roll the tissues between their fingers
- Examine the tissues visually
- Poke and prod for lumps and bumps
- Squeeze the tissues and look for discharge

That's a lot of manipulation, but even so, nothing a man does at this time should cause him an intense amount of pain. If he does experience discomfort, a call to the doctor is a reasonable next step.

6) Discharge from the penis. Sometimes, pus or discharge emerges from the tip of the penis at the end of a man's thorough testicular exam. This is a symptom a doctor might be curious to know about, so it's best to watch for this problem as the exam moves forward. Keep in mind that a discharge can be related to other penile conditions, such as balanitis, thrush, or a partner-transmitted infection. A discharge from the penis is grounds for a trip to the doctor in any case.

7) Yes. A quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) can help to keep nearby penile tissues both soft and supple, so they won't cause a spark of pain when they're brushed. This means that these tissues won't distract a man from paying attention to his testicles as he performs his exam, and the responsive penis tissues might actually appreciate the added attention they'll get as he performs his work. This could be an added benefit that makes performing an exam all the more worthwhile, and a lot more fun.

Sexual Health Guidelines - How to Spot the Signs of Testicular Cancer

Although rare overall, testicular cancer is one of the more prevalent forms of cancer in men ages 15 to 45. Thankfully, it is one of the most treatable, as long as it is caught early and treated by a qualified medical professional. As a result, it pays for men to put regular self-exams at the top of their penis care to-do list. These are the signs men should look for, and if they're spotted, a visit to the doctor is definitely in order.

Pain and Discomfort
Cancerous cells grow at an incredibly rapid pace, in a completely disorganized fashion. Not surprisingly, this kind of growth is often associated with an intense amount of pain, and when the cancer is growing in the testicles, that pain can feel like:

- A dull ache in the groin
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Soreness and stiffness in the abdomen
- Burning or fullness in the testicles

It is important to note, however, that not all testicular cancers are characterized by pain. Some men who have these problems would call their symptoms only "uncomfortable," while others might report that they didn't feel any kind of painful sensation at all. On the other hand, while pain might not always be present, changes in the testicles almost always are. Because of this, it is important for all men, especially those at higher risk, to search for physical changes that might indicate the development of a tumor.

Lumps and Bumps
In most cases of testicular cancer, only one of the testicles is affected, at least in the early stages. That cancerous testicle tends to undergo a variety of physical changes as the tumors grow, and that diseased tissue begins to invade otherwise healthy spaces. Some men find that the testicle feels hard and firm, and it does not seem to give when it's pressed between the fingers. Others find that the testicle just feels bigger, or that the skin in the area seems stretched and distended. In other cases, the testicle might actually shrink, or it might feel as though it's full of a great deal of fluid.

Checking for symptoms
Spotting the signs of cancer is essential to quick diagnosis and proper care, so it's vital for men to spend a little quality time with the testicles on a regular basis; at least once a month is recommended. There is no need for shaving, pinching or otherwise going to extremes, but a quick visual inspection, as well as some careful probing with the fingers, can help men to identify the early warning signs.
Experts typically recommend that men perform a check in the shower, when the skin is warm and slick. Starting with the area closest to the body, men can roll the tissue between their fingers, moving down until the entire sack has been examined. It shouldn't take longer than a minute or two to complete. Afterward, a check in the mirror for any surface changes or discoloration of the skin is also advised.

Promoting better penis health
Although there is no guaranteed method for avoiding cancer of the reproductive tissue, men can take important steps to reduce their risk of developing serious sexual health issues.

Eating a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables; staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and not smoking are all common sense, and are all extremely important when it comes to staying healthy. In addition, men can take extra steps to promote better penis health and improve overall function by adding a penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) that is enriched with vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients designed to support penile tissue health.