Balls and Prostate

Two key aspects of staying physically healthy are caring about your personal appearance and 'do it yourself' body checks. If you look good you're likely to feel better about yourself. A balanced diet and plenty of water during the day will help keep your skin, nails and hair in good condition, but it's important not to neglect other parts of your body through inadequate personal care or other unhealthy habits. Testicular cancer Cancer is abnormal cell growth and may develop for a wide variety of reasons, some of which are known and others that aren't. Normal cells have certain limits to their growth, cancerous cells continue to grow without controls, eventually causing serious and life-threatening damage. You can't 'catch' cancer and it is not a sexually transmitted infection. Testicular cancer is on the increase, mostly affecting younger men in their 20s to 40s. It's easy to deal with when treated quickly so, in addition to regular sexual health check-ups, DIY ball checks can pick up early warning signs that something may be wrong. DIY ball check-up Check your balls monthly in (or just after) a shower or bath when your ball sack is relaxed and stretchy:

Rest your ball sack in your hand, feel its weight and use your fingers and thumb to feel each ball. It is normal for one ball to be slightly larger and/or lower than the other.

Gently roll each ball between your fingers and thumb. At the top you will feel the tube which it is attached to, and the firm, bumpy area where it joins on. The rest should be smooth without lumps or swelling.

If you feel anything that seems unusual or that concerns you, go to a clinic or to your GP.

Over time you'll get used to how your balls look and feel. This way you will notice any differences and problems quickly. Though most lumps and bumps turn out to be harmless, you should get them checked.

Remember, the earlier testicular cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Prostate problems Situated just below the bladder, the prostate gland is 'hooked-up' to the plumbing along which your spunk travels. It is responsible for producing the fluid in which sperm swim and a secretion which keeps the urethra moist.

It gets bigger as we get older and can sometimes begin to squash the tube that takes piss out of the body.

It can become infected or inflamed, most common between 25-45yrs.

It can get enlarged to the size of a small grape fruit if untreated.

Prostate cancer usually occurs to the over 50s but can happen earlier. Signs and symptoms that something is wrong include:

Needing to piss often and getting little warning that you need to go.

Finding it hard to start or stop pissing.

Lots of dribbling at the end of a piss.

Finding it a strain to empty your bladder properly.

Leaking or dribbling piss. Prostate cancer Early prostate cancer rarely causes any symptoms, these only occur at a later stage of the disease. The prostate - specific antigen (PSA) test may help to detect early prostate cancer but because many small prostate cancers are not dangerous, it is not yet known whether early detection and screening is worthwhile for prostate cancer. Studies are underway to find out, but until the results are known, screening for prostate cancer is not be routinely offered in the UK. There are treatments for men with an enlarged prostate gland: contact your GP a sexual health clinic. Prostate cancer tends to affect men in their 40s onwards but can be treated effectively if found early. The symptoms above may point to prostate problems and are sometimes felt by men with prostate cancer, but not always. If you are aged 50 or over, you should have yearly checks which can be performed simply by a doctor or at a sexual health clinic. This online advice guide is an extract from the book TOGETHER, by kind permission of Patriic Gayle and Gay Times Books. The book itself is over 300 pages long and contains:

several chapters more useful advice and information

more in-depth information in some chapters

more pictures and tables

further contacts at the end of each chapter

a comprehensive listing of gay and health organisations Described by Qx magazine as a 'Gay Bible', Together Book is a practical reference work no bookshelf should be without.

Available from Prowler Stores and all good bookshops, or click the link below for price and ordering details.

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