Conduct These Self-Exams to Kick off Men’s Health Month

"The goal of self-exam is to find a cancer in an early and treatable stage, at a time when it is localized and has not spread elsewhere," said Andrew Siegel, M.D., a New Jersey-based urologist.

Self-checks—when performed along with regular checkups from a medical professional—can be a helpful tool in early cancer detection. However, a downside of self-testing is the possibility of finding something that looks abnormal when there is no cancer, according to Christopher Kyle, M.D., a urologist with the Oregon Urology Institute in Springfield, Oregon.

"I have had people that come into my urology office that have discovered something they are convinced is a malignancy," Kyle said.

Still, he'd rather have to reassure a patient who comes in with a harmless symptom than have an early sign of something serious go unnoticed.

June is National Men's Health Month, an annual observance that aims to encourage awareness, early detection and treatment of diseases. Kick off the month right by conducting these supplemental self-exams for men.

Testicular cancer, while rare overall, is the most common cancer found in males between the ages of 15 and 35, according to Siegel. The American Cancer Society estimates there are between 9,000 and 10,000 cases of testicular cancer per year in the United States.

Notably, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has come out against routine screening for testicular cancer. It has assigned testicular cancer screening a "D" grade because of the potential harms, such as anxiety caused by false-positive results. However, both Kyle and Siegel disagree with the recommendations.

"It seems silly to me to actively have an organization telling you not to examine your own body," Kyle said.

"Most testes cancers are discovered by their patients or partners," Siegel said. "What harm is there in self-examination or a physician examining the testes? By all means, let’s take advantage of the physical examination of accessible organs."

How to conduct a testicular self-exam

"For most men, touching, manipulating or rearranging their nether parts is a natural and almost reflex activity that—supplemented with a little instruction, knowledge and direction—can be put to some practical clinical use," Siegel said.

According to Siegel, testicular self-examination should start from the onset of puberty.

"This exam should be done regularly—perhaps every couple of weeks or so—such that you get to know your anatomy to the extent that you will be attuned to a subtle change," he said.

Here's how to perform a testicular self-exam:

1. Start in the bath or shower. "The testicles can be examined anywhere, but a warm shower or bath is an ideal setting," Siegel said. "The warm water tends to relax and thin the scrotal sac and allow the testes to descend to a position that is most accessible. Soapy skin will eliminate friction and allow the examining fingers to easily roll over the testicles."
2. Examine the testicles, one by one. "The exam is best performed with the thumb in front and the remaining fingers behind the testicles," Siegel explained. "The four fingers immobilize and support the testicle and the thumb does the important work in examining the front, sides, top and bottom of the testicle. The thumb immobilizes the front while the four fingers examine the back of the testes."
   
   The index and middle fingers will do most of the work to examine the back surface of the testicle. Keep the motion gentle and rolling. Feel the size, shape and contour of the testicle, and check for lumps and bumps.
3. Check the epididymis." The epididymis is a comet-shaped structure located above and behind the testes that is responsible for sperm storage and maturation," Siegel said. "It has a head, a body and a tail, and it is worthwhile running your fingers over this structure, as well."
4. Compare the testicles. After examining each testicle, compare the two in terms of size, shape and consistency, Siegel said.

What to look for in a testicular self-exam

"Generally, the testicles feel firm, similar to the consistency of hard-boiled eggs, although this can vary between individuals and even in an individual," Siegel said. "Lumps can vary in size from a kernel of rice to a large mass many times the size of the normal testes."

Get in the habit of examining your testicles on a regular basis. Once it becomes second nature, Siegel said, it only takes a few moments.

"[About] 2,700 American men are diagnosed with breast cancer annually," Siegel said. "Although very rare, it is still worthwhile checking yourself periodically."

Because the disease is thought of as exclusive to women, male breast cancer often goes undetected. Unlike women, who are advised to seek breast mammograms at age 40 or older, there is no regular screening procedure for men. A lack of routine mammograms for men makes yearly physicals and regular self-exams particularly important.

How to conduct a male breast exam

Here's how to perform a male breast self-exam, according to Siegel and HIS Breast Cancer Awareness:

1. Visually inspect your chest. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms on your hips and tighten your chest muscles. Observe the size and shape of each breast and nipple. Raise your arms to check the breast and armpit area below.
2. Physically examine your chest. Use the fingers of the right hand to examine the left breast and the fingers of the left hand to examine the right breast, Siegel advised. Press firmly in concentric circles. Start at the breast periphery and end at the nipples, feeling for lumps or bumps the whole time.
3. Examine the nipples. Gently squeeze both nipples to check for sensitivity or fluid.

What to look for in a male breast exam

When performing a male breast exam, look for changes in the size, shape and skin texture of each breast. Common signs of breast cancer include a lump or swelling in the breast, redness or flaky skin, irritation or dimpling and nipple discharge, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) estimates that around 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer. There are two primary types of skin cancer:

• Nonmelanoma skin cancer. This includes basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer and other rare types./li>
• Melanoma skin cancer. This is cancer that begins in the pigment-producing cells on the top layer of the skin called melanocytes.

Men between the ages of 15 and 39 are 55 percent more likely to die of melanoma skin cancer than women in the same age group. The AAD estimates that in 2022, melanoma killed more than 5,000 men—and half as many women.

Like many cancers, skin cancer is highly treatable when discovered early. Because about half of melanoma cases are self-detected, the AAD advises everyone to perform monthly skin cancer self-exams, in addition to annual skin checks with a professional dermatologist.

How to conduct a skin cancer self-exam

Here's how to perform a skin cancer exam, according to the AAD:

1. Scan your body. Stand in front of a full-length mirror to examine the front and back of your body. Raise your arms and examine the area underneath.
2. Take a closer look at your arms. Inspect your forearms, fingers and palms.
3. Check your lower body. Sit in a chair and check out your legs and feet, including your soles, toes and the space between your toes.
4. Inspect your head and neck. Use a hand mirror to check your neck and scalp. If you have long hair, part it to take a closer look at your head.
5. Take a look at your back. With a hand mirror, examine your back and buttocks.

What to look for in a skin cancer self-exam

"It's good to know your own body and what your skin looks like so you have a sense of what's abnormal," Kyle said.

This includes the pattern of blemishes, freckles, moles and other marks on your skin.

"If you have a weird mole or discoloration that shows up, that's something that needs to be looked at by a dermatologist," Kyle explained.

Oral cancer constitutes about 3 percent of annual cancer diagnoses, or about 53,000 cases per year, according to National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates. Men older than 45 have the highest risk for oral cancer, although this type of cancer can develop in people of any gender and age.

Oral cancer can metastasize quickly, so early detection is critical. When the disease is found early, in the localized stage, the five-year relative survival rate is 86 percent. It plunges to 40 percent at the distant stage.

The Mouth Cancer Foundation recommends a monthly oral self-exam for everyone over the age of 16. In addition, people older than 20 should have a screening with a dentist every three years, and people 40 and older should have annual dental screenings.

How to conduct an oral cancer self-exam

Here's how to conduct an oral self-exam, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMS):

1. Look inside your mouth. Visually inspect the inside of your mouth, including the roof and floor of your mouth, your gums and your tongue. Pull your cheek back to check the inside and back gums.
2. Feel inside your mouth. Use your index finger to gently press the roof and floor of your mouth, and run your fingers around your gums. Feel your tongue with your fingers.
3. Feel your neck. Use your hands to feel for lumps or swollen glands along your neck and jaw.

What to look for in an oral self-exam

As you conduct an oral exam, look for lumps, red or white patches, masses and sores. If you find anything unusual or concerning, make an appointment with your dentist or doctor immediately.

If you already conduct regular self-exams, way to go. Keep up the good work. If you don't, use Men's Health Month as a prompt to start. It may save your life.