Testicular Cancer Prevention

Despite the widespread occurrence of testicular cancer among the male population, very little is known about specific ways to prevent the disease from occurring. There are some methods, however, that can lessen the likelihood of its occurrence as well as detect it early enough to be treated with almost guaranteed success. These methods involve standard practices of good health and good vigilance in order to be fully effective in preventing testicular cancer.

Regular Self-Examination

Unfortunately, there are no solid and proven ways to fully prevent the onset of testicular cancer. Research continues, and each scientist in the field has his or her own recommendations, but prevention at this point is simply a "best guess" scenario. In light of that, doctors recommend that all males begin a regular self-inspection routine of their testes by age 17 or 18. While there are no clear ways to prevent the cancer from occurring, a regular inspection will help with early detection of any lumps or tumors that have developed.

Doctors recommend standing in front of a mirror to maximize visibility of the testes in order to check -- both physically and visually -- for any irregularities. And they recommend doing these checks on a weekly basis, and no more infrequently than once per month. Because the best-case scenario with testicular cancer involves early detection and treatment, males should be sure to examine regularly.

Regular Physician Examination

For those who would like an added level of security in the knowledge that they have found no irregularities, scientists recommend a regular doctors visit -- perhaps integrated as part of a routine physical -- where a physician can check the testes himself for any irregularities. It's certainly the more awkward way to go about things, especially for the modest men out there, but this is he most medically sound way to ensue that there is no cancer present and that human error isn't responsible for missing any leading indicators.

Maintaining a Health Lifestyle

The key to preventing most diseases -- and, indeed, most forms of cancer -- is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle in the long term. This not only means eating within a certain calorie range, but also eating the right foods within that range. Diets rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fiber have been shown to promote overall health in patients across the board, and have been shown to reduce the occurrence of many types of cancer.

Similarly, a regular workout routine that combines cardiovascular exercise with strength training promotes overall health and blood flow; it has been shown to reduce the risk of numerous cancers and other terminal and chronic illnesses. Doctors recommend 200 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise for male patients, or 100 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity such as running or jogging. In addition, they recommend between two and four days of strength training exercises each week in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Conclusions

The key to testicular cancer is early detection and an overall healthy lifestyle. While there are no known ways to fully or effectively prevent the disease, there are ways to spot any tumors or lumps before they become a major issue. And living a healthy lifestyle will promote a body's full defenses to be at work protecting the testes from any occurrence of cancer.