Dr. Allan Haynes Jr., a professor of clinical urology at the HSC, said testicular cancer is extremely curable. It usually starts as a change or growth in the testicle, so men should do self-examinations often.

If something hard, or unusual, is felt, a physician or a urologist should look at it, Haynes said.

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Haynes said one reason testicular cancer is not as well known as breast cancer is because it’s less common. Young men should begin seeing a urologist every few years and go more often as they get older, he suggested.

“I think the key thing is for young men to realize that when you feel it, get it checked out, like we teach women to examine your breasts,” Haynes said. “... The key thing is the sooner that’s done, the less chance you’re going to have to endure treatment with extreme chemotherapy and not just removal of a testicle.”