OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, helps a reader who is worried after discovering a lump when checking his testicles for the first time.
Sun columnist Dr Zoe Williams gives advice to a reader who found a lump when checking his testicles for the first timeCredit: Olivia West
Q: I’M a 59-year-old male and I recently for the first time.
I found a small pea-sized lump. Is this cancer, or the ?
A: It’s great to hear that you’ve checked yourself, and even better that you’re asking.
What you’re describing sounds most likely to be the epididymis – a soft tube that sits just behind and above each testicle and can feel like a small ridge or lump.
Benign cysts in this area are also common and harmless. However, any new lump in or around a testicle should always be checked by a , even if it’s painless.
is less common at 59 than in younger men, but it can still occur, and early assessment is simple and reassuring.
Your GP can usually tell by examination whether the lump feels like the epididymis or a cyst, and if there’s any doubt, you’ll be sent for an ultrasound scan.
Most lumps turn out not to be cancer, but don’t second guess it. Getting checked promptly is the best way to put your mind at rest and ensure that, if anything does need treatment, it’s dealt with early.
I’ll take this opportunity to remind men to check their testicles at least once a month. To do it, gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers to check for hard lumps, swelling or changes in size or shape.
Ideally, you should do this after having a warm shower when the scrotum is relaxed.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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