Stumbling on the Testicular Cancer Society’s website generated some serious laughter. Is “serious laughter” an oxymoron? Why should it be?
Sometimes, even when you’re dealing with something as serious as cancer, you’ve got to laugh. Maybe you need to laugh especially when you’re dealing with something as serious as cancer.
And humor is a wonderful vehicle for broaching uncomfortable subjects. So for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, the Testicular Cancer Society has started a social media campaign using the hashtag #TCisNoJoke. Now, as they note, you can take this invitation two ways. You can say something serious and punctuate your commentary with the #TCisNoJoke hashtag. Or you can say something funny, and use the hashtag that testicular cancer is still serious business.
And it is serious business. While it can happen at any age, testicular cancer primarily strikes young men. Indeed, it’s the leading type of cancer for men between the ages of 15 and 35.
One in 20 men diagnosed with testicular cancer die from the disease, but as cancer statistics go, testicular cancer has a great survival/cure rate. When it’s found early, the survival rate is 99 percent.
Which gets to the point: If we want it to be found early, we need for the people at risk to be on the lookout and to know what to look for. Just like women are encouraged to do self-exams for breast cancer, men should do self-exams for testicular cancer. Look for lumps, as well as changes in size, shape, etc.
Here’s how: http://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/self-exam-how-to/
Most importantly, if you notice something of concern, DO NOT WAIT. See a doctor right away, and find out if it is nothing — or something. Testicular cancer really is no joke in that way; it can grow quickly.
As noted by one of the more serious messages from the #TCisNoJoke campaign, self-exams = early detection = almost 100% curable.
So, fellows, get with it!
Grab Your Spectacles and Check Your Testicles. http://bit.ly/TSEinfo #TCisNoJoke via @TCSociety