Do you know who Lance Armstrong is? If you don’t know him from his track record as an athlete and seven-time Tour de France winner (the most well-known bike race in the world), then you might have heard his name connected to Grammy-winning singer, Sheryl Crow (they dated for a time, then broke up) or clothing designer Tory Burch (yup, they went splits too). Or, just maybe you’ve heard his story of testicular cancer, and the cancer support organization he ultimately formed – Livestrong – after nearly losing his life. Perhaps you have seen someone wearing the bright yellow bracelet that represents Livestrong. If that’s as close as your connection with Lance Armstrong gets, it’s OK. And here’s why.

Lance’s cancer story could be anyone’s story. It could be YOUR story. Sure, the fact that he’s kind of famous (well, really famous actually) might help people to identify with him more, and may even help spread the word about cancer. But it doesn’t change the fact that he had testicular cancer. He went through the symptoms, the diagnosis, and the treatments – same as you, or anyone you know. And just because he’s famous doesn’t mean he wasn’t scared, or weak, or confused about his condition or what to do next, just like you might be feeling.

Here’s the scoop, folks. Testicular cancer can affect anyone (well, anyone of the male constitution, I mean). If you don’t know much about testicular cancer, or how to combat or prevent it, well, don’t worry. Just keep reading. Below is some information to help you get on the road to figuring it out.

Testicular Cancer Defined
Testicular cancer is one that forms in the testicles that are located in the scrotum area.  This type of cancer is fairly rare but when it does strike is most common in males between the ages of 15 and 35.  

Causes and Symptoms
You may have underlying risks that you might not have known about.  Some of these include:

•    Family history of cancer – If your family has a history of cancer then you will be more likely to get it yourself.  No one knows why this can affect it but it does.
•    An un-descended testicle – This can increase your risk because of the abnormal development of the testicle.
•    Age- This kind of cancer effects mostly men that are younger but it can happen at any age.
•    Race – This kind of cancer is more common in Caucasian men than other ethnicities for an unknown reason.

A lot of times when doctors and scientists talk about cancer, they say “prevention is key.”  Well, early detection is also important in regards to testicular cancer. When detected early, testicular cancer is highly curable. So, be on the lookout for symptoms, some of which include:

•    A change in the size or shape of one or both testes. You may or may not have pain.
•    A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
•    An ache in the groin, lower back, belly, or all three places.
•    Unexplained fatigue.

Like self breast exams for women, self exams for testicular cancer should be a part of your regular health line-up. Again, the earlier you can detect testicular cancer, the better your chances of surviving.

Treatment options
There are many treatments that are available to you if you are faced with this disease.  Some of them are more alternative then others.  In addition to the conventional treatments of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation, you may want to include the following in your treatment regimen:

•    Fruit – Eating fruit that is high in vitamins and minerals can help you to feel better and treat your cancer from the inside.  You should still talk to your doctor about what he recommends for treatments
•    Periwinkle – this has been used for many years to help with the effects that a cancer treatment can cause.  
•    Mushrooms – These can help you reduce the tumors that are in the area and in effect make it possible to prevent or treat the cancer tumors in the area that is of concern.

As usual, you should always consult your doctor before starting any kind of treatment for your cancer.  It’s important to make sure that you are doing what is right for you and your family.

Testicular cancer is no less important than any other kind of cancer. Hopefully you’ve learned some helpful information from the above article. At the very least you know who Lance Armstrong is now!