A January 2016 survey indicated only 41% of young males in Ohio know how to do testicular self-exams.
The survey, conducted by Talk About TC, asked 500 Ohio men, age 18-34, “Do you know how to do a self-testicular exam?”
41% of respondents indicated, Yes
41% of respondents indicated, No
18% of respondents indicated, I’m Not Sure
Although it can occur at any age, testicular cancer is the leading cause of cancer in guys age 15-35. Thus, the survey respondents were those in the highest age risk for the disease and are the ones that should be doing monthly testicular self-exams.
The results were worse than Talk About TC’s 2015 Testicular Self-Exam Survey, in which 47% of responses were Yes compared to 41% in 2016.
Only a minority of young men in Ohio know how to do a Testicular Self-Exam. #TalkAboutTC Click To Tweet
Looking deeper into the data, among guys in suburban areas, those aged 25-34 responded Yes significantly more often (51.4%) than those aged 18-24 (33.3%). The reason for this significant difference is unknown but may indicate that levels of testicular cancer education in suburban high schools and universities has decreased compared to years prior since the 18-24 year olds would be the ones most likely to have most recently left the secondary and post-secondary education systems.
Resources for testicular self-exams are available from the Testicular Cancer Society.
Their free Ball Checker app has testicular self-exam instructions and the ability to set a monthly reminder.
They also have a monthly text reminder system. To receive the reminders and testicular self-exam instructions text @selfexam to 81010
Their website also has information about self testicular exams
The survey was conducted as part of the Talk About TC initiative to end deaths from testicular cancer in the state of Ohio by the year 2020.
For more information about the survey or the Talk About TC initiative, please contact Talk About TC.
