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Maverick Health - Click for original article Fall 2008 Nards...Balls...Nuts...Tackle...Family Jewels…Nutty Buddies . Call ‘em what you want, the folks at the Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation have found an effective way to raise public awareness about testicular cancer and the importance of self-examination of the above-mentioned body parts. A recently launched website, carpetestes.org, features five creative, humorous videos that entertain and educate viewers about the importance of regular testicular self-exam. The foundation was established in memory of Sean Kimerling, the Emmy award winning anchor of WB11 Sports and pre-game announcer for the New York Mets who died of testicular cancer at the age of 37. According to the foundation’s website, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men between the ages of 15 and 40. It also has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers, with a survival rate over 95 percent, if detected and treated early. The YouTube videos, entitled Check ’Em, Sing-a-Long, Jewels, Dr. Rounds MD, and Where It Counts, have viewers laughing, learning testicular cancer facts, and testicular self-exam. At the time this newsletter was published, the Sing-A-Long video had over a million hits and Check ‘Em, featuring ice-skating testicles, had over 200,000 hits. Most testicular cancers are found by men themselves and testicular self-exam is an easy way for guys to find lumps or bumps—signs of testicular cancer. Other common early signs include pain, swelling, and hardness in the testis, or a combination of these. Some men report a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. The risk of testicular cancer is increased in men with undescended testicles, a history of testicular cancer, and a family history of testicular cancer. In the case of Sean Kimerling, severe back pain sent him to the doctor. The foundation’s webpage, seankimerling.org, features self exam information and cool stuff to purchase (like carpe testes baseball hats). So guys, check out the YouTube videos and then check out yourself: carpetestes.org seankimerling.org menweb.org |