NEW YORK (Reuters Health - Most adolescent and young adult men are unaware of their risk for testicular cancer and do not know how to perform testicular self-examination (TSE). Futhermore, many physicians have never been taught how to perform TSE and therefore can not teach it to their patients.

"The incidence of testicular cancer, the most common cancer among 15- to 35-year-old males, is increasing," Dr. Joel S. Brenner of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta told Reuters Health. "The disease is very curable if caught early."

Dr. Brenner and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional survey of 129 pediatric residents from 2 different pediatric residency programs. Twenty-nine percent of them said they performed TSE on themselves at least once a month and 61% performed it at least every 3 months, the team reports in the March issue of Pediatrics Electronic Pages.

However, only 40% reported teaching TSE to their 12- to 21-year-old male patients. Previous studies have shown that about 18% of practicing physicians teach TSE to their patients, so "it appears that some progress has been made," Dr. Brenner said.

Two of the most common reasons for not teaching TSE in the current study and previous ones are being unfamiliar with the proper technique and not remembering or even thinking about including it in the routine physical exam.

Confidence in performing and teaching TSE and knowing someone with testicular cancer were the most important factors related to teaching TSE.

Dr. Brenner said increased public awareness and professional education regarding testicular cancer and TSE is needed. "This is a disease that affects young males before the prime of their life when they are completing their education, starting a family, and contributing to society. It not only has an impact on the patient but also his family and society," he said.

Importantly, "residency programs need to ensure that their programs are educating their physicians in-training about male health, which is currently lacking in many programs," Dr. Brenner emphasized.

Pediatrics 2003;111:e239.

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