Lets talk about testicles. Balls. Nuts. Plums. Huevos. Family Jewels. Golden Treasures. What ever you want to call them. 
Recently I've had two friends be diagnosed with testicular cancer and I've learned a lot from them about the importance of taking care of "lefty" and "righty." So I've decided to give the GaG community a little crash course in testicular care! The information below can be summed up in the simple phrase: "Check Yourself and Protect Yourself."
Check Yourself
I know GaG is a relatively young crowd so here's the bad news for you all: 50% of the testicular cancer cases occur between the ages of 20 and 34. The good news is that if testicular cancer is found early enough it can be treated and often cured as well. To ensure your health make sure you check yourself monthly or bimonthly.
(Or you could have her checkout your "coin purse")
The self test is extremely simple and takes only a minute or two to complete:
1. LOOK - After a warm shower or bath (so the scrotal muscles are relaxed) take a look at your pair in the mirror. Look for any swelling on any part of the scrotum.
2. HOLD - Hold your valuables gently in your hand. Feel and compare the size and weight of each testicle. Remember it's normal for one to be slightly larger or hang slightly lower.
3. FEEL - Roll the testes one at a time between your fingers. Check for lumps or any irregularities on the surface of the organs. Don't forget to feel your epididymis on the back of each orb.
4. REPEAT - Once you become familiar with your anatomy repeat the test to make sure nothing changes or feels different.
If you feel any lumps, swelling, or pain in the testes it's advised that you contact a healthcare professional ASAP. Other rarer symptoms of testicular cancer include swelling of the breasts and/or early signs of puberty in pre-pubic boys. If you do experience any of these symptoms don't panic! Chances are it's NOT testicular cancer however tell your doctor just to be on the safe side.
Now on to Phase 2.
Protect Yourself
The testicles are extremely sensitive organs. They hang outside the body and thus are exposed to quite a few dangers. To save your fertility it's important to protect them while engaging in strenuous activity. Wear an athletic supporter to support "the boys" and a protective cup to protect them from blunt force impact. A 2014 study found that there's almost a 20% chance males engaged in sports will experience a testicular injury and that these potentially embarrassing injuries are often underreported. So wear the right equipment to stay safe!
Athletic Support
An athletic supporter is any garment that provides support to your balls in an effort to keep them out of harm's way, to prevent soreness, or to prevent testicular torsion. Jockstraps, compression shorts, and supportive briefs are all different types of athletic supporters that are used by athletes. An athletic supporter should be worn for any sort of strenuous activity including but not limited to: running, cycling, weight lifting, and gymnastics. A proper athletic supporter should snuggly support your package and keep everything from flopping around.
Protective Cup
A protective cup is a cup shaped piece of foam, plastic, or metal used to protect the testicles from blunt force impact. Protective cups are extremely important as they can protect against testicular ruptures and extreme pain. There are a few different styles and types of cups depending on different levels of contact in sports or even for different positions in sports. Soft cups are made out of layered foam and are used in low contact sports like soccer or flag football. Hard plastic cups may also be used in soccer but are more often seen in football, baseball, or lacrosse. Metal cups offer extreme protection for martial arts, lacrosse, and other high intensity sports. Goalie cups and foam padded hard cups are also available with double layer protection that guys need when there's speeding balls/pucks/limbs headed straight to our privates. Cups should be worn for any contact sport or activity where the testicles could be hit. 
Experiment with layering of supporters with a cup to maximize comfort and protection. You DO NOT want a cup moving when you're wearing it. It could shift and expose your Charlie Browns to extreme danger. A good guide can be found here.
Think your balls are safe in basketball? Manu Ginobili disagrees. He was kneed during a game and experienced a ruptured testicle that required surgery. He now wears a kevlar protective cup.
Make sure your cup can handle the impact of your sport. The wrong cup can lead to a false sense of security. Instagram model Sophia Miacova struck an opponent's groin during a sparring match. Her knee got bruised. His cup got shattered. 
Although testicular cancer is treatable if it's found too late it often can spread to other parts of the body. In some cases the testicle may not be saved and must be surgically removed. Believe me you do not want to live the rest of your life with the nickname "Uniball."
I hope this brief MyTake enlightens some of you guys and gals out there. Remember to Check Yourself and Protect Yourself if you want to keep your avocados all right!!
**This MyTake provides general information and discussion about medicine, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this MyTake, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other health care worker.**
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