A man's lifestyle makes an enormous difference in not only his day-to-day health, but also in diagnosing other diseases.
Fred Kam, medical director at the Auburn University Medical Clinic, and Suzanne Graham-Hooker, doctor at the clinic, said testicular cancer is one of the most concerning and common diseases for men.
"Things are very different depending on the age of the men, but the most common diseases and ailments in men come from the urology area," Graham-Hooker said.
Kam said testicular cancer is most common in men ages 15-35.
Both doctors provided tips to prevent testicular-related problems and to catch testicular cancer at its earliest stage.
"Doing monthly testicular exams may help discover a cancer early," Kam said.
There is no proven way to prevent testicular cancer, Graham-Hooker said, so early detection is important, and having routine checkups is the best way to spot it early.
Pain, abnormalities in the testicles or scrotum, trouble urinating and swelling are some symptoms of testicular cancer, Graham-Hooker said. She said men should visit their doctor right away if they experience those.
Sexually active men are susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases and other infections, Graham-Hooker said.
"Young men go out and have sex and a lot of them don't use condoms," Graham-Hooker said. "They can get many different infections from unprotected sex."
Kam said symptomatic sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, are commonly treated at the AUMC.
These sexually transmitted diseases and infections can be prevented by being careful.
"Wearing protective equipment, avoiding alcohol and drugs, abstaining from sex or using condoms are all preventative measures," Kam said.
The college atmosphere is filled with responsibilities that pull students in different directions, but Graham-Hooker said it is important for men to learn how to take proper care of their body.
"Men should know about their genitals because a lot of men don't know what the lumps and bumps are, so they can know if the bumps are normal or not normal," Graham-Hooker said. "That way they'll know how to tell when something is wrong."
Cameron Bradley, senior in mechanical engineering, does his best to balance his schedule and properly take care of his body.
"With school and everything else it's hard to find the time to go to the doctor," Bradley said. "I try to work out a few times a week and try to eat healthy though."
Graham-Hooker said undiagnosed diseases could continue to develop until they have infected other regions of the body.
She also emphasized the importance of taking care of the entire body to maintain proper health.
"Everyone in general needs to have a good, solid exercise and diet health because lack of exercise and good diet can cause other ailments, including diabetes and health problems," she said.
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