In April, internationally recognized as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, the Lithuanian Urological Association and the Lithuanian Basketball Federation launched the educational campaign “Check Your Balls.” Rytas Vilnius joins this initiative, encouraging all club fans and young men to better understand their bodies, consistently care for their health, and openly discuss testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men aged 15–44. The success of treatment depends on timely diagnosis, making it essential to remind men to pay conscious attention to their physical and emotional health, undergo medical examinations when necessary, and seek professional and competent help. The most important fact about testicular cancer is that most men diagnosed with it recover—it is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. If every man developed the habit of performing a monthly self-exam and noticing changes in his body, there would be fewer neglected cases.
Time is crucial in the treatment of any disease. To prevent a disease that often presents no symptoms and may require aggressive treatment, every man should make self-examination a monthly habit. A few minutes spent on self-checks can help detect changes early, enabling timely consultations with urologists, maintaining quality of life, and potentially saving lives.
“This initiative aims to emphasize education and self-awareness among young men from an early age, teaching them to understand their bodies, notice changes, and seek urologist care when needed. In practice, we sometimes encounter men who come with advanced symptoms requiring more complex treatments and human resources. Causes such as embarrassment to see a urologist or young men failing to notice obvious changes in their bodies still surprise us in daily practice. It is encouraging that the basketball community contributes to spreading this important message for men, promoting health awareness and active engagement, and helping create change,” said Dr. Marius Kinčius, Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute, on the relevance of the “Check Your Balls” campaign.
Rytas Vilnius encourages all young men to be mindful of their health, take care of their bodies, and stay informed. Together, let’s raise awareness about testicular cancer prevention, the courage to seek help, and openly discuss the impact of this disease on men’s quality of life.
More information about the initiative: https://checkyourballs.lt/