Lithuanian Urological Society: “Check your balls: Hard isn’t always good”
For the second year, the Lithuanian Urological Society organised the "Check Your Balls" campaign, aimed at raising young men's awareness of sexual health and encouraging them to visit urologists when they notice unusual changes in their bodies. The concept was to educate young men about the importance of self-examination, the need to be observant of their own health, talk about testicular cancer, and reduce stigma.
Message from the urology and golf communities
Dr. Marius Kinčius, President of the Lithuanian Urological Society: "The healthcare system is responsible for only 20% of our health. Fifty percent of it depends on us – how we take care of ourselves and the lifestyle we choose. We have noticed that testicular cancer is still diagnosed at very late stages – when sometimes we can no longer help. Globally, the five-year survival rate for this disease is as high as 98-99%. However, in Lithuania, this rate is 88%. Testicular cancer is a disease primarily affecting young men. In Lithuania, there has been a long-standing misconception of the 'macho' type of masculinity – men don’t get sick, men don’t cry, men are never weak or tired. With this campaign, we want to encourage young men to take care of their health, gain basic knowledge about testicular anatomy and physiology, and most importantly, develop the habit of regularly and correctly performing testicular self-examination."
This year, the campaign’s partner is the Lithuanian Golf Federation. According to Dr. Kinčius, it is often thought that golf is a sport for older people.
"Indeed, golf is probably the only game in the world that can be played from very early youth up to a respectable old age. We believe that this connection fits very well with the goal of our campaign. Young people often think that cancer is something that only affects much older people, so there is a lack of awareness about this issue, and life throws them surprises. On the other hand, most beginners and amateurs play with ‘soft’ golf balls – which reflect the healthy state of testicles, i.e., soft and without lumps," says Dr. Kinčius about the intersection of this initiative with the golf community.
"The golf community and Lithuanian golf clubs often support and contribute to social campaigns, organising charity tournaments and even providing financial support. The campaign’s topic is relevant to the golf community as well, as about 80% of golfers are men. Despite this, we are happy that golf is rapidly growing in popularity in Lithuania, and more and more young people choose this sport every year. The benefits of golf are diverse: during a round, players walk about 10 kilometres, work all their muscles, and research has shown that golfers live 5 to 10 years longer. A safe sport requiring strategy, movement in the open air, and the benefits for a player’s psychological health are, of course, important," says Irma Markevičienė, a board member of the Lithuanian Golf Federation.
Statistics
The number of people diagnosed with testicular cancer in Lithuania annually fluctuates between 35-50. This disease is more common in developed Western European and Scandinavian countries. The likelihood of getting testicular cancer in a lifetime is about 1 in 250 (or 300) men. In comparison, 1 in 5-8 men will get prostate cancer. In 2023, about 7,200 cases of testicular cancer were registered worldwide, with about 9,100 deaths from this cancer. Since 1978, 1,533 testicular tumours have been diagnosed in men in Lithuania, and 502 men have died from malignant testicular tumours.
The most common symptoms that bring men to urologists are pain, swelling, changes in the genital area, urinary problems, and changes in urine or sperm colour.
However, men also visit doctors due to fear, ignorance, or incorrectly interpreted body signals. A survey conducted a few years ago in Western Europe revealed that more than fifty percent of men visit urologists out of fear.
According to Dr. Kinčius, two factors are crucial – early diagnosis and strong patient-doctor relationships.
"Of course, access to healthcare services is also very important. It is encouraging that in Lithuania, once cancer is suspected or diagnosed, the 'green corridor' principle ensures that patients quickly gain access to oncology treatment institutions," says Dr. Kinčius about the availability of services.
The urologist emphasises that once diagnosed, healthcare systems play a significant role – the costs and resources are high, but while we are healthy, intervention is unnecessary, as our own actions determine how many years of healthy life we will have and the quality of life we will experience. Regular self-examination costs nothing – just 1-2 minutes a month can save young people’s lives.
Early detection of diseases often requires shorter, easier, and less expensive treatment, and in many cases, it takes significantly less time to return to a normal life. There are even cases where professional athletes return to their careers just a month after treatment.
Taking care of your health regularly is manly
Stereotypes formed over many decades are hard to change, and the shift is possible only gradually. According to Irma Markevičienė, a board member of the Lithuanian Golf Federation, men do not pay enough attention to their health and do not get regular check-ups. Therefore, such campaigns are highly relevant for modern men, who face societal pressure to be strong, masculine, and meet some imagined standards of manhood.
"I believe that the most significant influence in bringing about this change comes from parents, who shape habits, mindset, worldview, lifestyle, and complexes from an early age. Although, in the past two decades, society has been becoming more liberated, and its citizens are evolving. However, older generations of men often still have ingrained, outdated stereotypes of masculinity, which prevent them from seeking help on time, and that can be disastrous," says Dr. Kinčius about the role of these beliefs.
To stay healthy and feel good for as long as possible, Dr. Kinčius emphasizes and highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, proper nutrition, avoiding harmful factors, regular health check-ups, stress management, quality rest, and making time for hobbies. In the case of testicular cancer, regular self-examination, avoiding unsafe, casual sexual encounters, and maintaining a regular sex life are important for preserving long-term sexual health.
Symbolically, we end the most active month of the initiative with an important recognition – "Check Your Balls" has been named the Most Innovative Brand of 2024 in special categories (selected by a professional jury) and has also been recognised and appreciated in the Business Favourites category.
"The brand is truly striking, slightly provocative, evoking an emotion, a smile, and leaving no one indifferent. But the initiative “Check Your Balls” is about serious matters: about awareness of your health, sensitivity to your body and feelings, ensuring timely visits to urologists, the importance of preventive programs to avoid oncological diseases, and, of course, about masculinity stereotypes that hinder seeking medical help on time and the price of delay. Recognitions always motivate us to continue developing this initiative and spreading important messages to male audiences, emphasising sensitive messages to society," shares the project manager Indrė Ereminė after the event.