Testicular cancer awareness and testicular self-examination among university students.

Background: This study was planned to determine the knowledge of testicular cancer (TC), risk factors and testicular self-examination (TSE) among university students.

Methods: A survey study was conducted at a university located in Ankara, Turkey with 634 male students.

Results: Almost half of them (44%) heard TC during their education and life but majority of participants has lack of knowledge about sign and symptoms of TC. Only 5.9 % of them (n = 38) indicated they received information on TSE and 17.7 % have performed the practice of TSE before; only one in a forth (n=21) performed monthly. The reason for not doing TSE was mostly (83.4%) 'not having knowledge' and 'not seen as important' (55.7%).

Conclusions: Adding the education on TC, risk factors and TSE into their curriculum is proposed.