Testicular cancer. Adolescent knowledge and attitudes.

To study what adolescents know or feel about testicular cancer (TC), 1,364 males, mean age 14.9 years, were given an 85-item pretest questionnaire. Although 28% had heard of TC, none knew how to perform a testicular self-examination (TSE). Analysis of the attitude questions showed that adolescents are afraid of getting TC, are unsure about whether it can be self-diagnosed, and do not know whether recovery is more likely with early diagnosis. Black adolescents were less knowledgeable about and more afraid of getting TC than white adolescents; males of lower socioeconomic status (SES) and males with more contact with cancer were also more afraid of getting TC than higher SES and low-cancer contact groups. Although 75% reported having a complete physical examination by a physician within the previous 15 months, less than 2% reported being taught TSE. Having had a recent physical examination made no difference in the knowledge of or attitudes toward TC.