Gordon Clay here. Are you a son, brother, father, mother, spouse, or friend of a man between 12 and 35? If so, I want to let you know that this week, April 1-7, is Testicular Cancer Awareness Week.

During this year, there will be over 10,000 new cases of young men in this age group diagnosed with a genital cancer. The sad thing is that testicular cancer is one of the easiest cancer's to cure IF, and this is a big IF, it is caught early. Unfortunately, because of the alarming number of young men presenting advanced, incurable cases, two young men will die every day.

"Get a grip!" is a campaign designed to promote education, awareness, and the importance of early detection and correct diagnosis. It happens the first week of the month-long Youth Sports Safety month during April so that everyone working with youth, especially sports educators and health care professionals, will communicate the importance of early detection.

This campaign was designed to eliminate the stigma and embarrassment connected with boys and young men becoming more aware of their bodies, especially their testicles, and explains the importance and value of doing a self-exam at least once a month. However, because many young men haven't been informed or taught the importance of a self-exam, death for testicular cancer in the 15-34 age group out paces the number of deaths from breast cancer by young women in the same age group.

Check out www.tcaw.org for lots of information about testicular cancer, how to do a self-exam, and an easy, free way to get reminder to do a self-exam. That's www.tcaw.org

Remember, a real man knows himself. So, "Get a Grip!"