Tummy Time and Infant Development

What is tummy time and why is it important to your infant's development? Our experts weigh in.

During tummy time, your baby lays on her belly to play while you supervise. Since your baby sleeps on her back to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), she needs to spend some of her awake time on her stomach to develop physically and mentally.

On her tummy, your baby lifts her head, which strengthens her neck and upper back muscles.

Being able to move her head reduces your baby’s risk of SIDS because she can move away from anything smothering her. Strong muscles let your baby roll over, sit, and crawl.

Tummy time also gives your little one a different view of the world.

Babies need to learn how to support their heads when they are still, says Tanya Altmann, MD, a pediatrician in California. “They also need to be able to turn their head in response to what's happening around them and hold their heads steady when they're moved."

Spending time on her stomach also helps your baby's head become round instead of developing flat spots on the back of her head.

Tummy time can begin right after birth, says Chris Tolcher, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in California, or definitely by the time your baby is a month old.

For the first few weeks, you may want to delay tummy time until her umbilical cord stump falls off. As long as your baby is comfortable, though, you can safely let her play on her stomach right away.

You may be surprised to see that “even a newborn can start to turn [her] head side to side," says Laura Jana, MD, a Nebraska pediatrician.

Remember: Never let your baby sleep on her tummy, because even one time increases her risk of SIDS. When you put your baby on her tummy, always place her on a smooth, flat surface with no loose items (toys, blankets, pillows) close to her, which might block her airway, Tolcher says.

Some pediatricians suggest having your baby play on her stomach five or 10 minutes a couple times a day. Others say you don't have to worry about a set amount of time. There’s no set guideline.

"I usually recommend starting to offer tummy time at least once per day," says Scott Cohen, MD, FAAP, an attending pediatrician at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He suggests leaving your baby on her tummy as long as she accepts it -- whether that’s 15 seconds or 15 minutes.

It's time to pick your baby up if she starts crying or fussing.

Some babies initially resist tummy time because they don't have good control and find it hard to lift their heads. But the more practice your baby gets, the better she’ll like it, says Cohen, who is also the author of Eat, Sleep, Poop.

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Multiple Sclerosis: Planning for Your Future

Managing your life with MS isn't just about dealing with the symptoms you have right now. It's about thinking through what could happen in future -- the possible effects on your job, family, and finances -- and preparing for them.

Even if your symptoms are mild, planning can make you feel better and be more confident in your future.

"It's not bad luck to think about what you might do if your symptoms got worse," says Rosalind Kalb, PhD, a clinical psychologist and vice president of clinical care at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "That's not giving into the disease -- that's taking charge of it in a productive way."

When it comes to planning for the unpredictable, where do you begin? "Start where your greatest fears are," Kalb says.

Could MS prevent you from working? Could it disrupt your family? Whatever worries you most about the condition, tackle the fear head on.

"Instead of letting those worries go round in your head, start building a safety net that would deal with that problem," Kalb says.

Read your health care insurance policy, says Dorothy Northrop, MSW, vice president of continuum of care initiatives at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Make sure your doctor is covered and that you have access to specialists, such as neurologists. Even if you don’t need other treatments now, like physical or occupational therapy, you might need them in the future, so check what's covered, Northrop says.  

You can also get help from MS Navigators at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They can help you understand your options. To talk to one, call 800-FIGHT-MS.

"Most people don't really understand MS," says Kalb. Let them know how MS might affect you and how they can support you.

"A lot of family and friends want to help but don't know what to do," Kalb says. Be specific when you ask for help: a ride to a doctor's office on Tuesday, an after-school pickup next week. That helps them know exactly what you need and want.

Life with MS can get expensive. Copays for medications, tests, doctor visits, and home help all add up. Meanwhile, MS might restrict your working hours and reduce your income.

No matter what your financial situation is, meeting with a financial advisor or accountant is a good idea. An expert can give you a sense of how much you might need to put away. You'll also get advice on ways to save money, such as possible tax deductions on home renovations you may need.

If your symptoms ever became a problem, could you keep living in your home? Would it be possible to live on the first floor? Could you add a ramp if you needed to? Are there other adjustments you could make? It's worth thinking through, Kalb says.

You should also think about where you live. "If you're in a really rural, isolated area, you might not have access to services that could help," Northrop says.

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Drug Shows Some Benefit for Kids With Autism

Study found no gains in lethargy, social withdrawal, but those on the drug improved in other ways

By Kathleen Doheny

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental drug for autism did not improve levels of lethargy and social withdrawal in children who took it, but it did show some other benefits, a new study finds.

Children on arbaclofen did improve on an overall measure of autism severity when compared to kids taking an inactive placebo, said lead researcher Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, an associate professor of psychiatry, pediatrics and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University.

He is to present the findings Thursday at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in Spain.

One of 88 children in the United States is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, the umbrella term for complex brain development disorders marked by problems in social interaction and communication.

Veenstra-VanderWeele focused on evaluating the social improvement with the drug because earlier research had suggested it could help. However, one of the earlier studies did not compare the drug to a placebo, but simply measured improvement in those who took the drug.

In the new study, Veenstra-VanderWeele and his team assigned 150 people with autism, aged 5 to 21, to take the medicine or a placebo, without knowing which group they were in, for eight weeks. The participants had been diagnosed with autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome or another related condition known as pervasive developmental disorder.

In all, 130 finished the study. When no differences were found in social withdrawal or lethargy between the two groups, the researchers looked at a scale that measures severity and improvement of autism with treatment.

Those on the drug improved more on that scale. A child, for instance, who began the study evaluated as having marked severity might be described as moderate by the study's end, Veenstra-VanderWeele said.

"This is the sort of improvement that would motivate us to start a medicine," he said.

The drug is believed to work, Veenstra-VanderWeele said, by increasing inhibition, improving social functioning and interactions.

Right now, Veenstra-VanderWeele said, "there is no medication that has clear evidence to improve social function in autism."

Those on the drug did report side effects, including suicidal thoughts reported by one patient on the drug and one on the placebo. Some patients on the drug became upset more easily; others reported sleepiness.

The next phase of trials of the drug are in the planning stages, Veenstra-VanderWeele said.

But more research is needed, said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York.

Even though the expected benefit did not materialize, Adesman sees a reason to continue to study the medication. "There is [still] some suggestion of benefit from the medicine," Adesman said. "It just didn't quite show up where they expected."

The drug may offer benefit to some children with autism, Adesman said. "But it's unclear which children may be the best candidates."

The trial received funding from the drug's maker, Seaside Therapeutics. The medication is not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The data and conclusions of research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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Testicular Cancer on Rise in U.S., Especially Among Hispanic Men

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- The number of testicular cancer cases continues to climb slowly but steadily in the United States, according to new research.

While the cancer is still most common among white males, the greatest increase is among Hispanic men, according to Dr. Scott Eggener, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Chicago.

Eggener tracked the statistics on testicular cancer from 1992 through 2009, looking at data from a nationwide epidemiology database.

"The incidence of testicular cancer appears to be increasing very slowly but steadily among virtually all groups that we studied," he said. "The novel finding is that the most dramatic increase is in Hispanic men."

Eggener can't explain the increase. He is due to present his findings Monday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, in San Diego. The data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supported the study.

Testicular cancer is known as a young man's cancer, as half of the cases affect men aged 20 to 34, according to the American Cancer Society. However, older men can also be affected.

This year, the American Cancer Society expects 7,920 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States. About 370 men are expected to die of it.

"It still remains an uncommon cancer," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. He reviewed the new findings. "It's important that we become aware of the situation [of rising numbers of cases], but not become alarmed by it." Hispanic men, he noted, still have a lower rate of the cancer than do white men.

In his study, Eggener found that the incidence of testicular cancer rose from 1992 through 2009. In 1992, for instance, 5.7 of every 100,000 men had testicular cancer. By 2009, that number had risen to 6.8 men for every 100,000.

Hispanic men had the largest annual percentage increase. In 1992, four of every 100,000 Hispanic men were affected. By 2009, it was 6.3 men of every 100,000, the investigators found.

For men affected, the outlook is generally good, experts agreed. "It has the highest survival rate of any solid tumor," Eggener said. The overall five-year survival rate, he noted, is 95 percent or higher.

Symptoms can include a painless lump on a testicle, an enlarged testicle or an achy feeling in the lower belly.

Few risk factors have been identified. One known risk factor is having an undescended testicle -- one that does not move down into the scrotum at birth. In the United States, those born with an undescended testicle commonly have corrective surgery, Eggener said.

Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a national panel of experts, does not recommend routine testicular self-exams. It concludes that screenings performed by health care providers or men ''are unlikely to provide meaningful health benefits because of the low incidence and high survival rate of testicular cancer, even when it is detected at symptomatic stages."

Nor does the cancer society recommend routine monthly self-exams, Lichtenfeld said. "Clearly the task force has looked at this very carefully and they recommend not doing testicular self-exam or any form of screening for testicular cancer.''

According to the cancer society, testicular exam should be part of a routine exam by a health care provider, Lichtenfeld said.

It's important for men to pay attention to any changes in their testicles, he said.

"If a man notices a lump or a change, he should go see his doctor," Lichtenfeld said. "We have had a significant improvement in the treatment of this cancer."

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Scott Eggener, M.D., associate professor of surgery, University of Chicago; Len Lichtenfeld, M.D., deputy chief medical officer, American Cancer Society; May 6, 2013, presentation, American Urological Association annual meeting, San Diego

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Look Beyond the Sun for Skin Cancer Culprits, Doctors Warn

Tanning beds, organ transplants and smoking among additional risk factors

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, June 21 (HealthDay News) -- Think "skin cancer" and blame immediately goes to the sun. Justifiably so -- though not totally, skin doctors say.

"Hands down, sun exposure is the biggest risk factor for skin cancer," said Dr. Sherrif Ibrahim, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "And it's a cumulative risk. The more exposure you've gotten, the bigger the risk. The skin doesn't know if you're out one time for an hour or 12 times for 5 minutes at a time. Your skin keeps a running meter."

That's important to know as summer officially begins, according to skin health experts at the American Academy of Dermatology.

Each year, more than 3.5 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers, known as non-melanoma cancers, are diagnosed in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. These types of skin cancer aren't as deadly as melanoma, which affects about 75,000 U.S. residents annually. About 9,000 people die from melanomas and 2,000 from non-melanoma skin cancers each year, according to the society.

However, the sun isn't the only thing that can be problematic. Tattoos, certain chemicals, other diseases and possibly even those better-for-the-environment light bulbs all have been linked to skin cancer.

And people who think tanning beds are safer than soaking up the sun should think again, Ibrahim suggested.

"There's an unquestionable link between tanning booths and skin cancer," Ibrahim said. "There's been an enormous surge in the popularity of tanning booths, and with it the average age of people with melanomas is much lower. I had a 22-year-old patient just the other day."

This is because it doesn't matter if the ultraviolet light comes from the sun or from an artificial source. Dr. Alan Fleischer, a dermatology professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., explained that "the kind of light produced by tanning beds isn't better or worse than natural sunshine, but people may get more and longer exposure, especially in areas where outside, they might display more modesty."

Even getting a manicure can expose you to ultraviolet light.

"Ultraviolet nail treatment units do produce UV light, but the risk is quite small," said Fleischer. The lights are used to help gel or regular polishes set or harden.

Despite the low risk, the American Academy of Dermatology still recommends putting sunscreen on your hands before you get a manicure.

Even things that seem unrelated to UV light -- such as getting an organ transplant or a tattoo, or having an autoimmune disease -- have been linked to skin cancer diagnoses.

People who've had an organ transplant have an extremely elevated risk for skin cancer -- up to 200 times higher than others, according to Ibrahim.

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Food, Skin Allergies on the Rise Among Children: CDC

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- The number of American children who suffer from food allergies and skin allergies has increased dramatically in recent years, a new government report shows.

Interestingly, the prevalence of food and respiratory allergies rose with income: Children living in families that made more than 200 percent of the poverty level had the highest rates, the statistics showed.

"The prevalence of food and skin allergies both increased over the past 14 years," said report co-author LaJeana Howie, from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This has been a consistent trend."

With food allergies, the overall rate went from 3.4 percent in 1997 to 5.1 percent in 2011. With skin allergies, the overall rate increased from 7.4 percent in 1997 to 12.5 percent in 2011. The prevalence of respiratory allergies remained constant, at 17 percent, between 1997 and 2011, although it remained the most common type of allergy affecting children, according to the NCHS report published May 2.

Pediatric allergists noted that they have been seeing the trend in their own practices.

Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, director of allergy and immunology at Miami Children's Hospital, said: "We are certainly seeing increases in food and skin allergy in pediatric patients."

However, why these allergies are on the rise remains a mystery, another expert pointed out.

"We do not know why there has been an increase, but the theories include the 'hygiene hypothesis'; that reduced infection and reduced exposure to germs has left our immune systems 'looking for a fight' and attacking innocent proteins," explained Dr. Scott Sicherer, chief of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

In addition, there are theories about insufficient vitamin D, unhealthy fats in the diet, the obesity epidemic and processed food, none of which have been confirmed with hard science, he noted.

These increases are real, Sicherer added. "They speak to a need for more research toward prevention and cures," he said.

"We and others are undertaking studies to try to better understand the risk factors and opportunities for prevention, while aggressively doing research on multiple means to treat those with food allergies," Sicherer said.

Racial differences did emerge in the data.

The researchers found Hispanic children had the lowest prevalence of food, skin and respiratory allergies, compared with other groups.

And black children were more likely to have skin allergies than white children (17.4 percent versus 12 percent, respectively), but less likely to have respiratory allergies (15.6 percent versus 19.1 percent, respectively).

Age also was a factor in the prevalence of skin and respiratory allergies, the report noted.

With skin allergies, the rate dropped with age: 14.2 percent of those aged 4 and younger had them, while 13.1 percent of those aged 5 to 9, and 10.9 percent of those aged 10 to 17 had them.

The opposite was true for respiratory allergies: 10.8 percent of those aged 4 and younger had them, while 17.4 percent of those aged 5 to 9 and 20.8 percent of those aged 10 to 17 had them.

Last, but not least, there was the income gap.

Among families making less than 100 percent of poverty level, 4.4 percent of those children had food allergies and 14.9 percent had respiratory allergies. Among families making more than 200 percent of poverty level, 5.4 percent of those children had food allergies and 18.3 percent had respiratory allergies.

John Lehr, CEO of Food Allergy Research & Education, added that the report "confirms what we have already known, which is that millions of children are affected by food allergies, and this potentially deadly disease is a serious and growing public health concern. The CDC's report reinforces the need for education and awareness about food allergies across the country."

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: LaJeana Howie, M.P.H., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics; Scott Sicherer, M.D., chief, division of pediatric allergy and immunology, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York City; Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D., director, allergy and immunology, Miami Children's Hospital; John Lehr, CEO, Food Allergy Research & Education, McLean, Va.; May 2, 2013, National Center for Health Statistics report, Trends in Allergic Conditions Among Children: United States, 1997-2011

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Hair loss in 16 year old pleas help me

Im a 16 year old guy and ive Been anorexic for the last 2 years I was vegan for a year and a half and it took allot for me to get off it So for about the last maybe 3 months ive been eating a bit more "normal" But i know i still eat less than what i should sometimes i eat 3 times a day and will eat fruit but i still end up with around 400-700 calories left

But the reason i need advice is tht in all these two years that ive been going through anorexia , even back in march and April when I'd only get about 100-250 calories per day my hair was just thin and it nvr fell out , but now it is :'( and it won't stop

And i eat 3 times a day with snacks but i always end up with calories left & i know im getting better im 5'9 and once wieghed 220 this problem about a month ago lowerd me to about 100lbs and im at 112-114 right now but my hairl lost just keeps getting worst and worst pleas help me I've been taking a multivitamin , biotin, and iron supplements for about maybe a month and a half but theres no change any tips??? Pleas hair is the only thing i like about my body it was my reason to stop , without it i wont have a reason.

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Exercise May Lower Older Women's Risk for Kidney Stones

FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Anybody who's ever had kidney stones knows how painful they can be.

Now, a new study suggests that getting more exercise may reduce older women's risk for kidney stones.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, Georgetown University and University of Washington School of Medicine analyzed data from more than 85,000 postmenopausal women in the United States and found that higher levels of physical activity seemed to lower the risk of kidney stones by as much as 31 percent.

The amount of exercise -- not the intensity -- is the key factor in reducing kidney stone risk, according to the study scheduled for Saturday presentation at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, in San Diego.

The researchers also said that reducing the amount of high-calorie foods they consume could cut postmenopausal women's risk of kidney stones by more than 40 percent.

"Kidney stones are a very common health condition, and as with most health conditions, prevention is key," AUA spokesman Dr. Kevin McVary said in an association news release.

"While we know diet is one of several factors that can promote or inhibit kidney stone development, this study shows lifestyle changes such as exercise can also help prevent stones from forming in postmenopausal women. Further research is needed to understand if this observation is accurate for other demographics," he noted.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Each year, kidney stones send more than 3 million Americans to a health care provider and more than half a million to an emergency department, according to the news release. Obesity is known to be a strong risk factor for kidney stones.

-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCE: American Urological Association, news release, May 3, 2013

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Are drugstore foot-care products effective?

Posted June 22, 2013, 2:00 am

I see lots of products designed to treat foot problems — and I have lots of foot problems. Are the foot care products you can buy in the drugstore worth the money?

For some body parts, the drugstore has little to offer. But you’re right: There are many foot products. To find out if they’re really helpful, I checked with my colleague, Dr. James P. Ioli, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. Here are our thoughts on some common foot care products.

An arch bandage might make your arch feel better and more supported, but it won’t change the structure of your arch or fix serious problems. People with diabetes or poor circulation should avoid these because they could reduce blood flow through the foot. If you don’t have circulation problems, it might be worth a try. Some of my patients really find that arch bandages help their feet feel better.Callus and corn cushions are simple and effective. The doughnut shape keeps pressure off calluses and corns. Change them often; otherwise the skin underneath will start to break down.Stay away from callus and corn removers. The active ingredient, salicylic acid, can harm the healthy skin around the corn or callus.Detoxifying foot pads claim to absorb impurities from the body and aid “natural cleansing.” In a word — bunk! The best way to clean your feet is by washing them with soap and water.Foot files are OK, but use with care. Don’t scrape and scrape until you start to bleed. An old-fashioned pumice stone is a more gentle option for removing dead skin.Foot powders are better than many sprays and can help with sweaty and smelly feet. Some brands contain menthol, which creates a pleasant sensation and smell. Others have an antifungal medication.Moleskin products are cotton flannel with an adhesive backing, not actual moleskin. They are good for reducing friction points in shoes caused by bunions, calluses or corns. If you find yourself using a lot of moleskin, consider attacking the root problem: Switch to more flexible, better-fitting shoes.Nonprescription orthotics are worth a try before considering the prescription ones, which cost a lot and usually aren’t covered by insurance. The flat, foam and gel orthotics cushion the foot nicely. If you overpronate (if your foot rolls inward) or have arch problems, buy a pair with arch support.

Some doctors don’t take foot problems seriously. After all, they’re not fatal. I was probably like them until I developed some arthritis in my feet. It was then I realized how much we walk in the course of a day, and how irritating it is to experience pain whenever you walk.

So it’s good that simple over-the-counter solutions can help out with foot pain. Some are definitely worth trying; others are definitely not worth the money.

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Emerald Nails

Queen Victoria Street nail polish, £11, Nails Inc. http://www.nailsinc.com/ available nationwide

Nails Inc have introduced a new trend shade, Queen Victoria Street. The emerald green nails polish "translates the trend for everyday wear as it gives nails a subtle glow."

Green might not be your go-to colour, but we are completely sold on this nail polish! Not can you get away with one coat, the colour is strikingly beautiful. What's not to love? Statement nails ready for summer.

By Lisa JC

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Should You Aim To Weigh What You Did 20-30-40 Years Ago?

Here is something I have been curious about for a long time.  It relates to setting your target weight.  

The question is, should you have, as a goal, to weigh what you did when you were much, much younger?  

(Obviously, this pertains only to those of us who are well beyond the spring chicken phase of life.  Presumably no-one in their twenties has the goal of returning to their pre-teen weight.)

On the one hand, it seems logical that at 40 and 50 and 60 y/o, there is no reason why we should weigh more than we weighed at 30 y/o.  Our skeletons haven't grown much, our organs neither, and we're not often more muscular than when we were in our prime.  The numbers say, why not? 

On the other hand, when I think about what I used to weigh, it seems sort of impractical.  At 30 y/o, I weighed 162 lb.  That is 18-19 lb less than I weigh today.  In theory, I could get there - it would take being about 12-15% body fat.  In practice . . . ?  I feel like I'd have to work like hell to get there, throw out everything in my closet, and then have to whip myself daily to stay there.   

What do you think - for yourself?  Are you (again, I'm mostly talking to the more venerable among us) aiming for your weight of 1990 or 1980?  Why, or why not?  What is your decision process? 

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The Vaccines live at the O2

There are not many indie bands about right now that can whip a crowd into a sweat-slicked, elbow-throwing, hair-flipping frenzy quite like these boys can, particularly with fan-favourite If You Wanna (which has earned a spot in our mental 'best songs to listen to live' list). The atmosphere in the O2 was electric.

Those that had the energy left after the adrenaline-packed set stayed to sing Young an extremely enthusiastic rendition of Happy Birthday during the encore… It might have been their first massive arena show, but we're pretty certain it won't be their last. 

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Testicular Cancer on Rise in U.S., Especially Among Hispanic Men

Study finds slow, steady increase, but experts say condition remains uncommon

By Kathleen Doheny

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- The number of testicular cancer cases continues to climb slowly but steadily in the United States, according to new research.

While the cancer is still most common among white males, the greatest increase is among Hispanic men, according to Dr. Scott Eggener, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Chicago.

Eggener tracked the statistics on testicular cancer from 1992 through 2009, looking at data from a nationwide epidemiology database.

"The incidence of testicular cancer appears to be increasing very slowly but steadily among virtually all groups that we studied," he said. "The novel finding is that the most dramatic increase is in Hispanic men."

Eggener can't explain the increase. He is due to present his findings Monday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, in San Diego. The data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supported the study.

Testicular cancer is known as a young man's cancer, as half of the cases affect men aged 20 to 34, according to the American Cancer Society. However, older men can also be affected.

This year, the American Cancer Society expects 7,920 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States. About 370 men are expected to die of it.

"It still remains an uncommon cancer," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. He reviewed the new findings. "It's important that we become aware of the situation [of rising numbers of cases], but not become alarmed by it." Hispanic men, he noted, still have a lower rate of the cancer than do white men.

In his study, Eggener found that the incidence of testicular cancer rose from 1992 through 2009. In 1992, for instance, 5.7 of every 100,000 men had testicular cancer. By 2009, that number had risen to 6.8 men for every 100,000.

Hispanic men had the largest annual percentage increase. In 1992, four of every 100,000 Hispanic men were affected. By 2009, it was 6.3 men of every 100,000, the investigators found.

For men affected, the outlook is generally good, experts agreed. "It has the highest survival rate of any solid tumor," Eggener said. The overall five-year survival rate, he noted, is 95 percent or higher.

Symptoms can include a painless lump on a testicle, an enlarged testicle or an achy feeling in the lower belly.

Few risk factors have been identified. One known risk factor is having an undescended testicle -- one that does not move down into the scrotum at birth. In the United States, those born with an undescended testicle commonly have corrective surgery, Eggener said.

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gain weight

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