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One day a young man decided to do something he thought was a funny and harmless prank. He found a pregnancy test among his ex-girlfriend’s toiletries and thought he’d try to see what the test would show if he used it. To his great surprise the test came back positive.
Shocking result and searching for answers
The man was stunned. It was hard to believe that a wart or something similar could be growing in his belly, so he decided to look for another explanation. When he shared his experience on social media, one commenter suggested he get checked for testicular cancer.
The advice that saved a life
Fortunately the man followed that advice and soon discovered that he did indeed have testicular cancer. The positive pregnancy test in this case has a very simple explanation: quick pregnancy tests measure the level of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is produced by the placenta in the body of a pregnant woman.
What do pregnancy and testicular cancer have in common?
What many people don’t know, however, is that most testicular tumors also produce this hormone. Therefore, when a pregnancy test shows a positive result in a man, it is a serious signal that he should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Chance of recovery thanks to early detection
The man underwent surgery and, since his disease was discovered at an early stage, he has a very good chance of a full recovery.
Conclusion
This story is proof that even an apparently harmless joke can lead to important discoveries. Share this information with your friends – you could save a life!