With the annual tache-athon of Movember just around the corner, new research has revealed an alarming lack of knowledge among men about what testicular cancer actually feels like.
Testicular cancer is often described as a small pea-like lump on one testicle but the research shows that almost two-thirds (60%) of men don’t know this and that even more men (63.2%) aged 18-24 were unaware – testicular cancer is more prevalent among younger men than older.
The research was carried out by HECK Sausages who’s founder, Jamie Keeble, was diagnosed with testicular cancer two years ago, and who says, “If men don’t know what testicular cancer might feel like, how can they possibly check themselves? Testicular cancer is on the rise* and men can reduce their chances of dying simply by knowing what to feel for.”
The lack of knowledge among men is especially high in some cities, with less than one in 10 men (9.1%) in Chelmsford saying they thought they knew what a cancerous lump would feel like. Wolverhampton at 15.4% and Derry at 14.3% were almost as bad.
The research, carried out among 2,000 Brits, also asked both sexes if they knew what breast and testicular cancer would feel like on themselves or on their partner’s body.
More than three quarters (76%) of women admitted they wouldn’t know what a cancerous lump would feel like on their partner’s testicles. Whereas almost half of men (46.6%) said they would know what a lump on their partner’s breast would feel like.
When it came to dealing with a lump, 55.3% of women said they’d book a GP appointment straightaway if they felt a lump on their breast. Just 41% of men who felt a lump on a testicle would do the same.
HECK is renaming as CHECK for the month to help raise awareness and funds for The Movember Foundation and has put details on how men can check themselves on its website.
Other results from the research include:
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The three UK cities where men are most likely to know what a cancerous lump feels like are: Warrington at 71%, Portsmouth at 61% and Sunderland at 57%
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More than one quarter of men (26.7%) in Scotland say they’d wait a few days before doing anything if they discovered a lump on their testicle, compared to just 12% of men in the South-West
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Almost one in 10 (9.8%) of 18-24 year old men say they’d do nothing if they felt a lump on a testicle; by contrast just 3% of women would do nothing if they felt a lump on a breast
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Almost one in five men (18.4%) incorrectly think a testicular lump feels ‘like a flat coin on one testicle’
Jamie Keeble says, “I found a small lump, immediately went to my GP and received my diagnosis. Even though a lot of stigma surrounds going to the doctor for such an intimate area, it is key to be proactive if you find a lump.
“Our research shows that too many men would ignore it if they found something and that many are unsure how to correctly check themselves.”
“Too many men are dying young from ignorance and lack of quick action. This disease needs to be openly discussed so that more guys will check themselves and feel they can talk to someone if something doesn’t feel right.
“60% don’t even know what a cancerous lump would feel like. In this day and age this has to stop! People need to be educated so that we can start making a difference.”
Director of Partnerships at Movember UK & Europe, Laura Mair, says “Unfortunately this latest polling from HECK is accurate. Too many men don’t know what to look for or are too embarrassed to discuss the subject. The Movember Foundation exists to get more men and women to check themselves, and their partners if they want, and to go to their GP as soon as they feel something’s not quite right.”
The CHECK products will be available in ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose throughout November. As well as our packs of CHECK! sausages, people will be able to buy CHECK sweatshirts online in our shop from the 1st November. Money raised from these purchases will go to the Movember Foundation. We aim to raise £25,000.