This Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, we are encouraging men across Northern Ireland to check their testicles regularly. As part of our Talking Balls campaign, the charity has produced a Talking Balls self-check card, which has a step-by-step guide on how men can carry out an examination in just a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The campaign was developed in partnership with Friends of the Cancer Centre\u2019s Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mel. As the only nurse of her kind in Northern Ireland, Mel provides care for testicular cancer patients and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mel has shared more about the care she provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpecialising in care for men affected by testicular cancer, I know how vital it is that they are provided with physical, mental and emotional support. Our patient cohort will primarily come from the 15-49 age bracket, and for young men, a cancer diagnosis can be particularly difficult to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTesticular cancer has one of the highest survival rates of any cancer in NI, and the outcomes are extremely good if it is caught early. I know that the support I offer to men and their families will equip them to recover from their experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stephen Clegg (48) and Aaron Watson (41) both have first-hand experience of testicular cancer. They are sharing their experiences in the hope that it will encourage more men to carry out a self-check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Stephen explains, his diagnosis in 2020 came as a shock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter feeling unwell whilst on holiday, and upon returning to Northern Ireland, I found that my right testicle was a bit swollen. I immediately made an appointment to see my GP. Initially, my doctor thought it could be a UTI and gave me a course of antibiotics, but after 2 weeks I didn\u2019t feel any improvement so I went back to my GP and he made a red flag referral to the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe care I\u2019ve received from the team in the Cancer Centre has been excellent. I am being monitored regularly by the team at the Cancer Centre, including Friends of the Cancer Centre\u2019s Testicular Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist who is on hand if I have any queries or concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI used to be one of those men who didn\u2019t talk about my health or anything private. Now, I would openly tell any man to check themselves regularly. If there is something wrong, the earlier you catch it, the sooner treatment can start and that can make a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a strange coincidence, Stephen\u2019s neighbour and friend Aaron was starting to share his story with our Talking Balls campaign. Aaron was diagnosed with testicular cancer himself at just 22 years old. He explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA few months after Stephen\u2019s surgery, I bumped into him, and thankfully he told me about his diagnosis. I couldn\u2019t believe it, and told Stephen that I\u2019d gone through exactly the same experience, he wasn\u2019t alone. I chatted about the work I had been doing with Friends of the Cancer Centre and its Talking Balls campaign, sharing my story to encourage men to check their testicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTesticular cancer is a subject that many people are uncomfortable talking about. It is vitally important that we have this conversation. It is very treatable when caught early and it has high survival rates, but the key is early diagnosis. I am incredibly proud to be an ambassador for Friends of the Cancer Centre\u2019s Talking Balls campaign. By sharing my story, and Stephen sharing his, I know we will make a difference to someone out there and hopefully save a life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n