Local charity to raise awareness of testicular cancer to shoppers

Local charity ‘It’s On The Ball’ and specialist nurses for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) will be at intu Chapelfield on Saturday 15th March to raise awareness of testicular cancer.

The team will be giving out leaflets and wristbands to members of the public in a bid to get more men to self-check for signs of testicular cancer and will be based on the Upper level of intu Chapelfield opposite the Sunglass Hut, from 9am to 7pm.

Lisa Holland, Specialist Nurse at NNUH, said: “Men are notoriously bad at looking after themselves, and we want to raise awareness of this condition and hopefully encourage the men in our lives to follow the simple steps for self-examination which could save a life. Testicular cancer is a very easily treated cancer, especially if caught early”.

intu Chapelfield’s general manager Davina Tanner said: “We are really pleased to welcome nurses from NNUH to intu Chapelfield to engage with our shoppers and raise awareness of testicular cancer. Since starting our partnership with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in 2012, we’ve been able to bring health awareness advice to our shoppers on a regular basis and are so pleased to continue this in 2014. intu Chapelfield is committed to supporting the local community and having these events in the centre makes them really accessible.”

It's On The Ball is a group based in Norwich set up to provide support to patients and their families and raise awareness of testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer – the facts

• Cancer of the testicles, also known as testicular cancer, is one of the less common cancers. It usually affects younger men between the ages of 15 and 44.

• The most common type of testicular cancer is known as ‘germ cell testicular cancer’, which accounts for around 95% of all cases. Germ cells are a type of cell that the body uses to help create sperm.

• Testicular cancer is relatively uncommon, accounting for just 1% of all cancers that occur in men.

• Each year in the UK around 2,090 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.

• The number of cases of testicular cancer that are diagnosed each year in the UK has roughly doubled since the mid-1970s.