A new campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the importance of checking for testicular cancer, after a survey revealed that nearly a quarter of men in the UK would be put off examining themselves because they don’t know how to check properly.
In the UK, testicular cancer is diagnosed in around 2,300 men every year and is the number one cancer diagnosed in men aged between 15 and 34 (source Nuffield Health). But the YouGov poll of more than 1,000 men commissioned by HECK! Food, whose co-founder Jamie Keeble was diagnosed with the disease in 2015, revealed that nearly one in four of our British men (23%) are steering clear of checking their testicles for cancer because they don’t know how to do it properly.
HECK!’s Jamie Keeble with the limited-edition CHECK! chicken sausage pack (credit: Glen Minikin)
In partnership with Cahonas, the charity dedicated to raising awareness about testicular cancer and shouting about the benefits of self-checks and early detection, the new CHECK! campaign will see the Yorkshire sausage and burger firm change its name from HECK! to CHECK! on its chicken sausage packs throughout Men’s Health Month this November.
The special edition packs will carry QR codes directing people to the charity’s website and life-saving information on how to check, and a percentage of the sales from each pack will be donated to Cohonas.
HECK! has also created a page on its website www.heckfood.co.uk with a link to Cahonas for people to get more information. The company is also organising a men’s health MOT site for its employees at its North Yorkshire HQ in November, offering a quick and easy blood test and access to advice and information, particularly around how to check for signs of testicular cancer and prostate cancer.
The survey also revealed other key reasons why men would be put off checking themselves regularly and speaking to a GP about it. Answers included embarrassment (9%), not wanting to tell their spouse (4%), not wanting to tell their family i.e. parents or children (5%), fear of finding something wrong (12%) or thinking they aren’t old enough to get the disease (5%).
Jamie says, “This research shows that awareness is key, which is why we’re launching our CHECK! campaign this November. Testicular cancer is on the rise and men can reduce their chances of dying simply by knowing what to feel for.”
He continues, ” 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’s vital to be proactive if you find a lump. I’m now completely recovered and my wife and I recently celebrated the birth of our first child, which is amazing.
HECK!’s Jamie Keeble with wife Liv and daughter Sienna (credit: Glen Minikin)
“Sadly, our rsearch shows too many men would ignore it if they found something unusual and that many are unsure how to correctly check themselves. Our campaign aims to raise awareness, remove stigmas and get the subject of this disease discussed more openly, so that more men will check themselves and feel comfortable coming forward to talk to someone if something doesn’t feel right.”
Ritchie Marshall, Founder and CEO of Cahonas, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with HECK as they rebrand to CHECK for November. This campaign has the potential to spark vital conversations about men’s health in supermarkets across the country. Our mission is to raise awareness of testicular cancer and encourage men to take action. Early detection is key, as it leads to more effective treatment and higher survival rates. HECK has found a fun and impactful way to share this important message, and we hope everyone joins in by learning how to self-check and spread the word. Every check could make a life-changing difference.”
The CHECK! chicken sausage packs will be available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose throughout November. HECK! will be running a social media campaign across its channels and working with high profile influencers on gifting special packs to raise awareness.
For more information on the campaign visit www.heckfood.co.uk.
For more information, please contact [email protected] 07788 757377.