ENGLAND TEAM HELP TACKLE MALE CANCER

Monday 6 March 2006

The England Football Team is helping to tackle male cancer during the Keep Your Eye on The Ball awareness fortnight (which kicks off on Monday 6th March) by urging footie fans to be more aware of the signs and symptoms of testicular and prostate cancer. 

The awareness fortnight, which is run by The Professional Footballers’ Association, The Football Association and The Everyman Campaign, comes as they announce survey findings which show that only 28% of men check their testicles regularly for signs of testicular cancer – a worrying fact given that if caught early enough testicular cancer is 99% curable.

The survey, conducted by The Everyman Male Cancer Campaign, also found that a shocking 95% of men and women agreed that men are less informed about male cancer than women are about female cancers.  Over 60% of men also said that health matters were the least likely topics of conversation they would have with their friends.

However, over half of the men surveyed said they would feel comfortable visiting their GP if they found a lump on their testicles and only 16% admitted to being fearful and reluctant to go, which could be a sign that men’s attitudes towards health issues are changing.  A similar survey conducted by Everyman last year also revealed that only 19% of men checked their testicles regularly.  So whilst the number of men checking themselves regularly remains low, there are signs that awareness in men is increasing.

England and Manchester City goal-keeper and campaign ambassador, David James, commented,

“I support Keep Your Eye On The Ball because it is important to make the fans and players aware of male cancer. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer to affect men between 20-35 years old, the average career span of a footballer.  The good news is that if caught early enough, it is curable in 99% of cases.   That’s why it is important for Keep Your Eye On The Ball to continue to raise awareness, which will help save lives.”  

Keep Your Eye on The Ball was set-up over four years ago in response to low awareness levels and after several high profile players including Jason Cundy, Alan Stubbs and Neil Harris were diagnosed with testicular cancer.  Each year an awareness fortnight is held (which is running from 6th – 19th March) where Clubs and Associations are encouraged to help raise awareness to fans by displaying posters, information leaflets and adverts in match-day programmes.  Over 60 league Clubs and Associations are participating in the campaign this year.

Simone Pound from The Professional Footballers’ Association commented,

"This campaign is one that The PFA initiated and we are proud that so many of our members are working to raise awareness of male cancers. It is particularly important for us to demonstrate that professional footballers are not immune: Jason Cundy, Neil Harris, Alan Stubbs and Craig Forrest have battled and successfully combated testicular cancer. If we can continue to raise awareness in this way football and footballers can play a vital role in men’s health.“

Phil Smith from The Football Association commented,

“Male cancers are too often ignored and overlooked and that’s why we decided to make Everyman an official charity of The FA.  Through Keep Your Eye on The Ball we can use the power of football to raise awareness to a huge audience and ultimately save lives.”    

In the time it takes to play one 90 minute game of football, more than one man in the UK will have died of prostate cancer and it has now overtaken lung cancer to become the UK’s most common cancer diagnosed in men.

Cases of testicular cancer have risen dramatically in the last 20 years, but the causes of this increase are not known.  Thanks to advances made at The Everyman Centre - Europe’s first and only centre dedicated to male cancer and part of The Institute of Cancer Research - testicular cancer is 99% curable if caught early enough.   That’s why it is important to make men aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for as early diagnosis can save lives.

-Ends-

For further information, a copy of the pictures, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Everyman press office on the numbers below.

Notes to Editor

  • Attention Picture Editors – Pictures of The England Squad line-up and individual shots of David James and Ashley Cole supporting the campaign are available upon request
  • For interviews with Alan Stubbs, Jason Cundy, The FA, The PFA and The Everyman Campaign, please contact Charlotte Muskett at The Everyman Campaign
  • The survey of a random sample of 200 men and 100 women (300 total) was conducted by The Everyman Campaign between 13th – 27th February
  • The PFA and The FA set up the ‘Keep your Eye on the Ball’ campaign with The Institute of Cancer Research’s Everyman campaign to ensure that all footballers and their supporters are aware of the symptoms of male cancer. This campaign was in direct response to the discovery that players Neil Harris, Alan Stubbs, Craig Forrest and Jason Cundy all had testicular cancer.
  • For more information about the signs and symptoms of testicular and prostate cancer visit www.keepyoureyeontheball.org or call 0800 731 9468

For Press Enquiries, please contact:

Charlotte Muskett, The Everyman Campaign, www.everyman-campaign.org

Tel: 020 7153 5312

Simone Pound, The Professional Footballers’ Association, www.givemefootball.com

Tel:020 7236 5148

Joseph Oakeshott, The Football Association, www.TheFA.com

Tel: 020 7745 4545

Logos and links to the campaign organisers websites

Launch the PFA website Launch the FA website Launch the everyman website