Men don't talk to each other about their health
and ignorance of male cancers persists

June 3, 1999

Strictly embargoed: 10.30am Thursday June 3, 1999.

As the incidence of testicular and prostate cancer continue to rise, a MORI opinion poll published today for The Institute of Cancer Research's (ICR) everyman campaign shows there is still a long way to go to educate men.

Despite the fact that testicular cancer is the most common cancer to affect young men and that cases are doubling every 20 years, over two thirds (68 per cent) of those questioned aged between 15 and 34 knew little or nothing about it.

Prostate cancer kills 11,000 men in the UK each year and is predicted to overtake lung and breast to become the most common cancer in the UK, but only 26 per cent of men said they knew a great deal or a fair amount about the disease.

A simple self-examination for testicular cancer is recommended by health professionals, but 49 per cent of men at risk (aged 15-34) had never checked their testicles for lumps or abnormalities. The statistic was even worse in the younger age bracket of 15-24 year olds, at 56 per cent.

Interestingly 38 per cent of young men said they knew how to check - so a significant number of them may not be acting on this knowledge.

When it comes to topics of conversation, only 8 per cent of 15-34 year olds name personal health issues as a frequent subject for discussion. Women are a much more popular topic for this age range - 59 per cent, compared to 22 per cent for older men. And even politics is more likely to be raised at 13 per cent.

Young men are more likely to talk to their mothers than to any other relative or friend about their health - 48 per cent. (For 15-24 year olds the figure rises to 54 per cent.) They don't talk nearly so often to male relatives - 25 per cent of 15-34 year olds talk to their fathers and 9 per cent to their brothers. Just 28 per cent would talk to a close male friend. 67 per cent of men aged 35 or over would talk to their partners about their health.

Apart from women, popular topics of conversation overall were football (53 per cent), cars (44 per cent) and money (33 per cent). Men are more likely to discuss politics as they get older, though the average overall was 26 per cent.

The MORI research also reveals the majority of men (67 per cent) think there is far too little or not enough information available to them on prostate and testicular cancer.

This finding is supported by misconceptions on the treatment and prognosis facing those with testicular cancer. 54 per cent cited infertility and 38 per cent impotence as possible side effects when in fact neither is a high risk. On average, those questioned thought 63 out of 100 diagnosed cases would be cured when in reality the figure is significantly more encouraging at around 96 out of 100. However, this is only if it is caught and treated early.

The research comes at the start of the second annual everyman male cancer awareness month. Professor Colin Cooper of the ICR said:

"This research reinforces the urgency for more widely available information, for an environment in which men feel more relaxed about personal health matters and in which they are encouraged to take prompt action when necessary."

Questions about knowledge of these cancers were asked in a poll for the ICR in June 1998 and there is an improvement in awareness levels. The figure for those who said they knew a great deal or a fair amount about prostate cancer has risen from 19 per cent to 26 per cent, and for testicular cancer from 19 per cent to 28 per cent.

Professor Cooper remarked: "These results are encouraging but there is still a long way to go. It is clear that the everyman campaign needs to build on its success so far and play an even more significant role in pioneering research developments and in offering informative and readily accessible information to all men."

She added: "My research has also shown there is little communication between men in families which have a history of prostate or testicular cancer, and this is serious in the context of genetic disease where it is crucial for family members to talk. It also showed that women seem to be the gate-keepers of health information for men, just as the MORI research indicates. This suggests that we should also be pushing the message home about testicular and prostate cancer to women as well."

The ICR's everyman campaign was launched in September 1997 to increase awareness of prostate and testicular cancer and to raise £6 million towards the establishment of Britain's first dedicated male cancer research centre. £2.3 million has been raised in pledges and income so far and initial building work began on the centre at Sutton in Surrey last month.

For further information please contact The Institute of Cancer Research press office on 0171 970 6030 or 0171 970 6031, or out of hours on 0468 904 621. Alternatively contact John Leaman at MORI on 0171 928 5955.

Notes to editors:

1. Professor Colin Cooper, development director of the ICR's Male Urological Cancer Centre, is available for comment or interview. Requests should be made to Katy Bell or Sadie East on 0171 970 6030.

2. The ICR everyman campaign was launched in September 1997 to increase awareness of testicular and prostate cancer and to raise funds for the UK's first dedicated research facility into male cancers.

3. The ICR promotes a simple self-examination for testicular cancer in a special leaflet that is available by telephoning 0171 352 8188.

4. The MORI research covered 936 face to face interviews with men aged 15+, and was conducted from 9-12 April across 157 sampling points. All data are weighted to the male population profile.

5. The second annual everyman male cancer awareness month is officially launched today (Thursday June 3, 1999). For more information contact the ICR press office on 0171 970 6030.

6. everyman male cancer awareness month also features, for the first time, an advertising campaign, generously donated by leading agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. For a press release on the advertising campaign and visuals contact the ICR press office.

7. The everyman perkin - the first ever symbol for male cancer awareness - has also made its debut. It is now available in main store branches of WH Smiths and House of Fraser stores throughout the country, as well as other selected retail outlets.

8. A new everyman leaflet on prostate and testicular cancer is available through freephone 0800 731 9468 and an everyman website on male cancers at www.icr.ac.uk/everyman

9. Facts and figures about prostate or testicular cancer are also available from the ICR press office.

For further information please contact:-
The Press Office Tel: 0171 970 6030 email: