Leading Musician Uses Testicular Cancer Experience to Raise Funding and Awareness

17 February 1999

A 28 year old musician with one of the country's leading orchestras is using his experience of testicular cancer to help raise awareness and increase funding for the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre.

Tom Croxon, a double bass player with the Philharmonia Orchestra, has invited the internationally distinguished pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy to lead a fund raising gala concert at London's Royal Festival Hall in aid of The Institute of Cancer Research's everyman - action against male cancer campaign.

Celebrity patronage for the concert has been received from Dame Judy Dench, Stephen Fry, Sir George Martin and Dr Miriam Stoppard, among others. Prime Minister Tony Blair will be including a message of support in the gala brochure.

"During my stay in hospital it became obvious there was a lack of awareness and funding for research into male cancers. To compound the problem men are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice," said Tom Croxon.

A recent MORI poll, commissioned by everyman, showed a staggering 80 per cent of men questioned knew little or nothing about a disease that primarily affects the 20 to 34 age group and has an almost 100 per cent survival rate if caught early in its most common form.

Tom Croxon was successfully treated for testicular cancer last year and hopes that his experience, together with a major London concert, will help the work of the everyman campaign which was launched by The Institute of Cancer Research in September 1997.

Professor Colin Cooper of the everyman campaign said:

"The incidence of testicular cancer has doubled in the last 20 years, making it the most common form of the disease among young men. However awareness is alarmingly low and men, when faced with testicular cancer, usually feel unable to talk about it. The most positive thing is that it can be cured and that there are two simple messages - check yourself regularly and go to see your doctor immediately if you are worried about anything."

He added:

"Tom Croxon is an excellent spokesman for everyman and his tireless efforts in organising a prestigious fund raising concert so soon after his own successful recovery from testicular cancer is a great tribute to him and is invaluable to our work."

Vladimir Ashkenazy and the concert soloist, pianist Peter Jablonski, are generously donating their services for the Music for everyman Gala Concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

Information about testicular cancer is available from everyman, The Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, 123 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RP.

Notes to Editors

0. The incidence of testicular cancer, which primarily affects young men between the ages of 16 and 35, is doubling every twenty years in the UK.
1. Prostate cancer is predicted to overtake both breast and lung cancer to become the most common form of the disease in Britain by 2018.
2. Proceeds from the Music for everyman Gala Concert will be paid to ICR Enterprises Ltd, a company which covenants all its net taxable profits to The Institute of Cancer Research (a charity).
3. The concert is sponsored by The Pentland Group and SAS, the national airline of Scandinavia.