Work Begins to Build the UK's First Dedicated Male Cancer Research Centre

30 April 1999

As the incidence of male cancers continues to increase in Britain, ground has been broken for the building of the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in Sutton.

Funded by the ICR's everyman 'action against male cancer' campaign, and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, the centre will bring together research expertise into prostate, testicular, bladder and kidney cancer.

It will work to improve methods of detection and treatment, to identify cancer genes, and ultimately aim to eradicate male cancers.

The ground-breaking was presided over by Paul Bartlett, a young man who has recovered from testicular cancer and who is supporting the everyman campaign, and Bob Champion MBE, the famous jockey who also had testicular cancer, and went on to win the Grand National.

Testicular cancer primarily affects young men between the ages of 20 and 34 and is doubling every 20 years. Prostate cancer, which is usually found in men over the age of 40 is expected to overtake breast and lung cancer to become the most common form of the disease in the UK by 2018.

Professor Colin Cooper, Development Director of the ICR's Male Cancer Research Centre, was also at the ground-breaking ceremony. He commented:

"We are delighted that a total of £3.3 million has been raised by the fundraising efforts of both the everyman 'action against male cancer' campaign and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust to build the centre. However, much more is needed if we are to fund research and equipment in the centre. Male cancers have been neglected, and it is astonishing that this situation should have gone on for so long.

Prostate cancer receives less than £1 million a year for basic research, compared to £16 million for breast cancer. There is also a frightening lack of awareness about testicular cancer ­ a recent MORI poll showed that 80% of men know little or nothing about it."

The building work began as plans were being finalised for the second annual everyman male cancer awareness month in June.