Promoting Awareness

Key to dealing with any health issue is awareness. Without it, prevention is impossible and identifying possible problems is left far too late. When it comes to their health, men are notoriously unwilling to take sufficient interest, or the measures needed to protect and help themselves.

Orchid understands how vital it is to alert men – and their loved ones – to the risks posed by male-specific cancers and the steps they can take to reduce them. In all our work, we stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which is essential to prevent all cancers and many other medical conditions. Exercise, diet and moderate exposure to sunshine are obvious examples, which we encourage in our Orchid cycle and running events.

Testicular Cancer is a relatively easy cancer in awareness terms. It is normally easy to detect because of the physical change (weight/size/lump) in the testis when the disease occurs. It is relatively easy to treat, and the earlier it is detected, the simpler the treatment involved – it may even preclude the need for surgery. As it can affect very young men, Orchid has produced a video/DVD called ‘Know Your balls – Check Em’ Out!’ aimed at this age group. We have sent a free DVD pack to every school in UK with boys aged 15-16 which includes a quiz and other material to help educate youngsters about this comparatively rare yet significant disease. The film is packed full of celebrities and uses humour to get the important message across – self examination is easy – and thereby ensuring that future generations of men are aware of this life-threatening issue.

Know Your balls – Check Em’ Out!

Originally produced as a video in 2000, this resource has not only been sent to schools but also to hospitals, medical centres, units in the Armed Forces at home and overseas, youth and community centres, HM Prisons, colleges, universities, corporates etc.

To order your copy now click here……

We also distribute leaflets explaining testicular cancer in general terms, and the treatment options in more detail for those unfortunate enough to contract the disease.

Awareness Leaflets

Prostate Cancer awareness is more difficult. It starts with the problem that not many men actually know they’ve got a prostate and especially where it is or what it does – the same cannot be said about testicles! Prostate cancer frequently strikes without any, or without any significant, symptoms. Indicators like more frequent and/or less efficient urinating typically happen as the body ages and can relate to a benign (ie non cancerous) rather than malignant condition of the prostate. Add to that, the fact that around 80% of men aged over 80 will die with prostate cancer, but not of prostate cancer, and the complexities of diagnosis and treatment are all too obvious.

Awareness Leaflets

This means that men must first be made aware that they have a prostate, and encouraged to go to their GP if they have any trouble with down below with their ‘waterworks’ or reproductive ‘kit’. If more detailed information is required, we distribute leaflets about prostate cancer itself and blood test that is often used in diagnosis, called the Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA Test.

How Orchid gets the message out

Orchid members of staff are pleased to give awareness talks at schools, colleges, universities, companies whenever possible. For more information please e-mail us info@orchid-cancer.org.uk

Orchid tries to get as much research news and case studies as possible into the national press. If you have a story you would like to share with us please e-mail us info@orchid-cancer.org.uk

Our new ‘Checked out’ campaign aims to get men and women to:

• Check out male cancer
• Check for signs of male cancer
• Get checked out by a GP if worried

Why not organize an awareness day at your workplace? We can supply free material and advice.

We work with other organizations to organize national awareness such as Men’s Health week in June. To find out more about our collaborative work please click here