#TackleTheToughStuff: Lee Briers & Movember

16 Jun 2021

#TackleTheToughStuff

As part of Super League’s #TackleTheToughStuff campaign, Warrington Wolves’ Lee Briers opens up about losing his brother to Testicular cancer, and urges others to check themselves out- “if it serves one person, I’ve done my job??.

Although a relatively rare disease, it does disproportionally affect younger men, and yet 62% of those who are most at risk don’t know how to check themselves. This is why we’ve teamed up with Movember to encourage our community to ‘know thy nuts’. Now more than ever it’s crucial to get behind this campaign as an additional impact of COVID-19 is that many have neglected their physical health, with statistics showing a worrying drop in those attending their local GP after noticing a change in their body. 

As the number one cancer among young guys, we’re committed to supporting Movember’s mission of halving the number of men dying from testicular cancer each year. 

About Testicular Cancer

  • A global study of more than 2,500 men conducted by YouGov* back in 2019, found that over half (62%) of men in the at-risk age group (18-34) didn’t know how to perform a testicular self-examination.
  • Overall, under a third of men (28.2%) have checked their testicles in the last year.
  • It is estimated that more than 35,000[1] men are currently living with or beyond a testicular cancer diagnosis in the UK.

How to check your nuts

  • Try to check your nuts once a month
  • The shower is the best place to do it - steamy shower helps the testicles to relax, creating the right conditions to feel around for anything out of the ordinary.
  • Performing a self-examination is as simple as rolling one testicle between thumb and fingers and feeling for what’s normal for you. Then repeat this technique with the second testicle.
  • It’s important not to panic if you notice something out of the ordinary when performing a self-examination. The best thing to do if you have any concerns or notice any changes, is to make an appointment with your GP to talk to them about it.  You needn’t worry about the nature of the questions – we can almost guarantee that your doctor has seen many testicles before and no question is a stupid one when it comes to your health. In most cases, the outcome for men with testicular cancer is positive, however early detection is key.  

Learn how to self-examine here: Check Your Pair – A How-To Guide - YouTube 

Find  out more about Movember’s Nuts and Bolts mission here: Movember - Nuts & Bolts - Tackle Testicular Cancer