Health News Review The latest on health, fitness and medical news.

10:15am UK, Monday March 30, 2009

Teddy Sheringham has told men to “keep their eye on the ball” in a campaign to raise awareness of testicular cancer.

Teddy Sheringham in an advert to raise awareness of testicular cancer

The former England footballer is appearing in a new advert urging men to check their testicles.

The advert will be played in Premier League stadiums over the next two weeks.

The campaign, titled Keep Your Eye On The Ball, is aimed at those in the sporting community.

It coincides with new research showing that testicular cancer survival rates are increasing, as more men get diagnosed early.

In England and Wales survival is up 2% since 1990 and now 99% of men survive if the cancer is treated in its early stages.

In 1960 the survival rate for testicular cancer was less than 50%.

Teddy Sheringham in advert

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer also showed 77% of men are being diagnosed in the early stages compared with 57% in the early 1980s.

Sheringham said: “This research shows it’s important for blokes to take notice of their prized balls and if they notice something wrong to seek medical help immediately.”

From the Everyman Male Cancer Research Centre, Dr Robert Huddart said: “Most of the recent improvement in survival is likely due to men knowing the symptoms of testicular cancer, leading to early diagnosis.

“We are finding that the average size of tumours at diagnosis has halved to just 2.5 centimetres making it much easier to treat.”

Testicular cancer survivor and Hull City keeper Matt Duke said: “The improvement in survival would bring great comfort to the men currently battling testicular cancer.

“This highlights the importance of raising awareness of this disease through campaigns such as Everyman and Keep Your Eye on the Ball and also the need to fund vital research into the causes and treatment.”

Other awareness campaigns include The Bobby Moore Fund which was set up after the footballer died of bowel cancer in 1993.