CANCER campaigners today expressed concern that more than a third of men in the North West had never checked their testicles for lumps or abnormalities.

A survey by the Institute of Cancer Research showed that 41 per cent of males in the region had never examined their own testes.

The charity said the figure was alarming because testicular cancer was now the most common form of the disease to affect young men.

Cases are now doubling every year and 63 per cent of men said they knew little or nothing about the disease.

The Institute of Cancer Research's Everyman campaign said a simple self-examination for testicular cancer was recommended by health experts.

It also warned against popular misconceptions about the disease. More than 40 per cent cited infertility and 48 per cent impotence as possible side effects - when neither was a high risk factor.

Most were unaware that the cure rate for testicular cancer was 96 per cent - only if it was treated and caught early.

The survey also showed that about 44 per cent of North West men had never spoken to a male family member about the disease - which can run in the family.

The Institute of Cancer Research's Everyman campaign was launched two years ago to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer and to raise £6million towards the establishment of Britain's first dedicated male cancer research centre.

The campaign received the backing of pop star Robbie Williams during the summer when he starred in the campaign's first TV commercial to warn men of the dangers of testicular cancer.

The Manchester-based comedy drama Cold Feet recently featured a storyline in which Adam, played by James Nesbitt, found a malignant tumour on one of his testicles.

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