The Boys and Girls in Blue
Tuesday, 21 June, 2011
Being the boys and girls in blue was taken a step further last Friday. A team of North Herts police officers dyed their moustaches, beards and hair bright blue in support of a campaign to promote awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
One of the Hitchin and Royston Intervention Team has personal experience of this disease after a family member was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. In his case, the cancer was diagnosed early and his life was saved.
Team Sergeant Helen Croughton: "The high figures of men dying from prostrate and testicular cancer stack up to an ignorance in men about these two subjects. I thought it must be publicised. What better way to do it than by turning ourselves blue!"
She added: "Some officers actually grew facial hair especially for the occasion. Others dyed their hair or wore blue wigs and accessories.
"We had a really positive response from members of the public and they were very supportive of the fundraising event. We have already had members of the public donating to Everyman as a result of the direct contact they had with officers on Friday.
"We would also like to thank HQ Hairdressers, in Upper King Street, Royston, who actively supported the event by providing some of the hair dye for the day."
To donate please visit:
www.justgiving.com/kevin-graham
For any further information please visit:
www.everyman-campaign.org
June is Everyman's male cancer awareness month and their mission is to save men's lives by raising funds to support research into prostate and testicular cancer and promoting greater awareness of these diseases.
Prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in men, every year around 36,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. About 10,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in the UK, this works out as more than 1 man per hour.
One of the problems related to prostate cancer is that, in its early stages, it often does not cause symptoms. Where symptoms do occur they may include any of the following problems:
• Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine
• Passing urine more often and/or at night
• Difficulty getting the flow of urine started
• Starting and stopping whilst passing urine
• Discomfort (pain or burning) whilst passing urine
• A feeling of not having emptied the bladder fully
• Dribbling of urine
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain or stiffness in the back, hips or pelvis
Since 1975 the incidence of testicular cancer has more than doubled. Thanks to advances made at the Everyman Centre, testicular cancer with treatment is 97% curable, and that figures rises to 99% if it is caught in the early stages.
Regular self-examination will help you become more aware of the normal feel and size of your testicles so that any abnormalities can be spotted early on.
• A lump in either testicle
• Any enlargement of the testicle
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• Growth or tenderness of the upper chest
If you do have any of these symptoms, don't just wait and hope that they disappear - go and get checked out by your doctor. Most lumps are not cancerous but the earlier you find out, the earlier you can get any necessary treatment. And remember - if caught early, testicular cancer is 99% curable.
