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In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS), the equivalent of our Social Security, takes the subject of screening for breast and testicular cancer head on! The public health system body has partnered with a supermarket chain to put labels on underwear urging customers to get screened for breast and testicular cancer.
Nutmeg-branded boxers and bras, on sale in Morrisons supermarkets, will soon be labeled with prevention messages and a QR code that will direct consumers to official information on breast or testicular cancer screening , available on the NHS website. “This is the first time the NHS has worked with a supermarket chain to deliver health messages on clothing, with the aim of encouraging thousands of people to monitor their bodies for an unexplained change that may be the signs of early-stage breast or testicular cancer, and contact their GP for checks, if any“National Cancer Director for NHS England, Dame Cally Palmer, told the BBC.
Detect the signs of the disease to consult quickly
Breast cancer can show up as a lump or a change in appearance or shape on one or both breasts. The main symptoms of testicular cancer are painful swelling of the scrotum, a lump on one or both testicles, or a change in the shape or appearance of the scrotum.
Early detection improves chances of long-term survival
In a press release published on August 21, 2023, the NHS recalls that the chances of survival for these cancers are very good when the disease is detected at an early stage. “National statistics show that 91% of patients with breast cancer survive the disease 5 years after diagnosis when it is made at an early stage, when the tumor is small. On the other hand, the 5-year survival rate increases to 39% when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. As for testicular cancer, the 5-year survival rate is almost 100% when diagnosed early. It increases to 65% when the cancer is detected at an advanced stage”.
In France, breast cancer screening is free for women between the ages of 50 and 74, without symptoms and with no particular risk factors for breast cancer, other than their age. It is based on the realization of a mammogram every 2 years. It is also recommended that all women make a check-up visit to the gynecologist or midwife at least once a year to benefit from a clinical breast examination, and to carry out a breast self-examination once a month.
Unlike breast cancer, there is no organized screening for testicular cancer in France. Most testicular cancers are detected by men themselves by self-examination. They consult after having detected a hard mass at the level of the non-painful testicle with an irregular aspect to the touch. Sometimes the cancer is discovered by chance during another examination carried out after an injury or to look for a possible fertility problem.