It's April, which means two things: pears are in season, and it's Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Combine the two and you have the 'Check Your Pear' campaign, a month-long initiative spearheaded by personal grooming brand, Tame.
While testicular cancer isn't particularly common - around 150 men are diagnosed and seven to 10 men die from it in New Zealand each year - it's more often seen in the younger demographic, particularly those aged 18 to 39. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 33.
When testicular cancer is detected early, it's regarded as very curable: in Aotearoa, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent. According to global statistics, that rate drops to around 73 percent once the cancer has spread outside of the testicle area.
Founded by Auckland-based Nik McIntosh, a plumber by trade and an advocate for testicular cancer awareness, Tame was launched late last year to provide a range of gender-neutral grooming tools and electric trimmers, designed for pruning and preening your various hairy areas and bushy bits.
As someone with friends who have survived testicular cancer, McIntosh is hoping to encourage more Kiwis to take care of their downstairs by making a good check of the gonads part of a regular grooming and maintenance routine - just like manscaping.
To raise awareness around the importance self-checking, Tame donates a portion of its profits to foundations supporting testicular cancer patients and education efforts, such as Testicular Cancer NZ (TCNZ). While this is a year-round initiative, Tame is also running the 'Check Your Pear' campaign for the month of April, where $10 from every purchase over $150 is donated to the foundations it supports. As part of the campaign, Tame is also sharing educational tips about testicular cancer to encourage more people to check their pears.
"I have a couple of friends who have fought and survived testicular cancer, both of them were in their late 20s when they were diagnosed. After spending a bit of time researching it, I found out it was actually most common in younger people," McIntosh told Newshub.
"When I spoke about it, most people weren't super aware of it, or that April was International Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. I felt it was an important cause that wasn't getting enough attention and one that we, as a grooming brand, should get behind."
To get the lowdown on how more New Zealanders can navigate their nuts, McIntosh has shared his top tips for a successful self-check.
"The first thing to note is that self-checking for testicular cancer is not the same as being checked for prostate cancer. Self-checking is relatively easy to do and doesn't involve any invasive procedures," he told Newshub.
"The most obvious sign that something isn't right is lumps or swelling in the testicle, but this can also occur in areas surrounding them, so knowing how and where to check is really important.
"In addition to some of the more obvious symptoms, things like back pain and fatigue can also be symptoms that something isn't quite right. That's where it gets a bit tricky, as these symptoms can often be brushed off."
How to perform a self-examination
- First, stand in front of a mirror and look for any swelling in the scrotum.
- Then, use both hands to examine each testicle separately by gently rolling it between your fingers and thumb.
- Lastly, feel around the entire area including the epididymis (the tube at the back of each testicle).
- If you notice any lumps or changes, see a doctor right away.
Symptoms of testicular cancer
- A number of symptoms may indicate possible testicular cancer and the most common is a painless swelling or lump in the testicle. Other less common symptoms include:
- Any enlargement of a testicle
- A significant shrinking of a testicle
- A change in the consistency of a testicle (hardness)
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin
- A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
- Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
- Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.
While these symptoms can be indicative of testicular cancer, they can also be caused by other conditions. It's important to see a doctor if any of these signs or symptoms appear.
How often should you be self-checking?
"It's recommended you check yourself every month. It's something that only takes a minute to do and you can do it right before or after you jump in the shower or when you're grooming down there - it's something you can conveniently do in your morning or evening routine," McIntosh said.
What can partners do to support and encourage self-checking?
"Self-checking for breast cancer is also something that should be done monthly. So if you're in a hetrosexual relationship, you should be proactive with your own health while encouraging your partner to be too. It's a lot easier to get into the habit of self-checking when you have someone else who is also caring for themselves in the same way. That open communication also normalises the act of self-checking," McIntosh said.
"The same thing applies to same-sex relationships: it's a healthy conversation to have about the health of the people you care about."
