Thursday 10 June 1999
The UK's leading cancer research charity is using the internet to encourage sons and daughters to send a special card with an important message this father's day.
As part of its second annual everyman male cancer awareness month the Institute of Cancer Research's (ICR) everyman website will enable visitors to choose one of six card designs, attach a personal message and e-mail it in time for Sunday June 20.
The idea is part of a campaign designed to help raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. It comes as a MORI opinion poll published earlier this month showed that there is still a long way to go in educating men and in creating an environment in which they feel comfortable addressing personal health issues.
All six card designs are from the portfolio of Matthew Gough who was diagnosed with testicular cancer two months after starting a BA degree at St Martin's School of Art. Matthew died on June 16 last year ten days after his 19th birthday and a selection of his work has been given to the ICR by his family to help the everyman campaign.
Both testicular and prostate cancer can be hereditary, reinforcing the need for fathers and sons to talk. As Clare Moynihan, medical sociologist at the ICR said: m/f "We know there is little communication between men in families with a history of prostate or testicular cancer, and this is serious in relation to genetic disease where it is crucial for family members to talk."
The world's first on-line male cancer awareness quiz can also be found on the everyman website to test your knowledge of male cancers.
For everyman male cancer awareness month the ICR also published a new leaflet on testicular and prostate cancer, and launched the everyman perkin, a symbol inspired by the 'x' and 'y' chromosome common to all men. Available at branches of WH Smith and House of Fraser, donations will go to the everyman campaign.
For further information please contact The Press Office on:-
Tel: 0207 970 6030
email: [email protected]
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.