Join us for #BlueFriday

As part of testicular cancer awareness month we are asking you our supporters to join us on #BlueFriday on Friday the 10th of June.

All we are asking you to do is wear something blue and donate £1 to our charity by simply texting Ball08 £1 to 70070 or via out donate page www.ballstocancer.com/donate/

Also please tweet us your pictures with the hashtag #BlueFriday

Please help us to get your office, school or workplace involved and raise as much money as you can.

You can also purchase our #BlueFriday badge for £2 here

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#MakingMemories for Beautiful Evan

Thanks to your fantastic support, we will be sending the brilliantly brave Evan to our Holiday home. We are very pleased to be able to help Evan and his family to have some great #MakingMemories time together.

Below we have included some more information about Evan’s illness and his fight so far from his mother Danielle ….

“This is my beautiful boy Evan Robinson ️his spent most of his life in Birmingham children’s hospital and was diagnosed last September with a grade 4 at/rt brain tumour aggressive cancer.

Our world fell apart that Sunday but we fought on with ️chemotherapy lumbers and 9 rounds of that horrid ️chemo trips to ICU. There were good days  and bad days mainly bad. Evan was so poorly through it all. We finally stabilised in April and  got home April 16th of this year. We’ve done 10 months straight in hospital then in May just a month later we had our monthly MRI and no one could prepare us. We relapsed big time my smiley Evans cancer has spread and is now everywhere in Evans head, new tumours and they are growing fast. Our consultant is really sorry that ️this has happened but there is no more treatment.  We tried one  and it has failed.  Evans becoming really poorly now due to ️his fast growing tumours we really don’t ️no how long we have with our baby boy. This is parents worse nightmare to watch helplessly and not being able to do anything to save our beautiful boy.

Please help us give Evan a great holiday and also help us give more holidays to more children and families fighting cancer.

If you would like to make a donation in Evans Name to help more children like him have a great holiday please donate here

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Be an extra in a film and help Balls to Cancer at the same time.

Football Kingdom is a satirical drama about the plight of a young well-meaning footballer trying to come to terms with the power struggles so prevalent at the top tier of the modern-day football world. In classic twists and turns – Shakespeare meets the suspense of a see-saw football match – the story takes us on a journey through one man’s passionate quest to not only win, but win with integrity.

The production team of Football Kingdom are currently running an Indigogo campaign that gives Balls to Cancer supporters the opportunity to be involved the making of the film. There are various ways that you can get involved:

  • Ever wanted to be a film Extra? Participate in the crowd as a supporter of the team and you can walk away with a souvenir Kingdom FC shirt from the game day filming
  • Can you play? If you know how to kick a ball around, grab the chance to get on the pitch and play a game in the name of film and charity. In fact, why not get your own team to rally and come and play as a full team. You will even get a credit as an actor!
  • Are you in a Band? Get your audition in and you may see yourself in a film playing in your band. What better way to gain exposure!
  • Want to wear the jewelry of a WAG? Then get your hands on an exclusive piece from the French designer SoShine. Available in the UK exclusively only through this campaign.

Get involved at http://igg.me/at/FK

What a great opportunity to have some fun while raising some money for Balls to Cancer!

Want more details contact the team at crowd@imaginative-exposure.com

All you need to know about Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal tissue known as a tumour develops in the lining of the bladder. In some cases the tumour spreads into the surrounding muscles.

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your urine, which is usually painless.

If you notice blood in your urine, even if it comes and goes, you should visit your GP so the cause can be investigated.

Types of bladder cancer

Once diagnosed, bladder cancer can be classified by how far it has spread.

If the cancerous cells are contained inside the lining of the bladder, doctors describe it as superficial or non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for 7 out of 10 cases. Most people do not die as a result of this type of bladder cancer.

When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining into the surrounding muscles of the bladder, it’s referred to as muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body and can be fatal.

Why does bladder cancer happen?

Most cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused by exposure to harmful substances that lead to abnormal changes in the bladder’s cells over the course of many years.

Tobacco smoke is a common cause and it is estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.

Contact with certain chemicals previously used in manufacturing is also known to cause bladder cancer. However, these substances have since been banned.

Treating bladder cancer

In cases of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, it is usually possible to remove the cancerous cells while leaving the rest of the bladder intact.

This is done using a surgical technique called transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT). This may be followed by a dose of chemotherapy medication directly into the bladder to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

In cases with a higher risk of recurrence, a medication known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) may be injected into the bladder to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

Treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer may involve surgically removing the bladder in an operation known as a radical cystectomy.

When the bladder is removed, you will need another way of collecting your urine. Possible options include making an opening in the abdomen so urine can be passed into an external bag, or constructing a new bladder out of a section of bowel. This will be done at the same time as a radical cystectomy.

If it’s possible to avoid removing the bladder or if surgery is not suitable, a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be recommended. Chemotherapy may sometimes be used on its own before surgery or before being combined with radiotherapy.

After treatment for all types of bladder cancer, you will have regular follow-up tests to check for signs of recurrence.

Who is affected?

About 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year.

The condition is more common in older adults, with the average age at diagnosis being 68 years old.

Rates of bladder cancer are four times higher in men than in women, possibly because in the past men were more likely to smoke and work in the manufacturing industry.

Liver Cancer

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of liver cancer are often vague and don’t appear until the cancer is at an advanced stage. They can include:

  • unexplained weight loss
  • loss of appetite
  • feeling very full after eating, even if the meal was small
  • feeling sick and vomiting
  • pain or swelling in your abdomen (tummy)
  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes)
  • itchy skin
  • feeling very tired and weak

Visit your GP if you notice any of the symptoms listed above. Although they are more likely to be the result of a more common condition, such as an infection, it’s best to have them checked.

You should also contact your GP if you have previously been diagnosed with a condition known to affect the liver, such as cirrhosis or a hepatitis C infection, and your health suddenly deteriorates.

What causes liver cancer?

The exact cause of liver cancer is unknown, but most cases are associated with damage and scarring of the liver known as cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis can have a number of different causes, including drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years and having a long-term hepatitis B or hepatitis C viral infection.

It is also believed obesity and an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of liver cancer because this can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

By avoiding or cutting down on alcohol, eating healthily and exercising regularly, and taking steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B and C, you may be able to significantly reduce your chances of developing liver cancer.

Read more about the causes of liver cancer and preventing liver cancer.

Who is affected?

Despite being a common type of cancer worldwide, liver cancer is relatively uncommon in the UK, with just over 4,000 new cases diagnosed each year. However, the chances of developing the condition are high for people with risk factors for the condition.

The number of people affected by liver cancer rises sharply with age, with around 8 in every 10 cases diagnosed in people aged 60 or older, although it also affects many people younger than this. Around two in every three cases affect men.

Over the past few decades, rates of liver cancer in the UK have risen considerably, possibly as a result of increased levels of alcohol intake and obesity.

Diagnosis and screening

Liver cancer is usually diagnosed after a consultation with a GP and a referral to a hospital specialist for further tests, such as scans of your liver.

However, regular check-ups for liver cancer (known as surveillance) are often recommended for people known to have a high risk of developing the condition, such as those with cirrhosis.

Having regular check-ups helps ensure the condition is diagnosed early. The earlier liver cancer is diagnosed, the more effective treatment is likely to be.

Read more about diagnosing liver cancer.

How liver cancer is treated

Treatment for liver cancer depends on the stage the condition is at. If diagnosed early, it may be possible to remove the cancer completely.

Treatment options in the early stages of liver cancer include:

  • surgical resection – surgery to remove a section of liver
  • liver transplant – where the liver is replaced with a donor liver
  • microwave or radiofrequency ablation – where microwaves or radio waves are used to destroy the cancerous cells

However, only a small proportion of liver cancers are diagnosed at a stage where these treatments are suitable. Most people are diagnosed when the cancer has spread too far to be removed or completely destroyed.

In these cases, treatments such as chemotherapy will be used to slow down the spread of the cancer and relieve symptoms such as pain and discomfort.

Because liver cancer is most often detected at an advanced stage, only around one in every five people live for at least a year after being diagnosed, and just 1 in every 20 people live at least a further five years.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Over 41,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK.

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition will eventually develop symptoms including:

  • a persistent cough
  • coughing up blood
  • persistent breathlessness
  • unexplained tiredness and weight loss
  • an ache or pain when breathing or coughing

You should see your GP if you have these symptoms.

Types of lung cancer

Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Cancer that begins in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs is known as secondary lung cancer. This page is about primary lung cancer.

There are two main types of primary lung cancer. These are classified by the type of cells in which the cancer starts. They are:

  • non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common type, accounting for more than 80% of cases; can be either squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma
  • small-cell lung cancer – a less common type that usually spreads faster than non-small-cell lung cancer

The type of lung cancer you have will determine which treatments are recommended.

Who is affected

Lung cancer mainly affects older people. It is rare in people younger than 40, but the rates of lung cancer rise sharply with age. Lung cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people aged 70-74 years.

Although people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer, smoking is the main cause (about 90% of cases). This is because smoking involves regularly inhaling a number of different toxic substances.

Treating lung cancer

The treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, how far it has spread and how good your general health is.

If the condition is diagnosed early and the cancerous cells are confined to a small area, surgery to remove the affected area of lung is usually recommended.

If surgery is unsuitable due to your general health, radiotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells may be recommended instead.

If the cancer has spread too far for surgery or radiotherapy to be effective, chemotherapy is usually used

Outlook

As lung cancer does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until it has spread through much of the lungs or into other parts of the body, the outlook for the condition is not as good as many other types of cancer.

Overall, about 1 in 3 people with the condition will live for at least a year after they are diagnosed and fewer than 1 in 10 people will live at least five years.

However, survival rates can vary widely depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Oesophageal cancer Explained

Cancer of the oesophagus, also known as oesophageal cancer, is an uncommon but serious type of cancer that affects the oesophagus (gullet).

The oesophagus is the medical name for the gullet, which is part of the digestive system. The oesophagus is the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. The top part of the oesophagus lies behind the windpipe (trachea). The bottom part runs down through the chest between the spine and the heart.

Symptoms of oesophageal cancer include:

  • difficulties swallowing (dysphagia)
  • weight loss
  • throat pain
  • persistent cough

See your GP if you have any of these symptoms. They don’t necessarily mean that you have oesophageal cancer, but they will need to be investigated.

Your GP will take a detailed look at your medical history before carrying out a physical examination to check for any signs of abnormalities, such as a lump in your abdomen that may indicate a tumour.

If your GP still suspects oesophageal cancer you will be referred for further tests.

Types of oesophageal cancer

There are two main types of oesophageal cancer:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma forms in the upper part of the oesophagus. It occurs when cells on the inside lining of the oesophagus multiply abnormally.
  • Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus forms in the lower part of the oesophagus. It occurs when cells inside the mucous glands that line the oesophagus multiply abnormally. The mucous glands produce a slimy substance to help food slide down the oesophagus more easily.

How common is oesophageal cancer?

Oesophageal cancer is uncommon, but it is not rare. It is the ninth most common type of cancer in the UK, with more than 8,500 new cases diagnosed each year.

Oesophageal cancer most commonly affects people over the age of 60, with the average age at diagnosis being 72. The condition is more common in men than in women.

Smoking and drinking alcohol are two of the biggest risk factors for oesophageal cancer, particularly if both activities are combined. People who drink heavily but do not smoke are four times more likely to develop oesophageal cancer than non-drinkers, and people who smoke and do not drink alcohol are twice as likely to develop oesophageal cancer.

However, people who smoke and drink heavily (more than 30 units a week) are eight times more likely to develop oesophageal cancer than those who do not smoke or drink.

Treating oesophageal cancer

Oesophageal cancer does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms until the cancer has spread beyond the oesophagus and into nearby tissue. For this reason it can be more difficult to cure compared with other types of cancer.

On average, 40% of people with oesophageal cancer will live for one year after the diagnosis, and 13% will live for five years after the diagnosis. The outlook can improve greatly if the cancer is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, or where a cure is possible.

Attempting to cure oesophageal cancer involves having a course of chemotherapy (and radiotherapy as well in some cases) followed by surgery to remove the cancerous section of the oesophagus.

If a cure is not achievable, it is usually still possible to relieve symptoms and slow the spread of the cancer using a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Explained

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body.

The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. Clear fluid called lymph flows through the lymphatic vessels and contains infection-fighting white blood cells known as lymphocytes.

In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the affected lymphocytes start to multiply in an abnormal way and begin to collect in certain parts of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes (glands). The affected lymphocytes lose their infection-fighting properties, making you more vulnerable to infection.

The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin.

Who is affected

About 80% of all lymphomas diagnosed are non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In the UK, more than 12,000 cases are diagnosed each year.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can occur at any age, but your chances of developing the condition increase as you get older, with most cases diagnosed in people over 65. Slightly more men than women are affected.

What causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

The exact cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is unknown.

However, your risk of developing the condition is increased if you have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, you take immunosuppressant medication or you have previously been exposed to a common virus called the Epstein-Barr virus (which causesglandular fever).

You may also have a slightly increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma if a first-degree relative (such as a parent or sibling) has had the condition.

How non-Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed

The only way to confirm a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is by carrying out a biopsy.

This is a minor surgical procedure where a sample of affected lymph node tissue is removed and studied in a laboratory.

Treatment and outlook

There are many subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but they can generally be put into one of two broad categories:

  • high-grade or aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is where the cancer develops quickly and aggressively
  • low-grade or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma is where the cancer develops slowly, and you may not experience any symptoms for many years

The outlook for non-Hodgkin lymphoma varies greatly depending on the exact type, grade and extent of the lymphoma, and the person’s age.

Low-grade tumours do not necessarily require immediate medical treatment, but are harder to completely cure. High-grade lymphomas need to be treated straightaway but tend to respond much better to treatment and can often be cured.

The main treatments used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a type of targeted treatment called monoclonal antibody therapy.

Overall, most cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are considered very treatable. More than half of those with high grade disease are cured and about half of those with low grade disease will live at least 10 years.

However, there is a risk of long-term problems after treatment, including infertility and an increased risk of developing another type of cancer in the future.

Susan Bates is awarded for her work

We are very pleased to announce that today co-founder of our charity Susan Bates who started the charity with Husband Mark back in 2011 is being honoured for her work for the charity in the House of Lords today. She will be presented with a British Citizen award

Susan has worked tirelessly to make the charity what it is today and is the brainchild behind the Making Memories Free Holidays and the Super Hero Chemo boxes. She spends hours on end day after day helping raise awareness for male cancer and helping cancer fighters and their families with anything they need.

We are so pleased that all her hard work has been recognised and she is being awarded for work she puts in.

You can contact Susan via her email susan@ballstocancer.com or on 07976-247665

John Whitbread Raises money for BTC a MUST read

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John Whitbread and his fiancée split up over Christmas but he is still going on his honeymoon with the highest bidder, he hopes

Instead of cancelling his holiday for two to the Dominican Republic, John Whitbread decided to offer the chance to join him to the highest eBay bidder.

After an “overwhelming” response from 65 bidders, he has said he will donate some of the money to charity.

Although the offer is only open to women, the 32-year-old insists he is not looking for romance.

Mr Whitbread, from Donisthorpe in Leicestershire, said he and his fiancée, who were due to marry on Valentine’s Day, had split up over Christmas.

When he asked his travel agent for a refund for the all-inclusive trip, he said he was offered half the money back.

The winning bidder will fly to a four-star hotel in the Dominican Republic with Mr Whitbread

“I’ve been working so hard for the last three or four months, this was the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“But no one wants to go with me knowing it’s the honeymoon – who would want to go?”

‘Nothing sinister’

On eBay, he describes the auction as “a once in a lifetime opportunity, one to tell the grandkids, an adventure of a lifetime”.

Since he placed the bid at the weekend, he said he has been “overwhelmed” by the amount bid so far.

The cash will be used as spending money on the trip. When the auction ends next week, he said anything raised above £1,050 will be donated to testicular cancer charity Balls To Cancer.

The catch is the offer is only open to women, despite Mr Whitbread insisting he is “not ready” for romance and just wants a “bit of a laugh”.

“Nothing sinister but it would just be nice to enjoy female company and relax for a couple of weeks. It would be nice to get a friendship out of it.

“It could be anyone but that’s the adventure – it’s someone I would never go on holiday with.”

He said he hopes the honeymoon suite in the four-star hotel on the Caribbean island has a sofa he can sleep on.

LATEST UPDATE

Sadly the auction fell through, the sum raised was up to £8000 but these were spam bids. So John has not given up but in fact has now moved forward and opened his own website www.jiltedjohn.com and he is now raffling the holiday at £10 per ticket.

Why not get involved? you might just win!!

 

Story via BBC News