Students Targeted in Testicular Cancer Awareness Push

A blunt new campaign is telling Kiwi men something we’ve long avoided hearing: check your balls. Launched during Testicular Cancer awareness month, the “Lump Lottery” campaign is pushing young men to take their health seriously…with the unusual incentive of winning a brand new ute. 

Despite being one of the most treatable cancers, with a survival rate of 95-96% when caught early, Testicular cancer remains the most common cancer in men under 40 in Aotearoa. And many young men—especially students—don’t know how or why to check themselves.

The campaign, created by Testicular Cancer NZ in partnership with JAC, attempts to normalise monthly self-checks in the same way breast checks have become routine for women. According to urologist Dr Jim Duthie, Men's health is often sidelined and more overlooked in their lives. 

“Men don't tend to be that good at talking about their health, but women seem to be better at it. Whereas with men, it seems like, this is a sign of weakness, it's like a badge of honor to say, "I haven't been to my GP in 10 years.”” Duthie tells me that the campaign, which leans heavily on humour and blunt messaging, will be able to break through the discomfort often stops men from engaging in their own health. 

The process is simple: watch a short instructional video online, perform a self-check, and answer whether you found a lump. Participants then go in the draw to win a JAC ute. 

The key risk group includes young men aged 14 to 30, making university students a primary audience. “From puberty onwards, it’s important to get familiar with your own anatomy and check monthly,” Duthie said.

While cure rates are high, early detection significantly reduces the need for intensive treatment. In many cases, catching cancer early means a straightforward procedure and monitoring, rather than chemotherapy and in rarer cases, radiation therapy.

Duthie says fear and stigma are major barriers. Many men avoid seeking help, sometimes ignoring symptoms until tumours become severe.

I spoke with testicular cancer survivor Harrison Stott about his experience. He explained that while training for a marathon in Oslo, he initially thought he was dealing with chafing that persisted for weeks. It wasn’t until later that he discovered a small lump on his left testicle.

A few weeks after noticing the lump, he decided to get it checked. As he described it, “there was a bit of a whirlwind” from that point on. Doctors found four cysts, and within a month, his testicle was removed. Stott emphasised how fortunate he feels that the cancer was caught early, and he strongly urges others to act quickly: “You can move fast—go to the doctor and get it checked out.”

He tells me the best case scenario is there is nothing there and the doctor tells you you are fine, worst case is there is something there but at least you got it early. Now 5 years on, Stott has continued to work with other Testicular cancer survivors. As he puts it, “getting young males talking about cancer, that just doesn't happen to us, so I want to be that sort of support network and help someone out.”

Among students, the issue is compounded by a “she’ll be right” culture that often downplays health concerns. Conversations between mates about medical issues, especially something as personal as testicular heath, is rare.

The campaign’s humour is designed to counter that, making self-checks something that can be joked about and, more importantly, talked about.

Stott was diagnosed with cancer at 28 and believes the light-hearted tone of the Lump Lottery campaign is effective. “They’ve added a joke spin on it, and I think it’s great. That’s what guys need,” he said.

Beyond survival, late detection can have lasting consequences, particularly for fertility. In more advanced cases, the disease can affect sperm production and long-term reproductive health.

There are also clear disparities in risk, with Māori men experiencing significantly higher rates of testicular cancer than other groups.

When asked what he would say to those most at risk, Stott’s message was direct: “Get checked. It could save your life.”