Four years ago businessman Adam Hainsworth was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

He'd noticed a lump in his testicle but thought nothing about it. Often men think by ignoring it the problem it will go away but it came back to haunt Adam.

When he was finally diagnosed after going to the doctor with concerns about a lump on his neck he was told he could have had the slow growing tumour in his testicle for as long as two years.

His reaction? "Greatly relieved," he says. "It travels around the lymph system and I thought I had lymphoma which is far worse than the type I had," says Adam.

The treatment was gruelling, he underwent chemo and lost a testicle, but according to the father-of-two the most important factor is he's here.

Adam says people should try and concentrate on the positive things in life instead of worrying. "You have to try and concentrate on something positive and for me it was the statistics - 95 per cent come out of this alive."

Cancer has played a significant part in Stanley Shepherd's life. Unlike Adam, when Stanley found blood in his urine he went to the doctor immediately. His instant reaction could be down to his dealings with the disease.

His wife's death from breast cancer eight years ago left the retired police officer shattered.' He's known others devastated by the disease too.

"About four years ago I started passing blood in my urine so I went to the GP and was admitted to hospital. They took a blood test, I had an investigation into my bladder to see if it was bladder cancer," recalls Stanley.

As a result a high level of Prostate Specific Antigens were discovered in Stanley's blood stream indicating problems with his prostate. Further investigations revealed the tumour was in Stanley's prostate.

"I was pretty shaken," says Stanley, recalling his reaction to the diagnosis.

Being in his 70s, it was deemed too risky to operate so instead Stanley is taking medication to slow the tumour's growth. He knows he will never be cured but his cancer is controlled.

"I am getting better, I doubt I will be completely cured but it is under control," he explains.

Something which is helping Stanley come to terms and deal with the disease is the support he's received through Above and Below the Belt, a group specifically for men fighting Cancer within Bradford Cancer Support.

Meeting other men with similar problems, sharing experiences and taking part in activities such as Thai Chi, a class he regularly attends at Bradford Cancer Support, are therapeutic and, according to Stanley, are aiding his recovery.

"I've always been fit and active, I've always done swimming and running and my wife was a fitness fanatic, we used to go walking for miles and miles. I knew I needed exercise so I come here and I also come for relaxation therapy and I go to the art class, that takes you out of yourself," says Stanley.

"At Above and Below the Belt nurses and consultants come to talk to us about things and we can ask questions."

One high profile sufferer is West Yorkshire's Chief Constable, Colin Cramphorn. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer more than two years ago. Like Stanley, his is also controlled by medication.

David Tyson, lead clinical nurse specialist for urooncology in Bradford, says men tended to be resistant to health education but publicity is raising the profile of conditions such as prostate and testicular cancers. More importantly, it seems, they're reacting to it.

Says David: "It is becoming more talked about. Testicular cancer is still quite rare, it effects predominantly young men from 15 to mid 30s but you occasionally get it in older men. The thing is it is one we can cure. The cure rate is approaching 89 to 99 per cent if caught early," explains Mr Tyson.

He says many men will go to the doctor when they discover a lump so very few cases they see are advanced.

Recovery from prostate cancer depends on the aggressiveness of the disease; the patient's age and attitude to the relevant treatment risks. "Theoretically they can be cured. Even in those where it can't technically be cured, with medical management they can lead a normal life if it's caught in good time. Don't it. Act early."

Pete Westwood agrees having gone to the doctors for a check-up following a health scare - thankfully it was just that.

Pete works with the Health of Men, a five year project set up in Bradford. He says it re-addresses the inequality which has existed between male and female health services.

Health of Men aims to deliver health education to places men normally meet and where they feel comfortable. "One of the key features of the work is we try to go where men are. One of the problems in the past is well-men clinics have not been well-attended."

Pete believes men are in-tune with their health. The hang-up some have is thinking illness is a sign of weakness. "Men do care about their health. It's about finding ways of making it easy for them to access help, making it easy for them to talk about health and empowering them to make decisions."

  • For more information about the issues discussed contact Bradford Cancer Information centre on (01274) 364307; Health of Men on (01274) 431180. You can also find help and support through various cancer charities: Cancer Research on 020 7242 0200 or visit their website at www.cancerresearchuk.org or Cancerbackup on freephone 0808 800 1234 or visit www.cancerbackup.org.uk