Coronation Street star and testicular cancer survivor Jack James Ryan has hailed a new simple blood test for the disease as a ‘game-changer’.
Jack, who played reformed bad boy Jacob on the ITV classic, was diagnosed with the disease at just 19.
He was speaking as part of the British launch of TC100 a test which can pinpoint traces of the cancer with up to 99 per cent accuracy.
It works by a patient having two standard blood samples taken which are then sent out to a specialised laboratory and analysed for specific proteins, hormones and enzymes linked to the disease by an AI algorithm.
Jack, speaking on the launch, said he hoped the test would help combat some of the issues men have about checking themselves for signs of the cancer.
‘There’s still such a huge stigma around testicular cancer especially with the process of getting physically checked in the private parts and that needs to change,’ he said.
‘Even after your initial check you need to be scanned if there are concerns, so you still don’t know the outcome of what you have been worried about.’
‘By making the process of detection easier and more casual – and very accurate – it’ll convince more young men to get tested quicker and in turn will save lives. This really is a game changer.’
Jack James Ryan who played reformed bad boy Jacob on Coronation Street was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was just 19
Jack, who now campaigns on the behalf of the charity the Teenage Cancer Trust, found a lump on one of his testicles back in 2017 which later was revealed to be testicular cancer.
Thankfully, after having surgery to remove the testicle and a course of chemotherapy, he has made a full recovery.
The TC100 test has been developed by EDX Medical Group, based at Cambridge Science Park, and is expected to be available to buy later this month, or in early May, as an aid for medics to make a clinical diagnosis.
It will cost about £500 and, while they can be ordered by the public, patients will need the help of a medical professional to take the blood sample, though the company say this can be done at home.
The test is designed to help with both the initial diagnosis of the cancer as well as ongoing monitoring to check if the disease has returned.
Professor Sir Chris Evans, founder of EDX Medical Group said: ‘Testicular cancer is a nightmarish thought for young men and there has been a lack of awareness over what to do and an unwillingness to get tested.
‘We are delighted to launch in the UK now the best test ever made. Given that this disease affects boys from 15 years old to men in their early forties, there are many who could benefit from testing in terms of reassurance and this particularly applies to people who have been diagnosed and need checked on a regular basis.’
Dr Mike Hudson, the company’s chief executive, added that the test will also help patients avoid unnecessary invasive treatments.
The TC100 test has been developed by EDX Medical Group, based at Cambridge Science Park, and is expected to be available to buy later this month, or in early May, as an aid for medics to make a clinical diagnosis. Stock image
‘The quick confirmation of early signs of disease, the absence of cancer following treatment and to monitor any signs of recurrence during surveillance will help minimise scans, biopsies and the unnecessary use of toxic chemotherapy, significantly improving quality of life for patients,’ he said.
About 2,400 cases of testicular cancer are recorded in the UK each year with one in every 220 British men expected to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime, according to data from Cancer Research UK.
Unlike many other forms of the disease testicular cancer is far more common among younger groups.
Testicular cancer accounts for about one sixth of all cases of the disease in men aged 25 to 49, the most of any specific form of cancer.
Men aged 30 to 34 are at the highest risk of the disease, with almost 20 cases per 100,000 people, the highest rate of any age group.
Overall, survival rates for testicular cancer are very high with over 9 in 10 patients alive ten years after their diagnosis.
However, like for other forms of the disease, early detection helps improve treatment outcomes.
Symptoms of testicular cancer include a lump or swelling of a testicle, and ache or pain in the testicle or scrotum or the scrotum feeling heavy, firm or hard, according to the NHS.
The health service encourages men to check their testicles regularly, at least once a month, to ensure any changes are spotted at the earliest stages.
Any man who notices changes to their testicles or scrotum is encouraged to contact their GP for advice.
While these changes may not be testicular cancer it’s still important to get potential symptoms checked as the early the disease is spotted the easier it is to treat.
Earlier this year, EDX Medical Group said it was hoping to develop a similar test for prostate cancer.
The move was welcomed by former Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy who announced in October last year that he had a terminal diagnosis for the disease.
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