Former international footballer to address Know Your Balls seminar

16 April 2024

Former Wales international footballer John Hartson will be a special guest speaker at a Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) webinar for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.

The Know Your Balls seminar is being organised by the Federation’s Men’s Health Forum.

It takes place on Wednesday 24 April from 10.30am to midday.

It will explain the importance of men regularly checking themselves with medical experts giving practical guidance on how to perform self-examinations.

Other speakers taking part will include the Federation’s men’s health lead and co-Welsh lead Zac Mader, the police service chief medical officer Professor John Harrison and police officer Alison Rowse.

Former Wales international football John Hartson.

Credit: John Hartson Foundation/X

Hartson, the former Arsenal, Celtic and West Ham player, was treated for testicular cancer which had spread to his lungs and brain after being diagnosed in 2009.

Speaking to the John Hartson Foundation, which he founded to raise awareness of the symptoms of testicular cancer and therefore help with early detection, Hartson said: “The way I saw it, I was 31, I was fathering kids, I was training hard every day, I was moving clubs – I was doing everything that was asked of me.

“I was also, if I’m honest, pretty ignorant about the symptoms of testicular cancer and the importance of getting treatment early. I had no idea of the danger I was putting myself in.

"It wasn’t until I started suffering the most horrendous headaches that I went to see my GP and mentioned the lumps.

“Within days I found out the lumps were testicular cancer and the headaches were the result of a tumour.

“I had waited so long to get checked that the cancer had spread to my lungs and my brain and I was diagnosed with stage-four cancer.

"Had I got the lumps checked when I first discovered them, I could have spared myself months of operations and gruelling treatments, not to mention the worry I could have saved my family in the process.

"So I urge you – don’t do as I did, do as I say. Check yourself regularly, know what to look for and get anything out of the ordinary seen to by your GP. It could save your life."

Co-Welsh lead Leigh Godfrey said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have John Hartson joining us for the Know Your Balls seminar.

“It’s such an important topic and anything we can do as a Federation to help raise awareness can only be a good thing.

“Registration is open to members now, so if you’re able to, please do join us.”

The seminar is sponsored by Health Cash Plans - HSF UK.