NEIL THOMAS thought testicular cancer was something that happened later in life — until he was diagnosed at 35.

In April 2019, Neil, who was working as a teacher in Doha, Qatar, rolled over in bed after a long day at work and felt something unusual. A self-check revealed a hard lump in one of his testicles.

The next morning, the now 41-year-old from Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire, spoke to his wife Zoe, who urged him to see a doctor. An ultrasound confirmed the tumour and within a week he was in surgery to remove his left testicle.

“It was all very quick,” Neil told The Herald. “The biopsy showed it was a fast-growing cell type, so they gave me two rounds of chemotherapy as well. It was a traumatic time — for me, my wife and my family. Those first four weeks were particularly hard. I was constantly worried and struggled to process what was happening.”

Neil credits his mum — a breast cancer survivor — with encouraging him and his brother to regularly check themselves. That habit may have saved his life.

“I didn’t realise testicular cancer mainly affects younger men,” he said. “In my head, cancer was something for older people. I would advise anyone with concerns to get checked out straight away. Catching it early meant it could be treated fast and stopped from spreading.”

His experience reflects a wider lack of awareness among young men. A recent Movember survey found that 61% of men aged 16 to 40 didn’t know their age group was at risk of testicular cancer — which is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men aged 15 to 39 globally.

Despite the importance of early detection, the survey found that:

• 17% of young men feel unsure how to check their testicles
• 26% feel very confident
• 51% feel somewhat confident
• 5% have no idea at all

Worryingly, 15% of young men never check themselves, and only 20% do so once a month.

When asked why they might not go to a doctor after finding something unusual, 18% said they would be afraid it was something serious, 23% said they wouldn’t go unless there was pain, and 22% would wait until it got “really serious.” Still, 67% said they would make a doctor’s appointment if something didn’t feel normal.

This April, during Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, the global men’s health charity Movember is encouraging men to “Know Thy Nuts” — a campaign aimed at helping men get familiar with what’s normal and what to do if something feels off.

A recent survey by the charity found that 84% of men who visited Movember’s testicular health guide felt more confident performing self-checks afterwards.

Professor Simon Rice, Global Director of the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, said: “Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is about taking control of your health. The simplest action young men can take is to get to know their nuts. That way, if they notice any changes, they can see a doctor. When caught early, testicular cancer is highly treatable.”

Movember is urging men to take a few minutes this month to check themselves, learn what’s normal, and encourage others to do the same. Visit the Know Thy Nuts website to find out more.

The Herald understands that 70 men died of testicular cancer in the UK in 2019 — an average of nearly six each month. That year, the death rate was 0.2 per 100,000 men.

Movember has invested in more than 25 testicular cancer projects worldwide and has also developed its Nuts & Bolts support hub, co-designed with survivors to offer advice, resources and a sense of community.

A MIDWIFE team from Hywel Dda University Health Board has won a prestigious national award for their work improving safety for mothers and babies.

The Maternity and Neonatal Governance and Risk Team took home three awards at the 2025 Maternity Unit Marvels (MUM) Awards, organised by the charity Baby Lifeline.

The team had already been told they would receive two accolades in the workforce category: the Promoting Collaboration and Team Working award, and the Achieving Excellence Through Service Improvements award.

But they were surprised to also be named national winners of the workforce category, beating strong competition from NHS teams across the UK.

The ceremony took place at the Palace of Westminster in London on Thursday (Mar 13), with awards presented by Call the Midwife star Linda Bassett and hosted by Lord Darzi of Denham.

Representing Hywel Dda on the night were Cerian Llewellyn (Interim Head of Midwifery), Dr Tipswalo Day (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist), Dr Mathew Pickup (Consultant Paediatrician), Angela Morgan (Midwife), Bethan Osmundsen (Senior Nurse Manager for Acute Paediatrics), and Leah Andrew (Senior Nurse).

The awards celebrate excellence in maternity and neonatal care and are judged by senior representatives from NHS England, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and other key health bodies.

Dana Scott, Director of Midwifery at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Winning these awards has been a fantastic recognition of the collective efforts of our team at Hywel Dda.

“Knowing that all the hard work of our multi-disciplinary team to make one of the most precious moments in life a safe and positive experience for mums and their families has been recognised by a prestigious panel of expert judges means so much to us.”

Sharon Daniel, Interim Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda, said: “I’m delighted for the team – they’ve worked incredibly hard over the years to support members of our communities.

“Pregnancy can be both an exciting and a worrying time, and our teams try their very best to ensure that they treat all mums, birthing people and their families with compassion and the best care possible.

“Thank you to every member of the team who has played their part in achieving the award.”

Nearly 3,000 babies are born every year in the Hywel Dda region, with the midwifery team supporting families at home, in the community, and in local hospitals.

To find out more about the MUM Awards, visit: www.babylifeline.org.uk/mum-awards

WALES’ health secretary set out plans for the biggest changes to NHS dentistry services in almost two decades despite still being at loggerheads with the profession.

Jeremy Miles said the Welsh Government will launch a consultation on dentistry reforms, which will mark a significant change to the old 2006 contract, by the end of the month.

In a statement on March 18, Mr Miles told the Senedd the new general dental services contract will be implemented rom April 2026.

Describing the reforms as the biggest in nearly 20 years, the health secretary said the central aim will be to make it easier to access NHS dentistry.

But, in an open letter last month, the British Dental Association (BDA) accused the Welsh Government of “spin, half-truths or doublespeak” on the future of dental services.

Mr Miles warned of issues with the current model, which is based on the “treadmill” of units of dental activity, saying substantive contract reform is required.

He said instead of recalling everyone every six months for a routine check-up, the new contract will be based on prevention and needs-based provision of treatment.

Negotiations between ministers, the NHS and the BDA over more than a year to design and develop the new contract ended without full agreement.

Mr Miles told Senedd members: “As is the case in all negotiations, there are aspects that all parties can readily agree on; there are some points that may be more contentious. Not everyone gets everything that they want but it is an improvement for everyone.”

He said key aspects of the reforms include:

• creating a single route of entry for people to access NHS services;
• implementing a ‘fairer, more transparent’ remuneration system;
• disincentivising unnecessary routine examinations;
• adjusting patient charges; and
• making changes to terms and conditions, such as around parental leave.

Urging people to have their say as part of the consultation, which he suggested will open next week, Mr Miles said: “It’s one of the biggest changes, probably the biggest change in dentistry within the NHS in coming up to close to a quarter of a century.”

James Evans, the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary, told the Senedd that 189 NHS dentists, or about 13% of the workforce, have left the service in Wales since 2022.

He said the BDA has warned 2025 could see the largest number of contracts handed back in history, with more dentists reducing NHS commitments due to financial pressures.

Mr Evans compared a 6% contract uplift, which the BDA has described as a real-terms cut following the “flawed” negotiations, with an 11% increase for GPs.

“NHS dentistry is in crisis,” he said. “Patients are paying more while receiving less. Dentists are leaving in record numbers and practices are struggling to stay afloat.”

Mr Miles claimed the reforms have been broadly backed by the profession, with eight in 10 practices taking up the offer of a contract variation since 2022.

He said he was not prepared to wait any longer after talks broke down, taking a unilateral decision earlier this year to implement the 6% increase to contract payments.

Mabon ap Gwynfor raised the BDA’s warning of a dental desert spreading across the country, with a rise in so-called DIY dentistry and an increasingly disaffected workforce.

The Plaid Cymru politician accused the Welsh Government of ploughing ahead on a road to ruin and turning a blind eye to a rapidly unfolding crisis in the sector.

Warning dentists have been kept in the dark since September, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “On the one hand, this government says that it is unlocking hundreds of thousands of extra appointments but the BDA accuses them of cooking the books.”