Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697635897131.pdf (Australia)
“checkyourtackle” is a non for profit organisation focused on male orientated cancers, such as penile, testicular, anal and breast cancer.

The aim of checkyourtackle is to educate, inform and create a sense of community for men and their partners who have been touched by these “silent killers”.

checkyourtackle founder, Wayne Earle, has had first-hand experience with penile cancer.

It was in his struggle finding information that the idea for checkyourtackle came about.
During his diagnosis, prognosis, surgery and afterward, there was very little information – and very little conversation – about what it’s like to experience penile (and other forms of male-related) cancers.

To date, there is very little information regarding these kinds of intimate cancers, despite affecting hundreds to thousands of men and their families every year.

What checkyourtackle’s aim to do is to help raise awareness, as well as promote heightened support and networking.
They aim to provide information that is readily available and easily accessible.

With very little in the way of statistics, let alone information, in regards to penile cancer, it is an undetermined figure in Australia regarding mortality rates or age demographic.

Statistics in the UK show 632 cases were reported in 2014, resulting in 129 deaths, that is a survival rate of 68%.

American statistics showing approx.

2120 new cases will be diagnosed in 2017.


Because penile cancer is not common, it is hard to find accurate survival rates based on the stages of cancer.

For example, if the cancers are still confined to the penis, the 5 year survival rate is around 85%.

Should the cancer be left untreated and spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes, the 5 year survival rate reduces to 59%.

But if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5 year survival rate reduces to just 11%.
These statistics indicate that early diagnosis can greatly improve your survival rate.

Concerns have been raised that the statistics regarding penile cancer could in fact be much larger should we be able to investigate that of the “CUP” cancers or those known as Cancer of Unknown Primary.

With the stigma surrounding male cancers and the majority of men failing to treat early signs, thus resulting in the CUP statistic.
It is also noted that penile cancer is an “aggressive” cancer, spreading & metastasizing throughout the body sometimes within months of diagnosis.

Vaccines such as the HPV vaccine which is now offered to high school students is one possibility to reducing male related cancers, with research showing that it has resulted in reduced rates of both penile & anal cancers.

Why is this not promoted & offered to students whom may have missed having this vaccine at a school age to reduce the rate further?
Making the vaccine affordable and freely available to both male & females alike can assist in the reduction & possible eradication of cancer.

Educating our medical professionals regarding early diagnosis, treatments available & ensuring their patients are educated in their options is vital to survival.

With checkyourtackle having members in various stages of treatment, survival and ages it is clear throughout the world, that we are behind in our treatment of this type of cancer.
It is noted that a simple biopsy can confirm & diagnose the invasive element with an Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival RatesSubmission 140 MRI used to identify involvement of the corpus cavernosum, thus allowing early treatment & a much higher chance of survival.

checkyourtackle are working at removing the stigma surrounding this topic.

They want to remove the taboo of a topic that should be just a regular to talk about as other cancers, like skin or female breast cancer.
Too many times the male cancers have gone unnoticed or mistreated because people can be too afraid to talk about it.

We want to make this dinner-table conversation & in order to do so, need to ensure the barrier is broken regarding male’s seeking medical assistance.

checkyourtackle have created a number of information brochures which provide vital information for men with not just penile cancer concerns, but anal & testicular as well as male breast cancer.
Our aim is to educate, thus reducing the mortality rate through education.

What we would like to see is this information freely available in doctors surgeries, hospitals and cancer treatment centres.

Regards Tracy Earle Secretary checkyourtackle www.checkyourtackle.com Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival RatesSubmission 140