IF you’ve strolled or driven past the council’s HQ in Dumbarton at night in the last few days and wondered why it’s lit up in blue...then wonder no longer.

It’s all part of a new campaign, being backed by the Reporter and West Dunbartonshire Council, to get men in Dumbarton and the Vale talking more openly and candidly about their health.

In particular, we are backing calls by the Cahonas Scotland charity, which is based in West Dunbartonshire, to get men in the area to check themselves regularly for anything untoward – in case it turns out to be a sign of testicular cancer.

Cahonas, and in particular its chief executive Ritchie Marshall, who hails from Cardross, works to educate men in Scotland on the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, and promotes earlier detection through regular self-checking.

And the council is backing the campaign by lighting up its Church Street HQ in blue – the signature colour of Cahonas – from April 1-14.

But Ritchie strongly believes there is still work to be done on eliminating the stigma around male anatomy.

He said: “We want to get testicular health on the agenda from an early age.

“Self-checking should become part of every male’s monthly routine.

“It’s a really simple message and a life-saving one, but unless people know what to do they won’t find the changes.

“You’re taught from an early age to look both ways when you cross the road. This should be an equally important message.”

Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young men in the UK.

Men with undescended testes at birth, or who have a family history, like a father or brother who has had testicular cancer, are at an increased risk.

If detected in its early stages, testicular cancer is 98 per cent curable.

The most common signs are lumps, heaviness in the scrotum, build-up of fluid in the scrotum, pain or discomfort in the testicles or scrotum, or pain in the lower back.

Ritchie first became an activist for testicular cancer 20 years ago, when studying for a qualification in public relations and marketing.

He said: “There was a module on public speaking and I just happened to fall on the topic of testicular cancer.

“At that point, I was 24. I was shocked and surprised that this was something I had never been educated about and that I hadn’t been told how to check myself.

“Ever since then, I’ve become an advocate for raising awareness.

“I later worked for the CVS in West Dunbartonshire and it was during my time there that we decided to set up Cahonas.

“There were some great charities out there, but there was still a huge gap, and their messages weren’t reaching men in Scotland.”

In future, the charity hopes to get testicular cancer awareness on the school curriculum.

Ritchie added: “It’s of the utmost importance that children are taught from an early age what to look out for.

“If we can get into a routine of instilling every 15-year-old with that knowledge each year, then it will be something they can take with them for the rest of their lives.

“I think there is still a huge issue in this day and age.

"I don’t think it’s purely down to men being embarrassed, but as a society, there is still a big problem using certain terms.

“We had it around 20 years ago with breasts and breast cancer, but now we openly talk about it.

“We need to move forward and have that same openness around testicles.”

West Dunbartonshire’s Provost, William Hendrie, said: “We are happy to support Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and West Dunbartonshire charity Cahonas, by lighting our Church Street office in blue.

“We hope that this action will help put testicular cancer at the forefront of residents’ minds, encouraging them to seek medical help if required.”

For more information and support, visit cahonasscotland.org.