When cancer enters the workplace: why men’s mental health can’t be ignored

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month – a chance to talk about a cancer that affects young men, often when they least expect it.

But one of the biggest challenges isn’t just the disease itself – it’s the silence around it.

The bit people don’t talk about

Most people don’t expect cancer to show up in their working life… Until it does.

And when it does (especially for men) it often stays hidden – because the reality is many men don’t know how to talk about it.

Research shows that almost half of men (around 46%) feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about their mental health with their employer, and many avoid seeking support altogether.

We see the same patterns when it comes to physical health too – particularly with cancers like testicular cancer, where symptoms can feel personal, private, or difficult to talk about.

Because of this, men will often:

• Downplay symptoms
• Avoid difficult conversations
• Push through when something doesn’t feel right
• Tell themselves “it’s probably nothing”

Not because they don’t care – but because embarrassment, stigma, and learned behaviour tell them not to make a fuss.

How that shows up at work

When a man is dealing with something like testicular cancer (or even the possibility of it) it doesn’t stay outside the office – it often shows up as:

• Distraction and difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawal or quietness
• Avoidance of conversations
• Changes in mood or energy
• Carrying on as normal… on the surface

This isn’t disengagement – it’s often someone trying to manage something they don’t know how to say out loud.

Studies have shown that traditional expectations around masculinity – like needing to be self-reliant or ‘deal with things alone’ – can actively prevent men from seeking help, even when they’re struggling.

And when it comes to physical health, that silence can have real consequences – with research suggesting many men delay seeking medical advice because they feel embarrassed or assume symptoms aren’t serious.

The risk of saying nothing

Testicular cancer is over 95% curable if caught early – but early detection relies on one thing: speaking up and seeking help when something isn’t right.

And that’s where men often struggle – because if someone doesn’t feel comfortable talking about their body, admitting something feels off, or asking for help – they’re far more likely to delay getting checked.

Sometimes for months, sometimes longer – and that can cost lives.

Where workplaces make a real difference

Workplaces aren’t just places people work – they’re where people spend most of their time.

Which means they can either reinforce silence or help break it.

And it doesn’t take a big intervention, sometimes it’s the small things that shift culture:

• Start the conversation: use awareness moments like Testicular Cancer Awareness Month to open up real, honest conversations about men’s health. Alongside posters or emails – create spaces where people actually engage.
• Give people the confidence to act early
  Make sure your team understands what to look out for, what’s normal, and when to get checked. Clear, simple information removes the guesswork and hesitation.
• Normalise the uncomfortable topics
  Talking about testicular cancer can feel awkward. That’s exactly why it needs to be talked about. The more normal it becomes, the more likely people are to speak up.
• Equip managers to handle conversations well
  Managers don’t need to be experts – but they do need the confidence to respond when someone opens up, and to notice when something isn’t being said.
• Bring in lived experience and real stories
  Hearing from real people cuts through in a way that policies and statistics can’t. It makes the message relatable, memorable, and far more likely to lead to action.

Why this matters

This isn’t just about cancer – it’s about how men relate to their health.

Many are taught – directly or indirectly – to ignore symptoms, avoid vulnerability, and deal with things on their own.

That doesn’t just affect physical health – it affects mental health too.

At The Robin Cancer Trust, we spend a lot of time having conversations that men don’t always feel able to have anywhere else – about checking themselves, about understanding what’s normal and what’s not, about when to seek help.

Workplaces aren’t just places people show up to do a job – they’re environments that shape behaviour.

They influence whether someone speaks up early or stays silent – and when it comes to testicular cancer, the earlier someone speaks up, the better the outcome.

If your workplace wants to play a role in saving lives

Use this month as a reason to raise awareness, break the stigma, and start a conversation.

And if you want support doing that – from awareness sessions to practical tools that help teams feel more confident talking about testicular cancer – The Robin Cancer Trust is here to help in a way that’s practical, human, and actually lands with your team.

Find out more about The Robin Cancer Trust here

Email the charity: [email protected]