Love Island star Chris Hughes led a campaign to raise awareness of testicular cancer and his actions later inspired and helped his brother.

Now, alongside his brother Ben, and girlfriend Little Mix star Jesy Nelson, Chris will star in one off documentary Me, My Brother and Our Balls.

Chris, 26, appeared on live television on This Morning to have a testicular examination – and it made a huge impact. Facebook views of the clip total over thirty-five million and continue to rise still today after Chris recently admitted he fears he could be infertile.

Chris, who rose to fame on Love Island when he coupled up with Olivia Attwood, was aiming to raise awareness for testicular cancer and encouraging men to check themselves.

What he didn’t expect was the effect it would have closer to home. As a consequence of that appearance and inspired by his brother for having had the ‘balls’ to do it, Chris’s older brother Ben checked himself for the first time, found a lump and was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Prior to an operation to have his testicle removed, Ben went to freeze his sperm for potential use after the operation.

It was during this process that he discovered his sample didn’t contain any sperm at all. Ben’s cancer diagnosis has brought the fertility issue into focus for both brothers.

Chris previously had a health scare due to a problem with his testicles and has subsequently undergone several operations.

His last sperm test was six years ago and he is long overdue another test. It’s not just the Hughes brothers who are struggling with fertility issues.

Studies show the sperm count of western men has more than halved in the past 40 years and is currently falling by an average of 1.4% a year.

There is no definitive understanding of the reason why. Ben’s scare combined with the fact that both brothers are in new relationships has inspired the boys to tackle the issue head on.

The film features both brothers’ partners, including Chris’s girlfriend Jesy Nelson, who is currently on tour with Little Mix.

In the same vein of spotlighting personal, impactful stories Me, My Brother and Our Balls will bring a fresh and authentic take to the largely unexplored but highly topical issue of male fertility.

Brothers Chris and Ben will uncover the status of their fertility together, through their own personal and emotional but positive and humour-filled journey, while shining a light on why male fertility isn’t taken seriously enough, early enough.

Chris Hughes said: “What started as an attempt to shed light on an issue that affects so many men turned into an incredibly personal journey for me and my family and has brought me even closer to my brother, Ben.

“I also learned things about male fertility that really surprised me, so hopefully people will find the documentary educational.

Read More

Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out

“Fertility is often a subject that guys don’t consider until it might be too late, so I’m hoping this documentary will raise awareness and help men who might be struggling with these issues.”

When speaking about the previous condition he had with his testicles, Chris said: “I had a hydrocele on the right testicle so I had something wrong with both of them.

"The hydrocele was easily fixed but the left testicle had a cluster of veins and those veins use oxygen, which they take from the testicle. As a precaution, I got my sperm frozen.

“I had three operations to try and fix it. It started with keyhole but that didn’t work.

“They then cut into my ribs and coiled the veins from my kidney to try and kill them off and make them shrivel away – but that didn’t work.

"Then they cut through the pubic region and they coiled them right at the place and now it’s kind of working.”

Source: Read Full Article