MORRISONS shoppers in Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Yeovil may have noticed messages on underwear labels this week.

The supermarket has allowed the NHS to include the messages in the two stores and others across the South West urging people to contact their GP practice if they spot potential symptoms of breast or testicular cancer.

The Nutmeg branded underwear featuring NHS advice will be in 240 Morrisons stores, with the labels first appearing in men’s boxer shorts from Monday (August 21) and followed by crop top bras in the coming months.

The NHS guidance will be displayed on the fabric labels alongside the standard sizing and care information.

There will also be a QR code on the packaging and tags linking customers through to more detailed information on breast and testicular cancer on the NHS website.

The partnership with Morrisons is part of a campaign to encourage people to check their bodies for symptoms that could be cancer.

They are advised to contact their GP as early as possible if they notice any symptoms. That means they can get the all-clear or, in some cases, a cancer diagnosis sooner to give them the best chance of surviving the disease.

Symptoms of breast cancer can include a lump or change in the look, shape or feel of one or both breasts, while symptoms of testicular cancer can include painless swelling or a lump in one of the testicles or any change in shape or texture of the testicles.

National figures show that 91 per cent of women survive for at least five years if diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer, where the tumor is small (stage one), whereas this reduces to 39 per cent where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage four).

While nearly all men survive testicular cancer, if the cancer has spread, survival for five years or more can reduce to 65 per cent.

Andy Whitehead, 30, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 19, is supporting the campaign. He said: "I would say to any young men that they need to check once a month for any different signs so lumps and bumps and would urge them to get checked out asap by the GP. The sooner the better. I left mine late and it had spread.”