A GARDEN designer is spearheading a national campaign to raise awareness of cancers in men.

Jim Heath, 48, of Dorset Road, Mottingham, was diagnosed with male breast cancer, which affects just 250 men in Britain every year, after finding a lump on the right side of his chest while in the shower.

He thought little of it but a few days later, in December, 2001, found it had grown.

He consulted his doctor who immediately referred him to the breast care centre at Bart's Hospital where a biopsy the removal of tissue for tests found cancer.

Within two weeks Jim had undergone an ultrasound scan, a mastectomy (where the breast and nipple are removed) and radiotherapy.

He is now still taking the drug Tamoxifen to stop excessive levels of testosterone and oestrogen getting to the cancerous area and triggering it off again.

He said: "I was lucky to notice the cancer early on and it responded well to treatment.

"It was only about the size of a pea but I had done human biology at college and was aware of the disease."

After treatment, Jim worked out to regain the weight in his right chest which bore a 10in scar from the operation.

He said: "I've always had quite a broad chest, so it was difficult coming to terms with the scarring at first.

"I was self-conscious, not least because I had a nipple missing."

As a final part of the NHS treatment Jim is hoping to get a replacement nipple tattooed onto his chest in the next two months.

Jim is working as a case study for charity Cancer Research UK's Man Alive campaign which hopes to raise awareness in men of the need to check regularly for symptoms of cancer.