In the summer of 1997 he started to suffer from back pain. A few weeks after the pain started he went to see his GP as it wasn’t shifting. His GP suggested that the pain may be from lack of exercise, so he started playing football and other sports but found that his back pain worsened. His nipples also began to swell and became very sensitive. He decided to go back to his GP, who suggested that the sensitivity could be due to a new deodorant. He was not convinced and explained that he had not been using a new deodorant. The sensitivity continued to worsen until it became unbearable. He then found that he started to sweat uncontrollably and excessively. He sought a second opinion from another GP, who took a blood sample. The GP shortly contacted him with the results of his blood tests, which suggested that he might have a slightly overactive thyroid, and referred him to a thyroid specialist. Whilst waiting for his appointment he felt incredibly ill and found that painkillers were not alleviating the pain and had his appointment moved up. He underwent further blood tests and a full physical examination. The specialist suggested that he may have a hormone imbalance but would wait for the test results to confirm but found the test results to be unusual. After conducting a second set of blood tests the specialist called him back in and diagnosed him with testicular cancer. He has always been the kind of person to get on with things and tries to see the funny side in everything. He explained how at the time he had joked with the specialist but had really felt overwhelmed and upset by the news. He was admitted to hospital where they conducted an x-ray and ultrasound, which showed that the cancer had spread to his back and lungs, and that there was swelling in his right testicle. He was shocked to find out that the cancer had spread to so many places. He underwent an orchidectomy to have his right testicle removed.

He was then started on a 3 month course of chemotherapy (10 days in hospital each month). From his treatment, he found that he started to lose his hair. He described this as one of the worst things about the process. He explained that he did not mind being bald but found it difficult losing his eyelashes and eyebrows as it made him feel unusual. He decided to remove any remaining hair and found wearing a hat made him feel comfortable. He felt disheartened when the doctors informed him that he needed a further 2 months of treatment as his tumour markers had not come down enough. He started to experience side effects from the bleomycin and cisplatin chemotherapy treatment he was on, and suffered from damage to his lungs and kidneys. He then started on a course of carboplatin, which he found out was slightly less effective. This worried him but he couldn’t afford to continue with his previous treatment. Although his lungs healed, he was left with 70% kidney functionality which left him anaemic. He underwent regular blood transfusions and had Erythropoietin injections for a couple of years until his kidneys stabilised. After the further 2 months of treatment his tumour markers were at an acceptable level. He felt worried about stopping chemotherapy but found comfort in the monitoring system the hospital had in place. His hair eventually started to grow back, which he described as his first milestone to feeling normal.

Although he had support, he explained that he had made it difficult on himself and felt that he could never truly speak to anyone about it. He told his parents but decided to withhold information as he didn’t want to upset them or let them see what he was going through. His Dad had a heart condition and he was afraid how the news would affect him. He found great support from two other men on the same treatment regimen, who also had testicular cancer. He explained that they were able to share their experiences and make the best out of the situation. He said that he also found invaluable support from the people he worked with and felt comfortable amongst them when he was losing his hair. As he was determined to keep working during the treatment, they ensured that he was able to work flexibly and supported him in his decision. However, he only had male friends and found that they were not always good at talking about problems and mostly suggested a drink down the pub. He explained that he would have liked someone to talk to and wasn’t aware counselling was available when he was in hospital. He felt that the counselling services should have made themselves more available.

He found that having cancer changed his attitude towards life and that is it important to live for today and to take opportunities. He explained that losing a testicle did not bother him as he just wanted to make sure he got through it so that he could see his little girl grow up. He said that it did not affect his masculinity and did not affect him sexually. He believes that the operation is nothing to be frightened of as it is a small price to pay to still be here. He was determined to get into shape and do the Great North run, which he said he wouldn’t have been able to do before the cancer. He has now done the run a couple of times and raised £3,000 for hospitals. As he still felt uncomfortable in warm environments and anxious about sweating as it reminded him of how he felt before he was diagnosed, he decided to try hypnotherapy to put it all behind him. He noticed a big difference in his anxiety levels and felt more positive about things. He also acted as a representative for an cancer charity campaign. He said that he was happy to talk about testicular cancer and wants to support other people who are going through a similar experience. He explained that although he was unable to access the necessary support, he finds comfort and satisfaction in ensuring that other people understand what symptoms they need to look out for. He feels that GPs are unequipped to notice the more uncommon symptoms of testicular cancer.