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Read our stories

Some of our Orchid supporters have kindly agreed to share their personal experiences with us.  As you will see each of these guys has had a very different experience of the same cancer.  We hope these stories will help others to understand their experiences and provide support for those in a similar situation.

If you would like to be a case study for us please e-mail info@orchid-cancer.org.uk

 

Damian Flowers, diagnosed in 2009, Suffolk

It all started about 2 years ago where I noticed that my right testicle was noticeably larger and more sensitive than my left one. I went to my GP and was examined and was told that were no lumps and that I may have an infection in my epididymitis of my right testicle and was given antibiotics for this. Click here to read more... 

 Brian Turnbull, diagnosed aged 40, Tyne and Wear

One of my testicles was harder than normal, so went to my GP who didn’t seem alarmed by that and put me on a 4 week waiting list for a ultra sound scan. Click here to read more...

 

 

Owen Bannister, diagnosed aged 18, Suffolk

 I noticed a small lump on one testicle. I was checking myself in the bath at the time. I went straight to my GP who thought it was a vein. The lump grew considerably so it was surrounding nearly half my testicle so I went back. He then sent me straight to the hospital. Click here to read more...

 

Paul Walkington, diagnosed aged 29, Carlisle

Back in March 2007 at the very end of the squash season I had had a very long tiring squash match. I had stretched myself significantly more than normal, in the shower afterwards I noticed that I had one testicle larger than the other.  Click here to read more ....

 

Robert Hamilton, diagnosed aged 25, Staffordshire

 I was in the shower after football training washing myself when I discovered a hard lump on my left testicle. It felt quite large (a bit bigger than a pea) and I knew that wasn’t usually there. I phoned the GP the next day to get an appointment to get it checked out.Click here to read more .....

 

 Phil Stoker, diagnosed February 2011, Hampshire

After his diagnosis in February 2011, Phill started to write a personal blog of his treatment experience. To read his blog go to http://philstoker.wordpress.com/. (Please note that Orchid accepts no responsibility for the content of or the medical accuracy of any of the material in the blog.)
 

Simon Feldman, diagnosed aged 20, Hertfordshire

I had just turned 20 and was in Australia, on a houseboat with some friends from University, when I clumsily knocked myself on a fence on the boat. I was in some pain after the accident and after two days it hadn’t subsided. I got myself checked out by a doctor when we got off the boat and was then told to get an ultrasound the same day. I hadn’t even considered it could be cancer. Click here to read more.....

  

 Chris Primett, diagnosed aged 20, Surrey

It was around August 2009 when I first suspected something. I felt a small lump on the top of my left testicle. I also, from time to time, had a dull achy pain coming from the left testicle. The thought of ‘Oh God, what if it’s cancer’ shot through my mind but I thought, ‘I’m young, fit and healthy, I wouldn’t have cancer’.  Click here to read more ......

 

 

 Michael Hague, diagnosed aged 40, London

In early 2010 I noticed a small lump on my left testicle after a routine check on myself which I regularly did every month. I monitored it for a few weeks & then made an appointment with my GP. The rest, as they say, is history!  Click here to read more ....

 

Elliot Dash, diagnosed age 33, Essex

I became ill one day and went to the doctor who sent me for some tests. Initially I was told I had pleurisy and was treated for this. After still not recovering I was sent for further x-rays when they confirmed it was cancer.  Click here to read more .....

                               

Matt Wakefield, diagnosed aged 19, West Midlands

I first found a small pea sized lump on my left testicle in October 1999 but out of ignorance/embarrassment I ignored it. It wasn’t till June 2000 I found it started to hurt and the lump was a lot bigger I went told my mum and then saw the doctors who sent me to the hospital.  Click here to read more ......

Paul Maidment, diagnosed age 33, London
 

I first noticed signs of my testicular cancer whilst in the shower – lucky really. I had always checked myself on an irregular basis. I got out, checked again, asked my wife to check and immediately called the doctor for an appointment. Click here to read more ....

 

 

Chris Dunkley, diagnosed age 25, Surrey 

I felt a small hard lump on my right testicle in bed, as most men do in private (some in public), I was casually rearranging. At first I wasn’t sure what it could be, obviously it flashed into my mind that it could be cancer related but you inevitably convince yourself that in all likelihood it’s a just another part of your inner workings. After a month of regular self examination I felt as though I had reasonable cause for concern and went to see my GP.  Click here to read more .....

 

Simon Bond, diagnosed age 38, West Yorkshire

In August 2009 I felt general discomfort in my scrotum.  It wasn't specific, there was no lump, just 'discomfort'.  Went to GP as just felt something was not right.  Click here to read more .......

 

 

Peter Withey, diagnosed age 44, Hampshire

It was in 1987, at the relatively late age of 44, that I went to the doctor the first time and said I thought my left testicle was larger and ‘harder’ than the other. He dismissed it as probably just a temporary thing. Shortly after that the GP practice took on a new doctor and I was transferred to him.  Click here to read more .....

 

Colin Osbourne

Colin's battle with cancer began in August 1994. Ironically, he discovered his lump at the same time as his wife discovered she was pregnant with their second child.  An ultrasound scan showed the lump was malignant and he underwent surgery - orchidectomy (removal of the affected testis). Following this surgery, blood tests and CT scans showed the cancer had spread to his abdomen and Colin's fight for survival began. Click here to read more .....