'Young, fit' Pembrokeshire man opens up on shock cancer battle

Yahoo

01-04-2025

A man has opened up about his testicular cancer battle and the importance of early detection ahead of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
Neil Thomas, from Lawrenny, was living in Doha, Qatar, when he discovered a lump at the age of 35.
The lump in his testicle was confirmed to be a tumour the day after he discovered it, in April 2019.
Within seven days he had surgery to remove his left testicle.
Neil said: "It was all very quick and they followed it (the surgery) up with two rounds of chemo due to a biopsy revealing it was the fast-growing cell and they were worried it had spread.
(Image: Movember Institute of Men's Health)
"There was trauma and worry for me, my wife and my family.
"It was something we dealt with, not easily, but a positive outset helped - it was tough.
"You don't forget it, particularly those first four weeks and I really struggled to process what was happening, I was worried all the time."
His mother had encouraged him and his brother to do self-checks after she experienced breast cancer but Neil was unaware that testicular cancer tends to be a young man's disease.
He said: "It effecting young men is super important as that was the biggest shock for me.
"In my head, cancer was something that happens later in life and doesn't happen to relatively fit young men.
(Image: Movember Institute of Men's Health)
"I would advise people to get any concerns checked out ASAP.
"Finding it early allowed it to be treated swiftly and not allow it to spread."
Neil is not alone in his surprise, with Movember's 2024 survey showing that 61 per cent of young men claim not to know that their age group is at risk.
The report also shows that 17 per cent of young men feel unsure about how to check their testicles, and 15 per cent never do.
When asked why participants would not see a doctor if they found something abnormal, 18 per cent cited concerns it may be something more serious.
Professor Simon Rice, global director of the Movember Institute of Men's Health, said: "Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is about taking control of your health.
"The simplest action that young men can take is to get to know their nuts.
"That way, if they notice any changes over time, they can get it checked by a doctor.
"When caught early, testicular cancer is highly treatable."
Movember is encouraging more men to 'Know Thy Nuts', a simple life-saving habit that helps men get familiar with what's normal and what to do if something feels off, so that they can act fast if something changes.
A recent survey found that 84 per cent of visitors to the guide feel more confident about performing self-checks.