One testicle, but Manliest Man
This shatter dreams of baby
results. March 27, 2012, was the day I was told I had cancer.
“I went in for what I hoped was my only treatment in May – I had a radical hysterectomy and 11 lymph nodes removed. They left behind my ovaries so I wouldn’t go into early menopause and I would still have a chance of mothering my own child through surrogacy.
“But the thought of not having a baby upset me more than the diagnosis.” Robyn had a tough recovery from the operation and six weeks later got
the bad new news.
IntenseI
She had a large tumour in her cervix and four tiny ones in her lym lymph nodes. She then had an in intense course of chem chemoradiation plus brac brachytherapy. This wou would kill her ovaries off. But determined to hav have a child, she m managed to persuade the doctors to let her h have IVF beforehand to save her eggs. She says: “They offered me a different kind of option – it wasn’t as successful as we hoped but I did manage to produce four very fragile embryos.
“Then it was time to start treatment. I had cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy every week for five weeks. I had three rounds of brachytherapy afterwards for three weeks, and this ended in October 2012. I have been cancer free ever since.
“It did ruin my life for a long time and robbed me of chances I will never get back, but I’m alive to tell my tale.
“Some days are tougher than others and I’ve made friends with girls who have lost their battle along the way all due to not enough awareness or not being tested young enough.
“The nightmares still feel like yesterday. Since I was declared cancer free I’ve fulfilled my bucket list travelling the world. I still have my embryos but I haven’t yet used them, but we’ll see what the future holds. Everyone says I’m lucky, I’m definitely not lucky, I just had my dreams taken from me and I refuse to let cancer take any more from me.”
Having part of your manhood removed to save your life could make many men feel less manly.
But for one brave survivor, having testicular cancer has made him live life to the full – and even landed him a Manliest Man Award.
RAF pilot Alun, who is November in the calendar, says he first noticed something was wrong in July 2006 when he felt a lump in his scrotum. But the Flight Lieutenant never thought it could be cancer.
He says: “I was due to fly out to Afghanistan when I got my diagnosis, I had my testicle removed and by the October I was back flying again because they caught it early.
“After having the surgery I only needed one dose of chemotherapy so I didn’t lose my hair at all.
“Since having cancer I’ve lived life to the full, I’ve fallen in love, fallen out of love, had my heart broken, but I’ve lived.”
Alan, of Lincoln, then went on to talk to young recruits and schoolboys about the early signs of testicular cancer to raise awareness in a campaign called Man Up and Check. In 2014 he was voted Britain’s Manliest Man by Men’s Fitness magazine, Orchid male cancer charity and men’s grooming brand The Bluebeard Revenge.
As well as such macho pursuits as kick-boxing, skydiving climbing and his role as an RAF Fast Jet Weapons System officer, Alun insists his passion for spreading the word about cancer is the attribute that most demonstrates his manliness.
Scarred
He said: “If I can be Britain’s Manliest Man with one testical it shows this cancer doesn’t make you less of a man.”
Zara says taking part in the shoot t for February made her feel beautiful again.
“I didn’t have much hair and I was still scarred from the reaction on my body had to chemotherapy, but I wanted to fully show the second your central line is out you celebrate and you start living again,” she says.” Zara, of Nottingham, first noticed something was wrong in December 2015 as she lost weight, and had no appetite.
She also had a pain in her chest and felt itchy and exhausted.
She had just qualified as a mental health nurse and had been assaulted at work. Her doctor at first diagnosed her with depression.
In March 2016, a large lump in her neck appeared. This time she got a doctor at work to check her out and was sent for blood tests.
After pushing, she finally got a CT scan where they spotted enlarged lymph nodes across the chest and diaphragm. S She had surgery to remove thos those and started chemotherap chemotherapy for eight months.
“My whol whole outlook on life has changed,” shes says.
“I’ve been in remission now for four month months.” Grabbing life with both h hands, she is now sailing on a catamaran in the
Atlantic.