“I didn’t catch my cancer early, but I got lucky.” -Testicular cancer survivor Peter

Over the last few years, Peter regained his love for fitness and was delighted when gym classes reopened in June of this year. He adds that perhaps he pushed himself a little harder than he normally would when he first got back and soon after began to experience intense pain in his lower back and abdomen.

“Initially I thought I had pulled something, I took some Nurofen and that was dulling the pain to a degree. I then went to the GP twice and on the second time we did some tests and they gave me a letter for A&E should the pain get any worse.” He recalls.
Like clockwork, that night Peter began to experience extreme pain and went straight to A&E in an ambulance. Kidney stones were mentioned as a possible cause and he was sent for a CT scan. 

When the results came back from the scan, Peter was told they had found a large mass in his back beside his kidneys “I asked was it cancer and the doctors added that it was possible and they mentioned sarcoma and lymphoma. They said it didn’t look good and I would be in the hospital for about a week undergoing more tests and biopsies.
I was asked had I any lumps or bumps anywhere on my body and it dawned on me to mention my testicle. The doctor wasn’t initially too concerned but I went for an ultrasound anyway.”

Peter states he knew by the radiographer’s face there was something wrong. Within an hour the consultants diagnosed Peter with testicular cancer, this was later confirmed as stage 2C as it had spread to the lymph nodes at the back of his abdomen.

If I had a non-seminoma, which spreads and grows much faster, I could have been diagnosed with stage four cancer and be telling a very different story today.” He says.
In July, Peter started his chemotherapy treatment at The Beacon Hospital. They prescribed four rounds of BEP chemotherapy. 

“BEP chemotherapy is incredibly aggressive but very effective, you have to spend quite a long time in the hospital itself. It was quite a harrowing ten weeks. 

I felt bad as my sons were certainly hit as they had to be pulled out of their summer camps, we couldn’t go on holiday and we had to cut down on any play dates. My immune system was just so low at the time. Covid-19 was a concern but also just typical colds or viruses.” Peter adds.

Following the ten week stint and some recovery time, Peter then underwent orchiectomy surgery.

Peter says he has now learnt there are two distinct cancer journeys, the physical and the emotional “Only you can go through the physical part but at times I felt the emotional part was more difficult. I felt more sorry for those around me than I did for myself – my family and friends.

My wife Denise has been absolutely incredible since day one. To this day, I am in awe of her strength. She really kept the show on the road and maintained a level of normality in the house with the kids.”

Peter says he is doing better every day, his energy levels have improved and his hair is returning. His scans have shown that the chemotherapy was very effective. 

Neuropathy is a side effect that Peter is currently managing which is causing pain, weakness and numbness in his hands and feet but he is confident this will improve as the months pass. He remains on a surveillance programme and will have check-ups every few months.

When asked how his cancer experience has affected him, Peter notes “When you get a scare like this, you really look at what is important in life. I now have a different level of appreciation for my family. I think I hug my kids a little tighter and more often than I used to.”