As April enters its third week, the word on testicular cancer awareness steps up a level across the MAN v FAT community.
A number of our MAN v FAT clubs will be taking on coaches’ challenges to help raise awareness of the male cancer, as we continue to work with the team at the Robin Cancer Trust.
Up in Bury, the awareness campaign has particular significance for coach Ant Bromley, having recovered from testicular cancer himself.
We caught up with him to find out more about his story.
Talk to us about how you discovered you had testicular cancer and what it was that made you go to get it checked out in the first place?
I discovered a lump in around January 2005 and couldn’t get an appointment with my GP at the time and had to go to a Walk in Centre. They initially told me it was just an infection and prescribed anti-biotics. When the lump seemed to get bigger after a few weeks. I managed to get an appointment to see my GP and he instantly sent me for a referral to a specialist at the local hospital.
How did you feel upon diagnosis and how did you deal with the next steps?
The referral appointment at the hospital came through about a week after my GP appointment and I never forget I was still in good spirits on the way there as I bumped into one of my best mates on the bus on the way there. Laughing and joking with him and not prepared at all for the news I was about to receive.
As soon the specialist had the test results and gave me the news that I had Testicular Cancer and the only option was to have the testicle surgically removed, everything just became a blur. The reality didn’t sink in for at least a couple of hours. The only thing that stood out was that I was booked in for surgery later that week! I was already having conversations with representatives from Macmillan before leaving the hospital and not remembering a single word they said.
The only thing I wanted to do was get out of the hospital and call my parents and also my mate I’d seen on the bus. I’m a typical man in terms of very rarely show emotions but on the bus journey home (which was full of school kids on their way home) I called my Mum. I was managing to stay calm until I mentioned the ‘C’ word and I just broke down in tears.
Who was important to you in supporting you through those early days and beyond?
My parents and my close mates were massively important. They all kept my occupied in some way in those 5 days between diagnosis and surgery. I’m not going to lie there was some monumental nights out in that short period. But that was exactly what I needed to take my mind off what was about to come. Even in the days/weeks afterwards everyone was always on hand to check in or visit me in hospital. I also knew Macmillan were always there to support if I ever needed them also.
What happened next and how did you reach a point where you were all clear?
Following surgery, I was kept in hospital for about 3-4 days and then had about 6-8 weeks recovery. I had to attend the hospital for tests for the next 5 years while in remission. Also had to attend Christies a few times during that period for various scans to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread anywhere else. After 5 years I was finally given the all clear.
How important is it for lads to talk about their physical as well as mental health and what advice would you give to the rest of the MAN v FAT community?
I think it’s massively important for lads to talk about their physical and mental health. We have a wonderful community at MAN v FAT and various channels which we can reach out to. I would definitely recommend checking yourselves regularly and if any doubt at all get checked out ASAP by your GP!
Want to know more?
If Ant’s story has inspired you or convinced you to get checked out, take a look at the Robin Cancer Trust’s website, which has some important signposting onto key next steps.
