The Chestnut Appeal are delighted to be welcome Tri-athlete and two time testicular cancer survivor Rob Shaw to the team. Rob joins Wesley McGuinness, another elite athlete, as an ambassador of the charity, helping to raise awareness as well as give hope and inspiration.
Here’s Rob’s story,
“When I was 22 years old, just over 11 years ago, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in my right testy. I found a small lump, approximately 2cm in size. It felt solid, just like a marble. However, I caught it early and there was no spread, I didn’t need chemotherapy. All I needed was surgery to remove the testy.
“I had the surgery on the 22nd of December in 2011. Christmas that year was on the sofa. I think I gave everyone in my family Amazon vouchers for Christmas. Classic 22 year old man – leaving Christmas shopping to the last minute. The whole process from finding the lump to having surgery was complete in just two weeks.
“I didn’t go around telling many people I had testicular cancer in the past 10 years. It isn’t something that just came up in a conversation. I didn’t really talk about it. If I am being honest, I was a little embarrassed about the whole thing. Like I was somewhat only half a man and I was going to be judged as somewhat inadequate by the person finding out.
“Having only one testy now feels normal. It just kind of sits in the middle and I don’t even realise something is missing. Luckily, my remaining testy has been able to do the work of both for some time, and we were blessed with Stanley two years ago. After you have a child, you always think you can have another one and another one. I never once thought I would have testicular cancer again.
“But cancer has reared its head again.”
“In March 2023, I found a lump. I actually felt two lumps. It felt the same as last time. A small solid lump in my testy, and another smaller one next to it. Tuesday morning, I booked a doctors appointment and got sent to get my blood work checked. By Friday I was booked in for an ultrasound.
“I knew after the ultrasound last week that I had testicular cancer again. In the words of the sonographer, ‘your testy is on its last legs’. He said that he could see multiple tumours in my left testy and more than one of them looked abnormal. The largest tumour was measured at approximately 1.4cm in size. My blood work also came back abnormal with high HCG and Alpha Protein levels.
“A few days ago I went to Derriford Hospital for my urology review and was later contacted by the specialist to give me the plan ahead. I say plan ahead, but it’s still yet to be decided. What I do know so far is that I have testicular cancer. I will be having surgery to remove my left testy. I am booked in for a CT scan this week. Once the results of the scan are back, a plan will be put into place. I will be told if I need chemotherapy before surgery, a one off blast of chemotherapy post surgery or if it is best to have a course of chemotherapy.
” I am hoping I won’t need any of that and it will be the same as last time. Caught it early and just have it removed. Surgery should happen about a few days to a week after my CT scan. It looks like Easter this year will be spent on the sofa. At least this year everyone can get chocolate eggs and that will just be a normal Easter.”
Rob’s words and story are important to the men just diagnosed, to the ones yet to be, and the ones who are post-treatment.
Just email chestnut.appeal@nhs.net and we’ll make sure you get the help and support you need.
If you or someone you know is affected by prostate, testicular or penile cancer, our free patient and family support groups across Devon and Cornwall offer a space to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
