Adam Mason

Adam Mason, now a 20 year-old student studying Business Studies at Bournemouth University was just 16 when he discovered that he had testicular cancer. Adam explains how a talk at school may well have saved his life.

'I was at school in Berkhamsted, it was just another ordinary day, but we had a talk from a lady called Wendy Gough who is a volunteer for the Everyman Campaign. Wendy had come to talk to us about testicular cancer, I didn't know at the time, but I found out that's its most likely to affect young men under the age of 35.'

'Wendy spoke to us about the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, she even handed round some fake testicles so we could feel what to look out for and she told us what to do if we noticed any changes or lumps. Wendy is dedicated to visiting schools and talking to young men after losing her son Matthew to testicular cancer when he was just 19, he'd had a lump, but just didn't know until it was too late that it could be dangerous.'

'Meeting Wendy was a real wake-up call and I resolved to check myself regularly, and just two months later I found a lump on my left testicle.'

Adam told his parents about the lump, and in spite of it being a Saturday afternoon, he was able to get to see the doctor that day. He was booked in for an ultrasound scan the following week. Further tests confirmed that Adam had testicular cancer and within days he was having surgery to remove the left testicle and have a prosthesis fitted.

Adam continues 'I was so lucky, the cancer hadn't spread anywhere else and I didn't need any follow up treatment, three years on I'm still fine and with one remaining healthy testicle, I shouldn't have any problems having kids in the future if I choose to.'

Since then Adam and his former school have raised thousands of pounds for the Everyman Campaign and his Mum, Anita, has become firm friends with Wendy and the two have now joined forces to raise money and awareness for research into testicular cancer.