Napier man tells testicular cancer story to raise awareness

Mike Pickering is sharing his testicular cancer experience in the hope of raising awareness. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Napier man is using his testicular cancer experience to raise awareness of the disease.

Mike Pickering was diagnosed with testicular cancer on December 29 last year (his wedding anniversary) while on holiday in Whanganui with his pregnant wife who is due with their first child next month.

"I was having a shower and realised my right-hand testicle was dramatically enlarged and swollen.

"I then thought, it's probably nothing and carried on with my day."

The following night, while chatting about his symptoms at a friend's house, he was encouraged to get it checked.

The next morning he went to the doctor who immediately booked him in for a full ultrasound which got his suspicions up, Pickering said.

"The doctor then led me into a private room and told me I had cancer.

"I try to grow my own vegetables and drink out of stainless steel water bottles and copious other things…but still got hit with it.

"It can happen to anyone."

With a baby on the way he was worried about putting stress on his wife but they had both tried to be positive about it.

He had surgery in early January and chemotherapy about five weeks ago.

Pickering is now under surveillance for the next five years with only a 5 per cent chance of it coming back.

"It's one of the fastest acting but most curable."

He now wants to share his story with others in the hope of encouraging men not to be embarrassed and to get anything unusual downstairs checked out.

"Some guys just leave it and are too afraid to go and see anyone about it.

"But I'd encourage people to just give yourself a bit of a check... in the shower is a good place."

If there's anything unusual, enlarged or sore go to the doctor straight away, he said.

There was still a "She'll be right" attitude among men in New Zealand but this was slowly getting better, he said.

"It might be nothing but if it's something you've got to get onto it early.

"There's no shame in it either, it's another part of the body."

Pickering has shared his journey via two YouTube videos in the hope of raising awareness and will be making one more about his experience with chemotherapy.

Balls Deep in Cancer - This is my Story - Part I

Keep One Ball Rolling - My Cancer Prevention Story - Part II

April is World Testicular Cancer Month and testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting men between the ages of 15 and 39.

For more information and guides for men on checking their testicles for irregularities and lumps go to www.goballsout.org.nz.