"In September 2020 I found a lump in my left testicle when I was in the shower," stated Ian.

"Being a typical man, I did nothing about it and didn’t mention it to my wife, Anna."

But as Ian may nonetheless really feel the lump a fortnight later, he did the wise factor and booked a health care provider's appointment.

"It was during Covid, when doctors were not seeing anyone, and I had to describe my symptoms to the receptionist, which I wasn’t very happy about," Ian recalled.

"However, I did get a call-back offering an appointment the same day."

Checked over by the physician, Ian was despatched for a scan the very subsequent day and was booked in for a biopsy on the Royal Surrey Hospital.

"When I heard the word cancer it felt like the end of the world; just the mention of that word makes you think you are going to die," Ian shared.

"But the doctor did tell me that if I had to have cancer, testicular cancer was one of the best kinds to get."

Per week later, the father-of-three had his testicle eliminated and he started 10 periods of radiotherapy.

Having seemed into the negative effects of radiotherapy, Ian was frightened his hair may fall out.

"Being vain, I had shaved my head to a crewcut," Ian stated, hoping to keep away from clumps of hair falling out.

"But [hair loss] didn’t happen, and I didn’t have any other side effect," stated Ian.

"At a follow-up with the consultant he told me everything was fine, but I would need to be monitored with blood tests and CT scans every three months."

Ian added: "The following year it was every six months and two CT scans, and now I think I am down to just one scan a year."

The grandfather-of-five stated: "I would like to do whatever I can to raise awareness among men not to ignore symptoms, which I think is a tendency."

Ian Brown is supporting Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2023, in partnership with Standard Life.

It's the thirtieth yr for Race for Life. Who will you race for? Sign as much as your native occasion at raceforlife.org.