Bilston cancer survivor urges others to see doctor as soon as possible

As a young man, having children could not have been further from his mind.

But the hotel worker, from Bilston, decided to freeze his sperm – just in case.

Now, as he watches five-year-old twins Samuel and Bethany play in the garden, he says it is the best decision he has ever made.

"I love them to bits and wouldn't be without them," he said. "It's definitely the best thing I've ever done."

Matt, now aged 33, is advising other men who find themselves in a similar situation to consider the option of freezing their sperm.

He is also urging men not to 'die of embarrassment' after waiting for months before going to the doctor when he found a suspicious lump on his left testicle.

The father of two now realises how lucky he was to survive the long delay – and wants to help other men in the same situation.

"I found a lump on my left testicle around October 1999, but I was just too embarrassed to go and see my GP," he said.

"I didn't want a doctor to examine me down there and it was also ignorance, because there was very little about testicular cancer back then.

"In the end I swallowed my embarrassment and went to see my doctor."

In the months since discovering the lump, it grew to almost double in size.

Matt was eventually diagnosed with cancer in June 2000.

He had an operation to remove his testicle a week later before starting three weeks of radiotherapy – but not before donating some of his sperm for IVF. "Thankfully the radiotherapy killed off any remaining cancer there might have been and then I happily met my fiancée Corinne in 2004 and we eventually decided to start a family using my frozen sperm," he said.

"I have learned the hard way that it is not only very important for men, in particular, to know their body and check regularly, but also not to be afraid or embarrassed to go to your doctor."

Matt, who works at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham, now works to raise awareness among men – and their wives and girlfriends – and urge them to check themselves regularly.

He is working with Cancer Research UK to raise awareness, as well as charity Check 'em lads. Martin Ledwick, head information nurse for Cancer Research UK, said: "It's really important to know what is normal for your body and not be afraid to discuss any changes you notice."

People can find out more information about the Spot Cancer Sooner campaign by visiting www.cruk.org/spotcancersooner or calling 0808 800 4040.