Father-of-two beats disease twice to launch World Cancer Day

Matt Wakefield took the decision to have his sperm frozen when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer aged 20.

As a result, his fiancee Corinne gave birth to twins Samuel and Bethany, now six, in 2008.

The cinema attendant thought he was in the clear until he found a lump in his other testicle last summer and was diagnosed with the disease a second time.

Now he has teamed up with Sam and Bethany to urge men, women and children to purchase a Cancer Research UK 'unity band' and wear it with pride for World Cancer Day on Wednesday.

Matt, who works at the Showcase Cinema in Dudley, said: "I was terrified when I was diagnosed with cancer but thanks to research and treatment, I'm still here.

Matt spotted a lump on his left testicle in October 1999 but it was so small he didn't worry about it.

Eight months later, after it had grown and started to ache, he went to his GP and was referred to hospital straight away.

"I don't remember much of what was said because I was in shock and thought I was going to die," said Matt. "I didn't even think about the operation – I just wanted the cancer out."

Following surgery to remove the testicle Matt was advised to consider sperm banking before undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

"I wasn't thinking about children at the time but some years later, when my fiancée Corinne and I decided we would like to have a family, I discovered it had affected my fertility."

"Although devastated, I was relieved that I had banked sperm before my treatment. We decided to go ahead with IVF and were very fortunate that it worked first time. Now we have two wonderful twins who are a delight – although they keep our hands full."

Last summer Matt was leaving nothing to chance when he discovered a second lump in his other testicle.

"I found a small lump on the Friday and by the following Monday I was at my GP surgery getting it checked out.

"Luckily I had caught it early. I had surgery to remove the testicle and then one cycle of chemotherapy, just as a precaution to mop up any stray cancer cells. The chemo was administered on the Friday and I was back at work on the Monday. I felt slightly ill but to be honest, I've had worse hangovers."

The wrist band is made of two parts which form a knot to represent strength in unity. They are available in a range of colours from all Cancer Research UK shops for a suggested donation of £2.

World Cancer Day is being marked in this way to raise awareness of cancer and to promote its prevention, detection, and treatment. Money raised from the sale of the bands will help Cancer Research UK scientists beat cancer sooner.

More than three people are diagnosed with cancer every hour in the West Midlands and with that figure expected to rise sharply in the next 15 year, the charity says there is still much more to do to ensure no-one's life is cut short.

Matt added: "I am so grateful for the treatment that saved my life. Now I want to do everything I can to urge people to fight back against this devastating disease."