Health & Lifestyle | Posted on April 8th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset man urges cancer checks

Callum Murray from Weymouth, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer, is urging men to get checked if they have concerns.

Testicular cancer can strike men even if they are only in their twenties.

Weymouth father-of-two Callum Murray was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year at the age of 28.

He said: “Finding out I had cancer last year was the biggest shock of my life.

“I had jumped in the shower and did a check of my testes, which I did regularly. It was then that I noticed that one was quite swollen.

“I told my wife Chantelle and, luckily, she pushed me to get it checked out straight away.

“I’m a pretty typical guy and, faced with the potential embarrassment of being examined, I might have put it off for a little while to see if it would ‘settle by itself’.

“As it was, I went to the GP, had a quick physical examination and straight away he said he was going to refer me to a specialist. He and my wife — and the treatment I went on to receive from the NHS — have undoubtedly saved my life. But it could have been very different.”

Each year in the UK, around 2,400 people are diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The cancer starts in one of the testicles and is most likely to occur between the ages of 25 and 40. The most common symptom is a lump or swelling in a testicle, or a dull ache, pain or heaviness in the scrotum.

Callum, who is a mechanic, said: “Within two weeks of seeing my GP, I had my first appointment at the hospital. From there I had an ultrasound, some blood tests and a CT scan.

“Two weeks later, I was told I had cancer.

“It’s difficult to put into words how I felt. I was only 28, with two children aged 11 and three, and it just didn’t seem possible.

“By March, I had one of my testes removed. It was found to contain five types of cancer. But the operation was a success, and I recovered and was feeling good.

“Then, three months later, I was having routine bloods taken and my blood tumour markers were sky-high. A repeat test was even higher and I started to panic.”

An MRI scan showed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes behind Callum’s stomach.

He was transferred to the care of the oncology team at Southampton Hospital and underwent three months of chemotherapy, followed by a nine-hour surgery to remove the lymph nodes.

“It was a gruelling time for us all,” he said. “I was off work because I couldn’t bend at all, and I was going back and forth from Southampton to Weymouth for treatment. Meanwhile, we still had all our bills to pay, and on top of that all the transport costs. It was horrendous and very stressful.”

A specialist at the hospital told Callum about the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF), a charity which gives grants to Dorset residents suffering financial hardship because of cancer.

“I applied online and was approved very quickly. Chantelle and I were absolutely stunned when the charity paid for us to rent an Airbnb close to the hospital for a period of my chemo. It was just phenomenal, and I just can’t thank them enough.”

In January 2026, Callum received the all-clear from cancer.

“I now have post-op blood tests and scans regularly, but there is no tumour, no cancer, and my blood markers are below zero. It’s just an amazing feeling,” he said.

“I would say to any guy reading this: it’s not about checking yourself every day, because you might not notice changes. Check monthly, be aware of changes, and if there is anything remotely strange, get it checked out immediately.

“Believe me, a few minutes of minor embarrassment could just save your life.”

The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation offers support to Dorset residents experiencing financial hardship because of cancer. The charity’s non-returnable grants can be used by families to pay for items including accommodation, transport, equipment costs and respite breaks. The DCCF also hosts a wide variety of local events and welcomes fundraisers. Learn more at: www.dccf.co.uk.