‘Cancer: 0 – Me: 1’

He knew the symptoms women have to look out for to detect breast cancer, but when Andrew Grech developed testicular cancer it went unnoticed until he paid a visit to the doctor because of a cold. “I was more aware of what a woman had to do to look out for breast cancer than what I had to do to check for testicular cancer. Had I been aware of the symptoms I would most probably have noticed them earlier, and I could have done away with the traumatic chemotherapy,” the 38-year-old told The Times. Mr Grech was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July. Once given the all-clear in December – after three cycles of five-day chemotherapy each – he set himself a goal: to raise awareness in the hope that some people would detect cancer early and would not have to experience what he went through. He kicked off his mission by setting up a Facebook page called Malta Male Cancer Awareness, where he shares information from recognised medical sources about cancer in men. Through this page – which got more than 400 likes in three days – he also hopes to remove the taboo hanging around male cancers, especially because many of the other forms are more serious than testicular cancer. Mr Grech appeals...