Patrick’s story: Navigating a penile cancer diagnosis
03/06/2026
Patrick lives in Blackpool with his partner of 12 years, Ruth and his stepson. He runs a home for teenagers who have been in care and transitioning into independence. He was 31 when he first showed signs and symptoms of penile cancer.
Noticing something wasn’t right
I first realised something was wrong when I noticed a rash on my penis in the shower. It wasn’t painful, but it didn’t look right. It was just after Christmas in 2020, and I assumed it was a reaction to a new shower gel. When it didn’t clear after a week, I went to my GP, who prescribed a steroid cream. The cream seemed to get rid of the rash but a small, pea-sized lump appeared under my foreskin. It looked like a very small ulcer and felt sensitive during sex but because it didn’t hurt, I didn’t think too much of it and kept using the cream.
Looking back, I had been feeling constantly tired, as though my body was fighting something, but I put this down to grief from losing my dad suddenly.
In total, I used the cream here and there for eight months. The lump grew and it was during a Fat Boy Slim concert in July 2021 that I noticed some blood. I went to the toilet, and noticed some blood residue under my foreskin. That’s when I knew something was wrong and it really needed to be sorted.
Months passed and the lump was still there, but as I’m a musician I thought I would get through the rest of summer then sort it after. It was a busy time. I did schedule an appointment but the day before I was due to attend, my dad died suddenly. It was a really difficult time and so I cancelled the appointment.
Getting referred and receiving a diagnosis
Nine months after I first noticed the rash, I was referred to my local genitourinary medicine clinic. This created tension in my relationship thinking it could be a sexually transmitted disease (STD). I think this was when we first knew penile cancer was having an impact in our relationship.
I was then referred to the hospital. The doctor thought the lump was probably a cyst and I underwent a biopsy. Two weeks later, I was called back to the hospital. When Ruth and I walked into the room and saw a Macmillan nurse, I had a feeling it must be cancer. We were told it was penile cancer and that I was going to be referred to The Christie, a specialist cancer centre. It was a huge shock for both of us.
I’d barely heard of penile cancer before. Hearing the word “cancer” completely blindsided me. There was no apparent reason that I developed the cancer. I tested negative for HPV and the doctors told me it was simply bad luck. I had no knowledge of The Christie only that it’s a specialist cancer hospital, I thought I was being sent there to die. In fact, it was the complete opposite.
Treatment and surgery
I was incredibly fortunate to be seen by one of the top penile cancer experts in the country, Arie Parnham. He explained that I needed glansectomy surgery to remove the tumour. Part of my penis would be removed and rebuilt using tissue from my leg. I was terrified, but I knew it was necessary. Even though the lump was small, the cancer was aggressive and could spread.
In December 2021 I had a number of scans and in February 2022, I had the operation. I was advised to prepare for my operation so I ate healthy, educated myself about recovery and became as active as I could be. I banked sperm as a precaution. I’d had to delay the operation due to some challenges with my business and I knew worrying about that would impact my recovery. My consultant was understanding and advised me of when I really needed to have the surgery. When it came to my surgery day, I met with my consultant and it was decided he was going to attempt a glans-resurfacing. He wouldn’t know if this was possible until he was operating.
During the surgery, the top layer of tissue containing the tumour was removed, and a skin graft from my thigh was used to rebuild the head of my penis. Some sentinel nodes were also removed for analysis. I spent the night in hospital and was given pain relief.
In the hospital, I was in a ward with four other men in for various cancers and I was struck by the ability to find humour in such a dark time and really pull together. We were really looked after on the ward and looked out for each other.
I was allowed to go home the next day. I had to have a catheter and couldn’t get the area wet for a week. My recovery was quite sore for a week but I rested as advised.
A week later, when the bandages came off, I was emotional and in a lot of pain. At first, I couldn’t look, but when I finally did, I remember thinking, “I can get used to that.” The doctors really supported me at this difficult time.
Recovery and life after treatment
Three weeks later, I got the news that there were no signs of cancer and no further treatment was needed. It was a huge relief. Within a couple of months I was back to walking up mountains on holiday and playing gigs with my band. I think I overdid it initially and my body was knackered, but within two to three months I was feeling back to myself. It’s really important to rest.
I was offered counselling support from The Orchid Charity, who supports men and partners, going through male specific cancers. I also spoke with other men who had been through or were going through the same procedure as me. This was invaluable. Recovery is not easy, it does affect you both mentally and physically. Your mind and body are different and this takes some time to get used to, but you do get there!
I did lose some sensitivity after surgery, but within three months I was comfortable having sex again and functioning normally. My penis looked relatively normal and I could function like usual. Understandably, it just took a bit more time than before.
Today, I’m still cancer‑free. I’ve been regularly monitored by The Christie since my surgery and now have check ups every three months to make sure all is well. If I have a problem or concern I can call my Christie team up at anytime and the nurses/doctors are really quick at getting back to me.
How my diagnosis impacted my life
Being diagnosed with penile cancer was frightening, especially because I didn’t know anything about it beforehand. The shock of hearing “You have penile cancer” stayed with me for a long time. Emotionally, it took a long time to get back to normal. You see your penis multiple times a day so there was no getting away from looking at it. It’s taken me a long time to feel me again.
Obviously, the sexual side was a challenge and I had concerns and worries about what it would be like. I was lucky that with the support of my partner that side of things was made a little easier.
The experience also made me more open about talking about my health. I’m confident speaking about penile cancer now, even on stage at gigs. I want other men to know the signs and understand that if you’re diagnosed, it isn’t “game over.” I’m still here, living my life, and I want others to feel hopeful too. So far, I’ve done two awareness gigs and I’m also attending conferences talking to healthcare professionals about intimacy and penile cancer. I’m one of the lucky ones who hasn’t been too impacted in that way but I know a lot of men aren’t as lucky and the surgery can have a huge impact on their lives.
Looking ahead
I’m passionate about raising awareness so more men know what to look out for and feel able to seek help early. If sharing my story helps even one person get checked sooner, it’s worth it. I’m grateful to still be here, cancer‑free, and enjoying the things I love.
