How tae kwon do attitude helped me beat cancer

Two years on, though, and the maintenance craftsman at Edinburgh Napier University has just collected a haul of medals at the Tae Kwon Do European Championships in Italy – and was named veteran champion 2010.

A professional footballer with Hearts and Dunfermline in the 1980s, Peter was at the peak of physical fitness when his doctor told him he was going to have lose a testicle as seven internal abnormalities had been found.

"I could hardly believe what I was hearing," he says. "I hadn't been feeling too well, but there had been no real symptoms of testicular cancer, no lumps. But I did say I had a dull ache in my groin so just to make sure I was sent for an ultrasound.

"I never thought anything of it. I have been fit all my life, never smoked and I hardly drink, so it was devastating news. It was like a blow to the stomach."

It was three days before Christmas 2008, and Peter knew the news would hit celebrations. "My wife, Lynne, is a nurse so she was very practical about it all, and we decided to keep it to ourselves so the family Christmas wouldn't be affected," he said.

However, in January when Peter was facing an operation at the Western General to have his testicle removed and a prosthetic implanted, he had to tell his stepsons Peter, 14, and Liam 13.

"I also wanted them to know so they would be aware of it and check themselves. I was lucky because it was caught early because I went to the doctors. I've never been the sort of guy who puts off going to the doctors if I think something's wrong. I mean, look at what's happened to John Hartson."

The former Celtic player ignored the signs of testicular cancer for nearly four years before going to the doctor. By the time it was diagnosed the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain. He is still receiving treatment.

"The more men talk about testicular cancer the better as far as I'm concerned. Who wants to die from ignorance?" says the 42-year-old from Liberton.

It's a sentiment Martin Ledwick, Cancer Research UK's head information nurse, agrees with. He explains: "Testicular cancer is one of the few cancers that affect young men. There are around 200 cases a year in Scotland – but it is one of the most curable forms of cancer.

"Almost 98 per cent of patients make a full recovery. Early treatment offers the best chance of a cure – so it's important for all men to check their testicles and visit a doctor if they notice changes such as lumps or swelling – although these symptoms don't necessarily mean you have cancer."

Certainly Peter was in the peak of health when he discovered he had cancer. He says: "I was very fit when I was diagnosed. I had always played football, and about eight years ago I started learning Tae Kwon Do. I was doing well, and had just attained my 2nd Dan black belt and was hoping to enter national competitions, but then this happened. I really was worried that would be it for Tae Kwon Do, which had become a real passion for me, and which I had started to take very seriously. Lynne is a black belt too, so she completely understood how I felt."

After the operation he was told not to exercise for two weeks. "I was desperate to get back, and I think because I had been so fit the doctor agreed that I could some stretching quite quickly after the operation because I was recovering so well.

"My instructor, Frank Lindsay, was fantastic. He knew just what to let me do and kept an eye out to make sure I wasn't tiring myself out, but it was very frustrating." Two months after the operation Peter had a course of radiotherapy. "I was told that if I didn't get it there was a 20 per cent chance of the cancer returning, but if I did that went down to 2 per cent, so there was no choice really. It knocked me for six, my energy levels went right down."

Slowly but surely, and with the help of his instructor at Edinburgh Phoenix Tae Kwon Do Club, Peter fought back to full fitness. "I was determined that I would get back to where I had been before the cancer. To be honest, the Tae Kwon Do got me through it."

And the cancer drove Peter on to his greatest achievements in sport. He won a bronze medal in the Scottish championships in May last year, followed that with a silver in the Welsh Open and then in September at the British Open in Meadowbank he won two gold medals, for sparring and patterns, and was crowned British Veteran Champion.

"Yes, I'm a veteran because of my age even though I've not been doing it that long, I couldn't believe how well I was doing, I never expected it.

"But the win at Meadowbank got me selected for the Scottish team who went to Barletta in Italy in January for the European Championships. I only went to gain experience, but to represent my country was just fantastic. I had always wanted to do that, but at football I just wasn't good enough so to be doing it in Tae Kwon Do was amazing.

"It was a great achievement on its own – but then I managed to come away with three golds and two silver medals."

Peter claimed the individual gold for patterns and team golds for power and patterns. The team silvers were in sparring and self defence. Finally the team were presented with the European Championship Trophy.

Peter has also now just passed his 3rd Dan. "The World Cup is in Russia in August, but I doubt I'll go because I would have to compete at 3rd Dan level and there is so much more to learn I'm not sure I could do it in time – and then there's the cost. You don't get any sponsorship even though you're representing your country.

"I'll just be concentrating on perfecting my new patterns and learning how to teach kids. And of course, I've got to keep watching my health. I'm still not clear yet – I've got check-ups every six months for five years until I get the all-clear."

Peter teaches along with Frank Lindsay (6th Dan) at the Edinburgh Phoenix Tae Kwon Do Club at Craigmount High and Mary Erskine's schools. For more info visit www.taekwon-do.me.uk

LOOK OUT FOR THE SIGNS

THE early signs of testicular cancer are usually obvious and easy to spot:

A hard lump on the front or side of a testicle

Swelling or enlargement of a testicle

An increase in firmness of a testicle

Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum

An unusual difference between one testicle and the other

A heavy feeling in the scrotum

A dull ache in the lower stomach, groin or scrotum

Cancer Research UK suggests that men should check your testicles about once a month.

Hold the scrotum in the palms of your hand and feel the size and weight of your testicles.

It is common to have one testicle slightly larger than the other, or one that hangs lower.

Feel the testicle and roll it between your thumb and finger. It should feel smooth. You'll feel a soft, tender tube towards the back if each testicle. This is normal and is called the epididymis.

For further information visit www.cancerhelp.org.uk