Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Man’s penile lump led to stage four lymphoma diagnosis
Matthew Spicer noticed unusual lumps on his penis weeks before his wedding in 2023 and sought medical help despite feeling embarrassed.
Doctors first suspected harmless blocked skin glands, but further tests followed because he also had severe migraines and exhaustion.
Tests found stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a blood cancer that had spread to his liver, lungs and brain.
The diagnosis came five weeks before his wedding to Beth, so the couple replaced their large celebration with a small ceremony while he underwent treatment.
Spicer received six rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy and two rounds of methotrexate, and doctors declared him cancer-free in January 2024.
The cancer returned six months later, after he found lumps near his neck and upper back.
He then began further chemotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy, which uses a patient's own immune cells to recognise cancer cells.
Matthew Spicer was diagnosed with stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after noticing lumps on his penis.
The diagnosis came in August 2023, five weeks before he was due to marry his partner, Beth.
He received six rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy over six months, followed by two rounds of methotrexate.
Doctors declared him cancer-free in January 2024.
Six months later, lumps appeared on his upper back and neck, and doctors told him the cancer had returned.
- Who
- Matthew Spicer, a youth worker from Weymouth.
- What
- He was diagnosed with stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after noticing lumps on his penis.
- When
- The diagnosis came in August 2023.
- Where
- Weymouth, Britain.
- Why
- Doctors diagnosed lymphoma after tests for the lumps and his severe migraines and exhausting fatigue.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spicer was diagnosed with stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, five weeks before his planned wedding.
He was due to begin chemotherapy.
Doctors declared Spicer cancer-free.
He found lumps on his trapezius and was told the lymphoma had returned.
- Diagnosis
- Stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- Location
- Weymouth
- Initial diagnosis
- August 2023
- First treatment
- Six rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy over six months
- Additional treatment
- Two rounds of methotrexate
- Cancer-free
- January 2024
What people are saying
I didn't know how to feel. I froze. I felt a new level of panic unlock.
Am I going to die?
I tried to convince myself it was a muscle knot and exercise-related.