Musician warns others after 'shock' cancer diagnosis

A 23-year-old musician is warning young men to get checked, no matter how healthy they feel, following a "shock" testicular cancer diagnosis.

Bristol medical student and musician James Chakraverty had no symptoms before finding out he had testicular cancer in September 2023.

Within 13 days of discovering a small lump he had a 35 minute operation and was discharged the same day, but said it was "bizarre" to still feel healthy, doing push ups before going into the theatre.

He now wants young men, who often "feel invincible", to get checked, because he said the form of cancer he had "could happen to anyone".

"We live in the UK and have free healthcare, it's a huge privilege - use it," he added.

Mr Chakraverty said it was initially thought the lump in his right testicle was a cyst, but after speaking with his dad, who is a doctor, they both felt something was not right.

He got a scan which showed it was a testicular cancer.

"I was the youngest one on the ward. It was just bizarre," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Post-op was mentally challenging. We had to do scans to check it hadn't spread."

Mr Chakraverty said it was "strange" to be asymptomatic and that he had been doing push ups "to psyche myself up" before going into surgery.

He had a type of cancer called a germ cell seminoma which according to the charity Macmillan, usually affect those aged 15 to 35.

"When I went through this, all of my mates started to check their testicles," he said.

After his own experience has has advised other young men to regularly check their testicles.

"If you catch it early you're fine and that's really important.

"I just want to raise awareness because getting checked early saved my life."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.