Dad, 25, reveals he may lose his penis to rare cancer that’s ‘eating away’ at his manhood – and could claim his life
Dale Clarke is urging all blokes to learn the signs and symptoms of penile cancer after his shock diagnosis
A YOUNG dad fears he will lose his entire penis as cancer "eats away" at his manhood, forcing doctors to remove part of it already.
Dale Clarke no longer has any sensation and his sex life is ruined after he discovered a lump down there was terminal cancer.
The lump was initially the size of a grain of rice, but within three weeks it grew to the size of a grape.
In seven months the 25-year-old has already had five operations, nine rounds of radiotherapy and two rounds of chemo - but the tumours keep coming back.
He's been left with a gaping wound at the top of his groin, while skin taken from his thigh has been grafted on to his penis.
Bravely speaking out about his ordeal, Dale said he can no longer feel any part of his penis, and that his sex life with fiancée Paige King, 24, is ruined as a result.
But, the dad to six-year-old Cole and a baby on the way, said he's determined to stay positive, make memories and marry Paige in Las Vegas.
He warned other blokes never to ignore the symptoms, and to see a doctor straight away if they fear something could be wrong.
Dale from Newcastle said: “It’s absolutely destroyed me as a person.
"I struggle to walk to the toilet and my penis has no use other than to try and urinate from it.
“It has no feeling. The cancer is busy eating away around it so I will probably lose it altogether soon.
“But I’m a solider. I’ve got my kids to think about and I can’t be selfish and give up."
Doctors told the 25-year-old he was one of the youngest people they had treated for penis cancer, adding he has one of the most aggressive forms of the disease they'd seen.
It has no feeling. The cancer is busy eating away around it so I will probably lose it altogether soon
Dale Clarke
Though it's arguably every man's worst nightmare, Dale said he's accepted his sex life has been ruined.
"That part of my life is gone now," he said.
"They could cut it off and it wouldn't bother me, that's how far past it I am.
"I know it's terminal, but I'm not planning to go anywhere for a few years."
He said the thought of the leaving his kids, is the most painful part of his ordeal.
While chemo was "hell", he said he would put himself through it again if doctors think it will give him more time with his son Cole and the couple's unborn baby girl.
The first signs something was wrong came when Dale struggled to pee properly.
BLOKES... LEARN THE SIGNS YOU COULD HAVE PENIS CANCER
CANCER of the penis is very rare, there are around 630 cases in the UK each year.
It’s most often diagnosed in men over the age of 60 years however men in their 30s and 40s can also be affected.
Symptoms can include:
- A growth or ulcer on the penis, especially on the glans or foreskin
- Changes in the colour of the penis
- Skin thickening on the penis
- Persistent discharge with foul odour beneath the foreskin
- Blood coming from the tip of the penis or under the foreskin
- Unexplained pain in the shaft or tip of the penis
- Irregular or growing bluish-brown flat lesions or marks beneath the foreskin or on the body of the penis
- Reddish, velvety rash beneath the foreskin
- Small, crusty bumps beneath the foreskin
- Irregular swelling at the end of the penis
He suspected an infection but then found a lump on the tip of his penis in June last year.
Doctors first suspected the lump had been caused by his foreskin being too tight, and circumcised Dale.
But after he was referred to a specialist, tests revealed the devastating diagnosis.
"I'd researched it and was convinced it was cancer," he admitted.
"The pain was unbelievable. It was that bad I would try not to go to the toilet.
CANCER OF THE WHAT? From sores and ulcers to a rash... 11 signs YOU could be suffering penis cancer
"I was going about once a day and was crying in pain, it was the worst kind of burning."
Despite his fears, when doctors confirmed he had cancer, Dale said he was left speechless.
He hung up the phone and broke down.
Pregnant Paige said: "He just looked at me and said, 'Paige, they're saying it's cancer'.
"We both broke down and just sobbed our hearts out."
While the couple's sex life has suffered, Paige said it has not affected their relationship.
The couple all but gave up on their hope of having a baby, after Dale's shock diagnosis.
But two months later Paige discovered she was expecting their "little miracle", their baby girl who is due in July.
Paige, who will be a first time mum, said: “It’s normal now and we don’t really think about it. It wasn’t one of the main reasons we were together – we’re together because we love each other.
“The diagnosis has brought us closer together. We’re stronger as a team and are taking each day as it comes.
“I broke the news to him when he was in hospital, we were so excited.
“We’re hopeful that we will have a few years together."
Dale said his focus now is family time, and making memories that will last his kids a lifetime.
"Hopefully I'll be well enough to be there for the birth of my daughter," he said.
“I want to go to Vegas to get married, that’s something we’re saving up for now.
“Getting married, bringing my little girl up and spending as much time as I can with my little boy is what I want to do now.”
Just two men aged between 25 and 29 were diagnosed with penile cancer in 2016, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
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Now Dale is urging other men to be aware of the signs.
He pleaded: "If something doesn't look or feel right just make sure you get checked out.
"Push to get a circumcision before the lump gets too big to do anything about."
The couple's friends have set up a to help them when their baby arrives.
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