Join the fight against the big C, urges Lenzie man

Alex Watson was diagnosed when he was just 23-years-old and he is urging people to support the great work by Cancer Research UK.

Now aged 41, the owner of the Huntershill Gift Shop in Bishopbriggs attributes his long-term survival to the Cancer Research UK scientists.

Alex, who lives with his civil partner Peter in Lenzie, said: “I feel I was incredibly fortunate to be cured and survive testicular cancer.

“Years ago, testicular cancer is something that you wouldn’t have survived.

“I did know of someone who was diagnosed at the same time as me who died from the disease.

“It’s so good that people are getting the all-clear and are surviving, but I do think more needs to be done in terms of making sure people get better and kinder treatments.”

After Alex was diagnosed, he received surgery and radiotherapy before being prescribed a testosterone hormone treatment which he continued taking in tablet form until last year.

However, when this treatment was unavailable last year, it was discovered that Alex had been living with insufficient testosterone levels and it had caused osteoporosis.

After visiting the endocrine clinic at Stobhill Hospital, Alex was prescribed a new hormone treatment which he receives by injection every 10 weeks. This has improved the levels of testosterone in his blood and has begun to reverse the onset of osteoporosis.

Alex added: “Having the new treatment has made a phenomenal difference.

“I feel my general health is a lot better and have a lot more energy.

“Treatments are getting better all of the time and that means the world to people like me who are living longer with the consequences of having had cancer.

“There’s so much more to be done which is why it’s important that people continue to support Cancer Research UK and its scientists to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

Cancer Research UK has launched its new ‘Beat Cancer Sooner’ campaign, which aims to highlight the pivotal role of research in the fight against cancer and encourage local people to support the charity.

The latest figures show that more than 96 per cent of men now survive testicular cancer in the UK, compared with less than 70 per cent in the 1970s. These improvements are largely thanks to the drug cisplatin, which Cancer Research UK helped to develop.

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