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A man has been hugely praised for bravely opening up on national television about his penis amputation.
Craig Mycock appeared on This Morning after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and had to have his penis fully removed, and is now urging other people to look out for the signs and symptoms.
With presenter Rylan Clark describing the amputation as ‘every man’s worst nightmare’, Craig explained how his experience was ‘hell’ at first and left him suicidal as he dealt with the mental health impacts of the operation.
Craig originally had no idea of his symptoms until an unrelated procedure in 2020 sparked concerns, when a nurse spotted a ‘small mark’ on the end of his penis.
He had previously noticed it, but as it never caused him pain or itchiness before, had thought nothing of it and ‘ignored it’.
Medical professionals however urged Craig to be checked straight away at a cancer specialist hospital, where he had a biopsy which revealed he had penis cancer.
At first, Craig thought he would have part of his penis removed, and part of his thigh would be used to rebuild it.
‘I was concerned, but not too concerned, I thought it would be okay to carry on with life,’ he shared.
A few weeks later however, Craig discovered that the cancer had spread violently and the operation couldn’t occur at all, and his whole penis would need removing.
Recalling what he felt in that moment – during Covid-19 lockdowns, meaning Craig had to go to hospital without the support of his wife – he said: ‘Hell, I lost my confidence, your masculinity, you lose your identity really.’
‘I couldn’t get through it,’ he added, praising the support he had from his wife of 30 years and family.
Sat beside him on the This Morning sofa, Craig’s wife Colette also shared how difficult it was to watch him go through the mental health struggles as a result of the operation, turning from a ‘joker’ into ‘someone who sat in a chair for days’.
‘He shrivelled into a shell of nothing,’ she added, before hailing him as ‘the bravest man on Earth’.
And she’s certainly not the only one to think so, with viewers commenting how brave Craig is for sharing his story.
‘Thank you so much for being here today, because it takes a lot of courage to come here on live telly and share a story like this, and you’ll be helping so many men out there,’ host Josie Gibson echoed.
Thankfully, Craig’s surgery was successful, and he had a full amputation, but the ‘aftermath’ is what left him struggling.
He previously told The Daily Mail that after the operation, the area ‘just felt numb’, and he had a flexible tube inserted in ‘with a tap on the end, which I could open to pee’.
‘It was humiliating and I hated using it, as it was a constant reminder of what had happened to me,’ he told the publication, adding: ‘I don’t look at it or feel around that area; I really can’t bear to look at it, even in a mirror. I’m just scared.’
‘I had a lot of pain around the area, and I still get a lot of pain, some days it’s unbearable,’ he continued on This Morning.
‘But it was the mental torture, it took me as far as it possibly could, to the point that I broke, that I did the stupid thing of trying to take my own life.
‘But that is part of my story and I’ve come out the best side of it, and this is why I want to get this out there.
‘Penile cancer is out there, and not many people know about it, and hopefully one man will look and say, “What is that on the end of my penis or side of my penis, I better go check it out,” and that’s why I’m dong it now.’
Penile Cancer
- Penile cancer is a rare cancer that mostly affects the skin of the penis and the foreskin
- It’s most common in men over 50
- Anyone with a penis can get penile cancer
- How serious penile cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.
- Penile cancer symptoms include:
– a growth, lump or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks
– a rash
– bleeding from your penis or under your foreskin
– a smelly discharge
– difficulty pulling back your foreskin (phimosis)
– a change in the colour of the skin of your penis or foreskin - See your GP if you experience any of the above symptoms
- For more information on penile cancer visit the NHS website.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
Not only did Craig’s story leave viewers praising his bravery, but Rylan revealed he had checked his penis last night after being encouraged to look for abnormal signs.
Writing on X, viewer Sarah-Jayne commented: ‘Very brave man for speaking out and raising awareness.’
‘Brave bloke. Must have took a lot of courage to speak about,’ Debs added, with Sue saying: ‘Brave man he is.’
Steve commented: ‘You’re an absolute legend, Craig. Awareness on men’s health has never been needed more.
Viewer Craig S added: ‘Through unimaginable circumstances, that was a stunning opening segment to the show. Massively important. Hope they treat the couple to a posh lunch and a trip around London. Well done, Craig.’
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This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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