A man has been commended by his wife after he openly discussed the psychological challenges he endured upon learning that his penis would need to be amputated due to an aggressive form of cancer.
Craig Mycock, from the UK, shared his experience of going through a difficult time after receiving a cancer diagnosis from doctors.
Although many cancers are treatable with early detection, Mycock’s type was particularly rare and aggressive.
During an appearance on the British TV show, This Morning, in August 2024, he confessed to initially ignoring the warning signs.
In 2018, unaware of his condition, Mycock visited a doctor for a bladder examination. It was then that a nurse noticed an unusual freckle on his penis, prompting her to seek a doctor’s opinion.
Reflecting on the mark, Mycock commented: “It wasn’t itchy or painful, I just thought that it was something that was there, so I’d just ignored it up until then.”
His wife, Colette Daniels, who was with him on the show, talked about the profound effect the news of the amputation had on him.
She shared: “The mental health side of it was the most difficult for me because seeing Craig go from a man’s man and a joker to someone who sat in a chair and didn’t speak for days, and never went out.
“If he went out and saw someone he’d run away, that hurt me more to see him shrivel up into a shell of nothing. Craig to me, is the bravest man on this earth.”
Speaking about his own struggles, he mentioned the loss of confidence, masculinity, and identity.
Nevertheless, he has since managed to improve his mental well-being and is now in a better state. He aims to encourage more men to prioritize their health and watch for cancer symptoms.
Dr Nighat Arif joined Mycock and his wife on the show and detailed how men can identify signs of penile cancer.
She emphasized that penile cancer is uncommon, affecting only about 700 men annually, which is less than one percent of new cancer cases.
She explained: “As a GP, I get patients who have come in after all my treatment with the aftermath and it’s the mental toll that it takes because you can feel very very alone.
“[Men should look out for] any skin changes – we say persistent changes – meaning over four weeks, any irritation, any rash. A discharge as well isn’t normal or any blood.”