Man Shares Harrowing Cancer Journey After Ignoring Lump on Penis

Matthew Spicer, 31, was weeks away from his wedding in August 2023 when he received a devastating diagnosis of stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that had spread to his liver, lungs, and brain.

The diagnosis came after he noticed "unusual" lumps on his penis, along with severe migraines and fatigue. Initially, doctors suspected enlarged or blocked skin glands, a common and usually harmless condition. However, further tests revealed the more serious underlying blood cancer.

"I didn't know how to feel. I froze. I felt a new level of panic unlock," Spicer recalled. "I didn't ask any questions that may have been useful because all I could think about was 'Am I going to die?' and 'What impact does this have on my wife and family?' I felt like I'd let everyone down."

The diagnosis threw his wedding plans into chaos. Facing a compromised immune system due to upcoming chemotherapy, Spicer and his partner Beth cancelled their large planned ceremony and opted for an intimate gathering with close family.

Spicer underwent six rounds of R-CHOP chemotherapy, followed by two rounds of methotrexate. In January 2024, he was declared cancer-free, and the couple began rescheduling their larger celebration. However, just six months later, new lumps appeared on his trapezius muscle, signaling a recurrence of the cancer.

This second diagnosis, again occurring weeks before their rescheduled wedding, forced them to postpone again. Spicer then underwent further chemotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and in September 2025, a stem cell transplant, a procedure reserved for aggressive or relapsed blood cancers. The treatment rebuilds the patient's immune system using healthy donor stem cells.

"There were moments where I felt overwhelmed by anxiety and uncertain about the future," Spicer said of the gruelling transplant process. "Then there were moments where I lay in my bed experiencing numbness... feeling so wiped out that I literally couldn't feel anything."

A year after the stem cell transplant, Spicer remains in remission. He continues to receive intravenous immunoglobulin infusions and donor cell top-ups, along with routine scans. His experience has reshaped his perspective on life, emphasizing hope and appreciating the present.

"Cancer has reshaped the way I see the world. It's reminded me that everything can be taken from us in a second, and we should go after the things we want in life," he stated.

Spicer is now supporting Lymphoma Action's "Let's talk lymphoma" campaign, urging others not to ignore bodily signs. "If something doesn't feel right, trust that instinct. Ask questions. Don't be scared to push back. Advocate for yourself as if you would for a loved one," he advised. "Catching it at an early stage could literally be the difference between life and death."

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a common but aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms can include painless swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin, as well as night sweats, unexplained weight loss, fever, and fatigue. When the disease develops outside the lymph nodes, it can cause a range of other symptoms depending on the affected area.