Adam, Ireland

Six years ago, on October 3rd, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I was broken. Shame, fear, and isolation weighed heavily—especially as an LGBT man. On top of that, I was battling alcohol, and the day I went into hospital was also the day I quit drinking. It felt like everything hit me at once, and I didn’t know how to ask for help.

What carried me through were the people who saw me when I couldn’t see myself. The staff at Belfast City Cancer Centre, my mum, my brother, my family, and my friends—Jane, Josephine, James, Neil, and Cormac—stood by me. My colleagues offered kindness, and Cancer Focus NI gave me counselling during the frightening early days of Covid, helping me face both cancer and recovery with honesty and strength.

Chemo and surgery were terrifying, but tackling my own issues was harder. Yet out of that struggle came hope. I’ve since raised money for Cancer Focus, rediscovered my love of drawing, travelled the world, and made countless meaningful connections. I’ve learned that asking for help can change everything—and that support can transform survival into a life worth cherishing.