Cancer patient defies odds to become father

Instead he was fighting for his life, battling a cancer which typically strikes young, healthy men in their 
prime.

But not only did he win the fight against testicular cancer, he has now gone on to defy predictions and have a child of his own.

Pioneering intensive chemotherapy treatment did affect his fertility, but Mr Shippey has 
now become a proud father to Toby.

“It’s amazing,” the 35-year-old said.

“There was always that fear that I may not be able to have kids. I had to give myself the best chance of survival and not having kids might have been a sacrifice I had to make to do that.”

It was a knock in the stomach while playing football that led to the diagnosis. He felt so ill he went to hospital. Tests showed testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer usually affects younger men.

“At first the prognosis was good – it’s a very treatable cancer,” he said. “But then the survival chances went down to 50/50.”

The illness had spread, so instead of the usual chemotherapy, doctors in Leeds suggested a new, high-dose treatment.

Some of his stem cells were removed beforehand, then put back into his body afterwards to help him recover.

“Six to 12 months earlier, I wouldn’t have had access to it,” he said.