A TEENAGER has revealed his anguish at being diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 17 - and his determination to beat the disease.

And David McLoughlin said his case should act as a reminder for young men not to risk their lives by ignoring vital warning signs.

The Blackburn Rovers fan, who is 18 today, found a lump on his left testicle in April, but didn't go to the doctor for three months.

He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in August and had an operation to remove his left testicle a month later .

But he has now developed a secondary cancer in his abdomen and, although he has had further chemotherapy, he is waiting for the results of a scan to determine if he needs an operation.

David, who was brought up in Langdale Close, Huncoat, and Queens Street, Clayton-le-Moors, and is a former pupil at Moorhead High School, Accrington, said: "I found some lumps in April and one of them became really big and it started causing me alot of pain.

"I had problems walking and back pain so I went to the doctor in July."

"I wish I had gone earlier. If I had gone I would probably not have got the secondary cancer in my abdomen.

"My advice to young men is if you notice even the tiniest bump get it checked out.

"Do not be scared - go straight to the doctors.

"Finding out about the secondary cancer was distressing.

"I just broke down in the doctor's office and started crying. I could not believe at 17 years of age I could have cancer."

David, who moved to Torquay in 2004 with his mum and brother, is one of only a couple of 17-year-olds diagnosed with testicular cancer in the North West each year.

Nationally, around 1,900 cases are confirmed annually.

David's mother, Tina McCarthy, 38, has been looking after David with the help of her partner and working full time as a support worker.

She said: "It has been hard for all of us. Especially when we found out the cancer had spread.

"David has been absolutely brilliant.

"He has had his ups and downs but his sense of humour has helped him through."

David, a Blackburn Rovers fan for 13 years, has been given the best' birthday present - watching his football heroes in action and eating his favourite food, Hollands pies on a trip back to Blackburn this weekend.

The weekend, including tickets for Rovers' home game with Manchester United, has been organised by the Willow Foundation, which organises and funds days for seriously ill young adults.

David will alsowatch the football team training on Friday.

A spokeperson for Blackburn Rovers said: "We understand the power that football has to make a difference to people's lives so when we get the opportunity to do something like this we will go out of our way to make it happen."

Lancashire Telegraph columnist Dr Tom Smith said testicular cancer is rare in David's age group - he has only seen five cases in 40 years of practice.

But he said: "The cancer is curable in 95% of cases and most men can go on to father children."

Further information can be obtained from www.cancerbackup.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 1234.