By Jessica Micallef
Darryl Cocks is reminding all men that they are not “bulletproof“ when it comes to their health.
In 2007, the Sunbury man was walking to a football game with his brother when he started to feel a sharp stabbing pain in his groin.
“I couldn’t walk so I had to stop,“ he said.
“I had a hernia operation that was booked in [and] I kept putting it down to the hernia in the groin … and it wasn’t. It was more sinister.“
After going in for the hernia operation, doctors found swelling in the groin and urged Darryl to undergo a biopsy.
He was referred to an oncologist and was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 44-years-old.
“That was a bit of a shock to the family, a shock to everyone,“ he said.
“There was a lot of things going through my mind like why me? What had I done wrong?
“I was riding my bike, I was pretty active.
“I just couldn’t believe it had happened to me. You think you’re bulletproof but you are not.“
Darryl then had to endure six months of chemotherapy.
“You would have your highs and lows,“ he said.
“Sometimes I thought I was a world-beater and the next minute I was flat as and couldn’t get out of the bed [and] my hair went all wispy.“
Although Darryl says he will never be “cancer-free“, he knows he has recovered “pretty well“ from his battle.
“I have regular check-ups now just to make sure everything is okay,“ he said.
“I am regularly monitored and if I ever do feel tired or lethargic, they [doctors] tell me to come in and have tests.“
Now, the 57-year-old looks back at his battle as a learning curve for all men.
“We think we can go through life without getting sick,“ he said.
“Even if it’s a minor thing … just get it checked.
“You make think it is nothing but you cannot rule out these things.“
The Cancer Council’s Daffodil Appeal runs throughout August, culminating in Daffodil Day on Friday, August 28.
The community is being encouraged to donate to the appeal to help fund cancer research.
To donate, phone 1300, 65 65 85 or visit daffodilday.com.au
