It was July 2021 when Gavin Brooks realised there was something wrong with his body. The dad-of-two noticed his foreskin had become swollen, as though there was a rubber band around it.
As the swelling grew excruciatingly painful, Gavin, who was serving in the army at the time, decided to visit his GP. Doctors told the then 44-year-old he probably had thrush, a common yeast infection, and that the swelling would go away over time.
But as his symptoms persisted, the warrant officer sought a second opinion at a sexual health clinic. After three misdiagnoses, Gavin was finally referred to a urologist who gave him the news he was dreading. Gavin had penile cancer.
