A man says YouTube advice helped to save his life' after spotting a rare testicular cancer symptom.
Robert Woolf, from Harrow, West London, noticed a small lump in one of his testicles and turned to YouTube for health advice while waiting for a GP appointment.
While using the video-streaming platform, the 47-year-old heard a piece of advice that 'may have saved his life' when he acted on it promptly, according to the London North West University NHS Trust
Robert said: "My GP did a non-tactile examination and said he didn’t think there was anything to worry about."
However, Robert said he trusted his gut feeling. “I knew something wasn’t right," he explained, "so asked for a scan after watching a testicular cancer survivor on YouTube say you should never be afraid to ask for a second opinion."
Robert said his GP was more than happy to book him in when he asked for another appointment, reports MyLondon.
Sure enough, subsequent hospital scan revealed a small growth and several weeks later Robert had his right testicle removed as a precautionary measure.
Testicular cancer is a relatively rare condition affecting around 2,300 men a year but is easy to treat if caught early enough, according to the NHS.
Robert, who lives in Harrow, said: “If something doesn’t feel right then trust your instincts because the earlier you catch cancer, the better the outcome. The worst thing you can do is ignore it and hope it goes away. The doctors were great. They see this sort of thing all the time so there is no need to feel embarrassed or awkward. Your health is the most important thing you have.”
Sharing Robert's story, a spokesperson for the local NHS Trust described how the internet 'may have encouraged a generation of armchair doctors but has also helped raise awareness of medical conditions and people’s right to question medical professionals."
You can find out more about the symptoms and treatment of testicular cancer on the NHS website.
