A father who faced a testicular cancer diagnosis with remarkable humour and resilience is now preparing to run the London Marathon, urging men across the country to prioritise their health. Patrick Frank, 40, originally from Washington, DC, but now residing in Fulham, west London, famously threw a “farewell to righty” party before his surgery and later completed a penis-shaped run to raise awareness.

Patrick, a video agency founder, first noticed his right testicle felt unusually hard in early 2021. Following a check-up and subsequent tests, he received the news that he had a tumour requiring surgical removal.

Determined to maintain a positive outlook, he hosted a “farewell to righty” Zoom party the night before his operation that same year. During the virtual gathering, he shared a video featuring illustrations by a friend, depicting his testicle’s journey through the years, set to Sarah McLaughlin’s “I Will Remember You.”

Post-surgery, doctors confirmed the tumour was cancerous but had not spread, indicating the operation had successfully eradicated the disease. This experience ignited Patrick’s passion for encouraging other men to seek medical advice promptly. His unique awareness efforts include a “todger trot” – a 27km run across London, meticulously mapped on Strava to form the shape of a penis and testicles.

Now, Patrick is set to tackle the London Marathon for The Robin Cancer Trust, a UK charity dedicated to testicular, ovarian, and germ cell cancer. He hopes his journey will inspire others to take responsibility for their well-being.

Speaking to PA Real Life, Patrick, who lives with his wife, Alexandra, 40, and their two children, Ryan, eight, and Caleb, 11, emphasised the importance of early detection. “If you think anything feels off, don’t wait too long and go tell someone,” he advised. “I’m the best-case scenario, but if I didn’t go as early as I did, it could have spread.”

He also highlighted the invaluable role of the NHS: “I think people need to also realise how lucky they are to have the NHS – it isn’t a financial decision to get medical help here.” He added, “Be responsible – people depend on you and the best thing you can do for your friends and family and people who love you is to take care of yourself, and that involves going to the doctor when something feels a little off.”

Recalling the initial discovery in early 2021 while still in the United States, Patrick noted “something felt a little weird” with his right testicle. “In some ways it felt typical, and in some ways it didn’t – I had no pain but it felt harder than normal,” he explained. After a few weeks of persistent symptoms, he decided to consult a doctor. Having missed his annual check-up in 2020 due to the pandemic, he booked an appointment for March 2021. During routine scans and blood tests, he mentioned the hardness, prompting his doctor to refer him for an ultrasound.

“So, they’re moving the probe all around my business and the person doing it says they’re going to get their boss – so I thought she’s totally seen something,” Patrick recounted. “I just kind of knew at that point.” The second doctor confirmed his suspicions, and he was informed the next day that he had a tumour. “I was kind of expecting it at that point and was just trying not to panic,” he said.

Three days later, at a urology appointment, he was told his testicle would need to be removed, as a biopsy was deemed unsafe. Patrick left the appointment with “million things going through (his) mind,” concerned about potential spread despite having no other symptoms. His orchiectomy, the surgical removal of the testicle, took place approximately three weeks later.

The night before the operation, he gathered around 20 friends and family members on Zoom. “I had a farewell to righty party because it was the right testicle they removed, and we had a big ‘R’ balloon,” Patrick explained. “I have a friend who is a comic book artist and he made a character of my testicle and showed him through the ages – he made a baby testicle which turned into a teenage testicle that was skateboarding. I placed those testicle cartoons on photos of me growing up and made a little slideshow to the song ‘I Will Remember You’ by Sarah McLaughlin.”

Reflecting on waking from surgery, he said: “I remember I had a lot of trouble breathing, and my throat hurt a lot because of the breathing tube that was in there.” His wife, Alexandra, was by his side, and their children were home when he returned. “They were little but they understood it enough,” he noted. “We were really upfront about it with my eldest.”

Pathology results confirmed stage one testicular cancer, but crucially, it had not spread. “To have that news all in one sentence was wild – yes, it was cancerous, but we got all of it,” Patrick added. He found the experience highlighted the body’s resilience. “I think it showed me how much redundancy the body has – if you lose a part, often there’s a back-up. Your body is more resilient than you may realise.” Doctors assured him he would remain fertile with one testicle, though he already had children. He also mentioned the option of a prosthetic, which wasn’t offered to him, adding light-heartedly, “My wife doesn’t really care – she doesn’t care if I have no testicles!”

Patrick stated that losing a testicle was “not a big deal” for him and he did not feel “emasculated,” feeling “totally fine” being open about it. He hopes his candour encourages other men to “check themselves” and consult a doctor if something feels amiss.

Since his diagnosis, he has undergone regular check-ups, initially quarterly, then annually, to monitor for any recurrence. After moving to London in 2022 for his wife’s job, he praised the “amazing” care provided by the NHS. A scan in 2023 revealed an enlarged lymph node, but subsequent monitoring showed it had shrunk, alleviating concerns.

His “todger trot” saw him and a group of friends complete the 27km penis-shaped run across London, distributing The Robin Cancer Trust stickers. They made stops at pubs along the route, with Patrick sporting a “cardboard scrotum” around his neck. “Some people ran the full route with me but also we probably had 10 or 15 people drop by and run for different segments,” he said. “Unfortunately, some people had to leave early, so they missed out on the last part of the shaft, but I got a perfect todger on my Strava!”

On April 26, Patrick will run the London Marathon, his sixth marathon, alongside Toby Freeman, the founder of The Robin Cancer Trust. He is currently training rigorously, weightlifting twice a week and running approximately 30 miles weekly. “I think the marathon will be like a reward and my victory lap – I’ve done all the work, would have raised the money, and I hope I just enjoy it,” he shared, aiming to complete it in under three hours and 30 minutes. “I think I might get pretty emotional when I cross the finish line.”

Patrick is also hosting a comedy fundraiser for The Robin Cancer Trust, titled “Bollocks to Cancer,” at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London, on May 20. Donations to his fundraiser can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/patrickisrunning.