A journalist diagnosed with cancer three days after he began working for a regional daily has told of his fight against the disease.

Joseph Hook was told he had testicular cancer after joining the Swindon Advertiser in May, and the 27-year-old is now undergoing chemotherapy to fight the illness.

Joseph, pictured, initially underwent an operation to remove a tumour, but a later follow-up scan revealed the cancer had spread to his back.

This was confirmed by a further assessment six weeks ago.

In a piece for the Advertiser about his battle, Joseph wrote: “The only way to treat this was chemotherapy, something which honestly scared much more than surgery did.

“However, testicular cancer is very curable, with ten-year survival rates of 98pc. Mine was caught early, despite having spread. Left untreated, it wasn’t going to sort itself out, so I required little time to make a decision.

“Although the wait to measure the growth was long, once the decision to begin treatment was made, it all moved rapidly again.

“Within a week and a half, I had blood tests, my lung function measured (the drugs used in my chemotherapy can cause damage to the lungs), and my sperm banked (it can also affect fertility).

“There are many different types of chemotherapy, each employing different drug combinations, and everyone reacts differently to each. I have found it hard, losing some whole days, and a large part of most, to feeling nauseous, fatigued and simply being unable to think straight.”

“But it is all in a good cause, and the care the NHS provides is remarkable: I already have a date, January 15 2018, on which I hope to pick up my final scans and find that my cancer has given up the fight.”

Joseph told HTFP he had received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback since writing the column.

He said: “Since I began chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer two months ago, I have tried to be as open as possible about my experiences, firstly through social media, and then the column in the Swindon Advertiser.

“Cancer is often a difficult thing for people to talk about, and while receiving treatment for it isn’t exactly what I would have chosen to spend my time doing, giving others an insight into what having cancer is like has been rewarding.

“Cancer affects, in one way or another, nearly everyone. But many people aren’t aware of what is involved on day-to-day basis when having chemotherapy, from the logistical arrangements, to being administered the drugs themselves and the adaptations I have to make to daily life as a result of the side effects.

“The feedback I’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, and being able to raise a little awareness, as well as some money for charity through a Movember drive, has been one of the more pleasant side effects of my diagnosis.