President of Irish Football Association urges all men to prioritise their health this Men’s Health Week after own cancer diagnosis
Every year over 7,000 men are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland. This Men’s Health Week, Cancer Focus NI want to encourage men to visit their GP if something doesn’t feel quite right, and to reach out for support when you need it.
Someone who understands the importance of prioritising their health and seeking support, is Conrad. In April 2022, who lives in Belfast, was feeling tired and noticed a lump on his neck. He wasn’t overly concerned and put it down to tiredness from a busy schedule, having just returned from the World Cup in Qatar, working full time and his very active role as President of the Irish Football Association.
After visiting his GP when his symptoms persisted, Conrad was referred to the Royal Victoria Hospital and underwent various tests, but nothing was found. It took 18 long months of tests and a surgery to remove the lump, for Conrad to be told he had tonsil cancer.
He reflects on that time, he said: “It was incredibly difficult. Not only was I navigating my own health struggles and coming to terms with having cancer, but at the same time I got the devastating news my mother and uncle were diagnosed with cancer, and they both passed away over the Christmas period in 2023. I was still going through treatment which included chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It was a lot to deal with, but I was in survival mode and had to focus on getting better and following my treatment plan.”
In February 2024, Conrad completed his treatment, but knew he needed to seek support through his recovery. He added: “The support of my wife, friends and wider family circle was incredible throughout my cancer journey, I couldn’t have done it without them, but I realised that I needed to speak to a professional about everything I had went through. That’s when I sought support from Cancer Focus NI and was connected with a counsellor called Mandy, which was a game changer. Talking to an experienced counsellor about my cancer experience and exploring my emotions was invaluable, it helped me to understand I was doing better than I had given myself credit for.”
Conrad now looks positively towards the future with plans to retire, travel and finish writing a book about football. He noted: “I feel lucky to be alive and my perspective on life has changed. I don’t bear a grudge and want to spend time helping others and making a difference.”
Driving home the importance of looking after your health, Conrad has one simple message. He concluded: “There is no better time than during Men’s Health Week to encourage all men to visit their GP if they notice a change in their health, it can save your life. I know it can be embarrassing to ask for help when you need it but put your pride aside. There are so many organisations just like Cancer Focus NI who are there to support you and your family if you are going through something difficult. You don’t have to do it alone.”
Every day around 38 people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of cancer, visit our website www.cancerfocusni.org.
For cancer concerns, call the free Cancer Focus NI Nurse Line on 0800 783 3339 (Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am to 1pm), email nurseline@cancerfocusni.org, or visit www.cancerfocusni.org/support to learn about available support services.
