Baby joy for couple after father’s cancer ordeal

A Sheffield teacher has become a proud dad to the baby daughter he thought he would never see – after beating cancer feared to have harmed his chances of having children.
Glenn Cambell, aged 37, from Greystones, needed surgery and chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, and resorted to having sperm frozen in case the treatment affected his fertility.
But Glenn says he will now be ‘happy for the rest of his days’ after having a baby daughter, Isobel, with his wife Danielle, 28, who fell pregnant naturally without having to use IVF.
The PE teacher, who works at Ecclesfield School, has pledged to raise awareness of his condition, and will be joined by Danielle and Isobel on a charity ‘march on cancer’ organised by Cancer Research UK which is happening for the first time in Sheffield next month.
“You think you’ve got a very good life and that you’re very happy with everything, but when you get cancer it makes you rethink,” he said.
“But having Bel was the best present I could have had.”
Glenn first visited his GP in December 2010 with an unusual swelling following a knock to his groin.
His doctor initially thought the lump was an infection, but antibiotics had no effect, so Glenn was sent for a scan which discovered a tumour.
Within days he underwent surgery at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to completely remove a testicle. Tests confirmed the growth was cancerous, but the disease had not spread.
However, because of the tumour’s size, Glenn needed a single dose of chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital.
Glenn’s sperm was frozen before the chemotherapy – but, after he and Danielle got married last August, they started trying for a family.
Danielle found out she was pregnant just two months later and Isobel was born in June.
“I was in stunned silence when Danielle told me she was pregnant,” said Glenn.
“We were getting ready to go out to see the band the Everly Pregnant Brothers, which seemed quite apt!
“I was so thrilled. It was a terrible shock when I was told I had cancer but thanks to research and treatment I’m still here today.
“And now I’ve become a dad, something I never thought I could do after having testicular cancer.”
The March On Cancer is happening on October 11.
Participants will walk for 45 minutes in Sheffield city centre, starting in Tudor Square at 7.30pm accompanied by live music, entertainment and stories from others who have beaten cancer.
Charity representatives will be on Fargate today from 10am to 2pm, giving shoppers the chance to sign up for the event.Source