A man is speaking out to raise awareness after a terrifying blood cancer diagnosis just weeks before his wedding.
Matthew Spicer could never have predicted what was to come after noticing “unusual” lumps on the head of his penis just weeks before his wedding.
Doctors initially believed the issue could be raised glands, but when the 34-year-old was experiencing other symptoms – including severe migraines and fatigue – he knew something more sinister was at play.
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There were concerns that it could be penile cancer, but the results came back clear for it – instead finding an altogether different diagnosis: blood cancer.
“I was in complete shock,” Matthew, a youth worker and personal trainer from Weymouth, told Need To Know.
“I didn’t know how to feel, and I froze.
“I felt a new level of panic unlock.
“I didn’t ask any questions that may have been useful because all I could think about was ‘Am I going to die? and ‘What impact does this have on my wife and family?’
“I felt like I’d let everyone down.”
Matthew was told he had stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and was immediately put in for chemotherapy treatment to start the following week.
He was due to wed partner Beth in just five weeks’ time.
Matthew, who was 31 at the time of diagnosis, said: “I made jokes that at least it got me out of having to do a speech, when inside I was hurting.
“I felt like I’d ruined one of the most special days for the person I cared about most.”
They had to reschedule their large wedding, and instead had an intimate ceremony with just immediate family, due to his immune system being compromised by the treatment.
Matthew added: “We thought, ‘That’s OK, we can have the big day to celebrate next year’ – having no idea of further surprises we would have to face.’
He went through six rounds of R-CHOP, a chemotherapy regimen delivered every three weeks over a six-month period, followed by two rounds of Methotrexate.
In January 2024, he was officially declared to be in remission, which left him hugely relieved.
But after six months of adjusting to normal life again, Matthew was delivered another blow.
He said: “I somehow came across the smallest of lumps located on my trapezius, which I tried to convince myself was a muscle knot and exercise-related.”
He mentioned it to his consultant, and tests found that his cancer had returned – once again just a few weeks prior to their rescheduled big wedding.
They again had to put the day on hold while Matthew started chemotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy.
He was briefly in remission once more, but a routine scan found more cancer in April 2025.
Matthew said: “I started to wonder whether I was running out of options, and whether the end was closer than I thought.”
Doctors agreed that an allogeneic stem cell transplant would give him the best chance of staying cancer-free, and he was given the transplant in September 2025 – the day after his second wedding anniversary.
Treatment was extensive, and Matthew found it hard to cope both physically and mentally.
He said: “There were moments where I felt overwhelmed by anxiety and uncertain about the future.
“Then there were moments where I lay in my bed experiencing numbness, whilst staring at the walls, feeling so wiped out that I literally couldn’t feel anything.”
He continues to receive treatment such as intravenous immunoglobulin infusions, and recently reached the one-year milestone of having clear scans that show the cancer remains in remission.
Matthew added: “At one point, I was really doubting as to whether it was something I’d ever hear.
“I finally feel that I can begin to move on – only, this time, with a new perspective on life.”
He remains under close observation with top-up infusions of donor cells every six-to-eight weeks, and further PET and CT scans for ongoing monitoring.
But the future looks bright for Matthew.
He said: “I’ve learned to hold on tightly to hope.
“Today, I’m hopeful for a long, healthy life – one where I can fully appreciate the present and use the lessons this journey has taught me.
“Cancer has reshaped the way I see the world.
“It’s reminded me that everything can be taken from us in a second, and we should go after the things we want in life.
“I want to use my experience to connect with others who are facing their own challenges.
“If sharing my story can offer even a small measure of comfort or encouragement, then something good has come from a very difficult chapter.
“I hope to remain in a place where I can show people that strength can grow in the darkest moments, and that they, too, can overcome what lies ahead.
“This journey has taught me to pursue the things that matter most.
“When the time is right, Beth and I look forward to making new memories together and exploring more of the world, and often consider starting a family of our own.”
Matthew is sharing his story to help raise awareness for blood cancer, and is supporting Lymphoma Action’s campaign, Let’s talk lymphoma to encourage other people to open up about their health.
He added: “After the hardship and chaos of cancer, I’m aware of how lucky I am for the life I live today and for what I have around me.
“Something this journey has taught me is that we know our bodies better than we realise.
“I knew something wasn’t right, but I never thought it was cancer.
“One of the most important lessons my diagnosis has taught me is this: don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you.
“Symptoms don’t always go away on their own.
“It’s better to be cautious than to wish you had acted sooner.
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct.
“Ask questions. Don’t be scared to push back. Advocate for yourself as if you would for a loved one.
“Catching it at an early stage could literally be the difference between life and death.”
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