Official figures show that Fermanagh has one of the highest incidence of cancer in the south west.

In Fermanagh, 1,995 people have been diagnosed with cancer between 2004 and 2012. In Omagh the diagnosis rate was 1,548 while in Strabane it was 1,208 in the same period. More men (1,065) than women (930) were diagnosed in this period in the county.

Looking at incidence across Fermanagh, cancer incidence varies between electoral wards. Between 2008 and 2012, the incidence in Ballinamallard was 107 people, compared to 56 in Lisnaskea, 50 in Lisnarick, 52 in Newtownbutler, 90 in Castlecoole and 69 in Devenish.  Read moving, straight-talking interviews with cancer sufferers and survivors as they break down the taboo with their incredible stories of struggle and survival.

WALKING down the aisle with his childhood sweetheart and becoming a father were two pivotal moments of Keith Graham’s life that he did not think would be possible.

Hit with the news that he had testicular cancer at just 24 years old - a year after discovering the lump - the Ballinamallard man thought his time was up.

“I thought my life was over, I thought that was it and that it was just a matter of time. I sat on my own in the hospital planning out my own funeral. I thought it was lights out,” he said.

Eight years later and life could not be any sweeter, with his wife Julie and their adorable two year old daughter Abbie by his side. But he is the first to admit that it could have been very different.

“I was one of these people who never would have gone to a doctor. I knew I had a lump for a year; it was noticeable and I knew there was something wrong. I accepted I had cancer but still wouldn’t do anything about it until I came home one Friday and Julie had made an appointment at the doctor.

“I got checked at Irvinestown Health Centre. I was sent for a scan as a matter of urgency. I had to wait a week. I knew there was something wrong by the expression on their faces. It was a long weekend as we waited for the results. It was very bad; the family said not to worry about it, but in the back of mind I knew what it was. I went in on the Monday and the doctor said; ‘Keith, I have bad news for you - you have testicular cancer’ and things are going to move very fast’”.

“Once you get told this your perspectives in life change. All I could think about was; ‘Why me? I never thought I would have got it’, not at 24,” he said.

Mr. Graham went for an operation but took a relapse afterwards resulting in the cancer moving to the back of his stomach.

“In July I got the all clear, in November I was told it was back. I was devastated because I knew this was going to be the tough bit with chemotherapy. It was horrific. It killed me - seriously. It wrecked me to the point that I had given up. I didn’t want to go back for the last session. I had given up on life. You’re vomiting blood, your family is crying, you don’t want to go on,” he said.

With the support of his family, Mr. Graham, who works at Fisher Engineering, found the strength to carry on and beat cancer.

Looking back he says he wishes he had done things differently.

“I acted the hard lad at the beginning; I was too self conscious to go and see the doctor. If you have any lumps down there at all; big, small, whatever - go to the doctor no matter how embarrassed you are. I regret that I hadn’t gone sooner. I was told that it could have spread right through me and I was lucky it had stayed in the one spot,” said Mr. Graham, who was also told that he could have been left infertile.

“Having Abbie has meant the world to us. Everything she does makes me smile. When she wakes me up at quarter past six in the morning - every single morning - it still brings a smile to my face. I count myself very lucky. I didn’t honestly think I was going to be able to have children. “Getting married was great, the wedding was very emotional; to have your life back again, to know you’re not going to die. Having my wife and daughter means everything to me,” he said.