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.

BELLANALECK father-of-two Steven Gunn just wants to be a normal dad again.

But on December 23 last year he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and as a result he is unable to run about outside with his kids, or do the things he wants so desperately to do.

“You think to yourself when you become a father that you should be with your children; hugging them, cuddling them, telling them that everything will be OK. But you are sitting there not knowing, you are sitting there scared, fearful of the future and all because of this cancer,” he said.

Having commenced chemotherapy last week, the 30-year-old hospital worker is mostly bed-ridden now, and physically and mentally exhausted from the treatment, and the disease.

“I am trying to be mentally strong for everyone but sometimes you can’t. You can’t sleep at night, you are always thinking about it. I have the weight of an elephant on my chest at the moment. But that’s part of it, part of this new life,” he told The Impartial Reporter.

And with his two kids, Jake (six) and James (three) suffering from colds this week he is forced to keep a safe distance away from them due to his weak immune system and the very real chance of becoming even more ill.

“I can’t be near my kids and it’s hurting me. I can’t be with my family, either, in case I pick up a cold, or a flu. That could be life-threatening and that’s making me anxious all the time.” Back in November, Mr. Gunn, who had felt a pain in his right testicle, visited WestDoc and was treated for a urinary tract infection.

“There was nothing wrong; I was sore down there, but I thought it may have been a little knock or something, from football. I had a slight pain, nothing much.

“Then I noticed the testicle had swollen more. I went to my local GP and he gave me a stronger dose of antibiotics. A couple of weeks later I became very ill. It was like somebody had kicked me in the testicles; I was in severe pain and couldn’t bend over or go to the toliet without it hurting.” Mr. Gunn was admitted to South West Acute Hospital in December with a tumour on his testicle measuring 5.7 centimetres. It later grew to 10.6 centimetres.

“When I was told I had cancer I dropped, I went into shock, I started shaking. ‘How? Why? I’m fit, I’m healthy. Why is this happening to me?’” he recalled.

With Christmas 2013 wiped out, Mr. Gunn says life has been “hell” over the last ten months.

“My life has changed dramatically. I have low energy, I am tired all the time. This is my first week of chemotherapy. The next time you see me I’ll have no hair. It comes with it, I suppose. One drug affects your lungs, one affects your hearing, but it takes away this tumour,” he said.

The travelling to and from hospital in Belfast for treatment is also taking its toll on Mr. Gunn.

“It adds to the anxiety for sure; the not knowing; ‘what am I in for today? What am I getting done? Bloods? X-rays? What are they going to find today?’ We have a fantastic hospital here. Why don’t we have a neurology team? Or a cancer team? Everything seems to be up the country; there seems to be waiting lists, waiting to get to see all the important people,” he said.

And there is the financial burden of battling cancer, too, particularly when it comes to bills and not having a regular income.

“That’s my fear. I work as and when I am needed. I think about my children all the time, and my partner Stephanie (Lunny) wondering how we are going to get through this.” Mr. Gunn’s current bout of chemotherapy treatment will last until Christmas, a year after his life changed completely.

“What I want this Christmas is to be well enough again, to be normal, to be outside chasing the boys instead of being stuck inside… I just want to be normal again,” he said.