(precede) Hume City footballer Danny Dixon has made a stunning return to the soccer field just two months after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer as Max Hatzoglou reports.
The English born footballer felt something was not right in late January when he noticed a lump in one testicle so he got himself checked by a doctor immediately.
It was a swift decision that may have saved his life.
Within 15 days of the initial check up, Dixon went under a surgeon’s knife and had a cancerous growth removed which led to chemotherapy and ultimately a full recovery that has put his life ‘back to normal’.
Dixon made a triumphant return to the soccer field on March 29 and has since played four consecutive games for Hume.
In 2021, 980 men were diagnosed with testicular cancer in Australia according to the federal government. Of those, 33 died of the disease. Sufferers have a 97 per cent chance of surviving at least five years, with testicular cancer accounting for just 1 per cent of males deaths from cancer in 2021.
As one of the lucky ones who beat the disease, Dixon said he was grateful that his return to health has also allowed him to return to the game he loves.
“It’s been good since I’ve had the all clear, it’s been hard trying to get fit and obviously getting back in the team, but everyone has been really good,” he said.
“I always said to myself ever since I found out that I needed the chemo and I had surgery and stuff, I always said to myself after round six I will be back playing.
“I think that was something that helped me as well because I set myself a goal from day one and I was back round seven so I got there.
“But ever since day one, never once did I think I wouldn’t play again. I always had it in my head that I would play again, there were no ifs and buts about it.”
Dixon arrived in Perth as a 14-year-old with his family from Middlesbrough in England and later moved to Melbourne where he began his career in the National Premier League Victorian competition.
Dixon, who bagan playing with Hume in 2019, said he was grateful for all the support he received from the football and wider community, which he says has helped him get through the challenges and understand his circumstances better.
“The whole situation was good, obviously, it’s not what you want to hear at 27 but at the same time from the nurses, the doctors, everyone involved in football, everyone who I have spoken to has been amazing,” Dixon said.
“So it’s been good. It hasn’t been too hard mentally when you’ve got the support around you that everyone has given me, so it’s been really good in that way.”
Dixon drew particular strength from the support of Tracy Tombides, the mother of Australian footballer Dylan Tombides who passed away in 2014, nearly three years after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Tombides progressed his career to represent West Ham in the popular English Premier League and was renowned among Australian soccer fans.
“Speaking to Dylan’s mum Tracy during the chemo process, obviously she’s helped me through what Dylan went through,” Dixon said.
“Speaking to people who have been close to someone who’s had it, unfortunately for Dylan it didn’t work out, but to know people are thinking of you or trying to help you in any way possible, it makes a big difference.
“And obviously, my family has been amazing.
“They’re over in Perth, but still the support you get from them and from Hume, from everyone, it did help a lot.
“People think like they’re just messaging you and saying hope you’re doing well and stuff, but it does help a lot.“
Dixon in partnership with the DT38 Foundation and Professional Footballers Australia hosted an exhibition match on April 3, featuring famous footballers to raise funds to educate men on the the importance of self-checking for lumps and other anomalies and acting swiftly.
The day was a great success with popular football figures on-field alongside Dixon including Thomas Sorensen, Fahid Ben-Kalfallah, Rashid Mahazi, Jai Ingham, Rodrigo Vargas, Michael Zappone, Vince Lia, Alan Davidson, and other NPL and A-League names playing in the friendly match.
“The day was really good, we orgainised it in pretty quick time,” Dixon explained.
“It was mainly Hegs [Nick Hegarty] that orgainised the whole thing for me really because I was going through the chemo at the time so Hegs and a few of the boys, Hayden Tennant and Mark Ochieng, organised loads and they were amazing.
“It ran so smoothly and everyone involved with the game had a good time, had a good laugh, and really enjoyed themselves.
“The most important part was we raised a lot of money for the foundation and we also got a lot of awareness out there for people.
“The whole day was such a big success and it was really good.”
From 100 donations so far, $13,735 has been raised on the gofundme page to support the DT38 Foundation.
Go make a donation go to the Gofundme page at www.gofundme.com/f/spreading-awareness-for-our-friend-danny
For more on the DT38 Foundation go to dt38.co.uk/
