Upton dad who was diagnosed with breast cancer is urging more to speak out

Phil Alderson, 47, was playing with his daughter Evie one Sunday when she elbowed him in the chest back in 2016.

Later that day he began to feel a tiny lump on the side of his left nipple and decided to ring the doctors.

After a consultation with his GP, Phil was then referred to a specialist who then sent him for an ultrasound, biopsy and mammogram.

That same day he was called back to see the consultant and was told that they believed he had cancer.

After his diagnosis was confirmed, Phil was booked in for surgery and thankfully the tumour was removed.

Due to the fact Phil had spotted the lump early, he did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Phil Alderson with his daughter Evie

Now, after three years, Phil is determined to get more people talking about cancer, especially breast cancer and urge anyone to see their GP if they feel something is not quite right.

Recently, Phil even took part in a photoshoot for a fashion website to raise awareness for survivors of breast cancer ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Phil told the Globe: "I feel inspired to do something and re-tell my story.

"There's this weird feeling of being thrown into a feminine world. If I can save one life or catch someone who may have a lump by telling my story then I will have done my job.

"It is very rare for men to get breast cancer. It affects around 50,000 women compared to just 500 men a year. I'm not in any embarrassment about it but there is stigma surrounding a man with breast cancer.

"A lot of women also have the same embarrassment as I guess it's a very personal area and can mean a great deal of physical change.

"We need to talk about it and catch it early.

Phil after his surgery

"I managed to catch it early and had a mastectomy.

"So I feel very grateful and like I was on the fringe of cancer. But it was an aggressive form of cancer and if I had left it, it would have killed me.

"I was treated at Clatterbridge and I couldn't fault them. They were so amazing with how they looked after me.

"There was just so much positivity. I have now embraced my cancer diagnosis, it as it is a part of me now.

"I have now been hired by national modelling agency called Zebedee Management and then got asked to go on a professional photoshoot for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with all these glamorous models - talk about outside my comfort zone!"

T-shirt designer Phil has also now signed up for Maggie's Merseyside's Strictly Come Dancing event which has been backed by Shirley Ballas, who will be judging the final in November.

"It was strange as I saw both posts on Facebook, signing up to the agency and then this Strictly Come Dancing Maggie's event.

Phil at the photoshoot in London last week

"As soon as I saw it I thought 'I'm in' straight away. Now its very real. I got paired with my professional dance partner on October 6.

"I've not had any dancing experience unless you count JustDance on the PlayStation!

"I'm just waiting to hear which dance I'll get now but it's great as I'm giving something back to them after they helped me.

"I'm now hoping to raise £1,000 to give something back.

"Support came from all places including online but the people who bore the brunt of my tears and random rants about 'life not being fair' was Maggie's, who would always offer me a coffee and give me hours of their time and just listen."

To donate to Phil's Strictly Come Dancing attempt visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/PhilipAlderson