Chris Stark issues urgent plea as he says 'I thought I was an idiot' for ignoring lump

Chris Stark, who is co-host on Capital Breakfast alongside Jordan North and Sian Welby, appeared on ITV's This Morning to share his emotional journey after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. The brave radio host appeared alongside hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard to share his heartbreaking discovery that he had cancer at the age of 38.

Appearing on the ITV daytime programme, Chris wanted to air a warning to others while inspiring other men to take a trip to the doctor to have a check if something was not feeling right.

Ultimately, Chris, who is a father-of-two, had known for some time that something hadn't felt right with his testicles and had experienced a pain that felt "sore" which he later discovered was unusual.

Speaking on the programme, Chris' voice started to quiver as he told the hosts: "I've got a wife and two kids and I thought I was an idiot for ignoring it."

During the discussion, Chris explained he'd been shrugging off the "painful" feeling in his testicle for sometime, believing it was harmless and normal, without ever getting it checked by medical experts.

Recalling the moment when doctors alerted him that his situation was not normal, Chris said: "I basically just wasn't sure about everything and while I was there [doctors surgery] he actually said to me 'look shall I do a quick examination?' And at that moment I was just like 'yeah'.

"And as he was doing that and it felt really sore on one side but it always felt sore, so I just put it down to playing football and someone kicked you... just something like that."

Chris explained the doctor then informed him: "It shouldn't ever feel sore and that could be a symptom of something else, but it should be fine."

Taking precautions, the doctor ordered for him to undergo a scan which revealed the on-air host most likely had cancer. He said: "So he then sent me for an ultrasound and at that ultrasound I found out that I have testicular cancer or they strongly suspected it.

"And it was only then when they made me push my fingers down on it that I could feel that lump. And I'd been avoiding that because there was a bit of a pain but I just threw off the pain like 'it's your balls'."

He followed up saying: "I've got a wife and two kids and I thought I was an idiot for ignoring it. It was lucky I went to the doctors and it was just lucky he said 'shall I check'."

After Chris had received the shocking diagnosis he was raced in for immediate surgery to remove his testicle and one round of chemotherapy. The radio presenter told the hosts: "I am effectively cured now but there is a chance this would come back and I find myself constantly Googling."

The broadcaster decided to bravely open up about his situation in hope of inspiring others to get themselves checked. Since speaking openly about his diagnosis, Chris has been overwhelmed with responses he's had from people who have taken his advice.

"I've had doctors messaging me, saying they've been receiving up to eight patients a day coming in to get checked since," he added. "Which is why I am doing this."

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV1, from 10am.