The mom of Zac Summers-Cameron stated it may have been completely different
Zac Summers-Cameron (Picture: Clare Summers-Taylor/SWNS)
A mom who misplaced her son to testicular most cancers after it was initially believed to be an an infection is urging others to “not take no for a solution” when searching for medical assessments. Zac Summers-Cameron died from testicular most cancers in November 2025, aged simply 22.
He was nearing the top of his first yr on the College of the West of England in Bristol when he knowledgeable his household a few painful and swollen testicle accompanied by belly ache. His household revealed that in his preliminary GP go to, he was advised it was an an infection and acquired antibiotic therapy in June 2024.
Nearly 4 months later, when Zac was lastly admitted to hospital, the household found he had stage three testicular most cancers, which had already metastasised all through his physique. Zac’s mom, Clare Summers-Taylor, 58, described her son’s demise as “a tragedy that ought to have been averted”. She is encouraging others to make sure they obtain immediate medical examination, as testicular most cancers has a 96 per cent survival price when detected early.
Clare stated: “Zac lit up each room, he was so particular. He was the life and soul of his friendship group and our household.
“We’re completely devastated by his loss and can’t imagine he is not coming again. It’s particularly unhappy to lose somebody so younger and we wish to elevate consciousness.
“If solely he had been scanned earlier and absolutely checked issues may have turned out in another way. We do not need what occurred to Zac to occur to anybody else.”
She revealed that when Zac first consulted his GP in regards to the swelling and ache in his testicle, medical doctors initially attributed it to an an infection and prescribed antibiotics in June 2024. Because the months progressed, Zac’s discomfort worsened and the ache radiated down his leg, rendering him barely in a position to stroll.
Regardless of further GP appointments and two visits to A&E, Zac’s mom stated he was by no means scanned. On September 18, 2024, Clare demanded a non-public ultrasound scan for Zac, as he was experiencing excruciating ache and had shed appreciable weight.
Following the scan outcomes, Zac was instantly admitted to Cheltenham Normal Hospital on September 23 for additional investigations. It wasn’t till September 27 {that a} advisor demanded a CT scan, she stated.
Clare stated: “The scan revealed the worst doable information that Zac had superior testicular most cancers, which had unfold to his lungs, liver and stomach. On the time we had been advised he had a 60 per cent likelihood of survival.”
Zac Summers-Cameron died from testicular most cancers in November 2025, aged simply 22 (Picture: Clare Summers-Taylor/SWNS)
Zac then endured 15 months of therapy, together with aggressive chemotherapy in Cheltenham, adopted by two rounds of high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell transplants at Bristol Royal Infirmary, however he tragically died on November 27, 2025.
Clare stated: “What Zac went by way of was horrific. The therapy, the fixed ache and the unwanted side effects had been terrible.
“For practically 4 months his signs had been consistent with testicular most cancers. The warning indicators had been there.” Testicular most cancers is essentially the most prevalent most cancers amongst youthful males within the UK, with roughly 2,400 circumstances yearly and 70 fatalities. Nevertheless, when detected early, the survival price is remarkably excessive. Clare is encouraging others to stay persistent and guarantee they bear thorough testing if they’ve any issues about signs.
She stated: “My recommendation for different individuals is ‘do not take no for a solution’. In case you have a lump, a swollen testicle or ache, make them examine it correctly and demand on a scan. Zac was seen by numerous medical professionals, however testicular most cancers wasn’t talked about.”
Previous to his passing, Zac was in a position to tick off a few of his bucket record by visiting Amsterdam together with his household to look at AFC Ajax play at their residence stadium. He was additionally a devoted sportsman and entrepreneur – having established his personal classic clothes enterprise known as Forty 4 Clothes, with 44 being his favorite quantity. Zac even organised a 44-clothing occasion simply two weeks earlier than he died, that includes DJs, meals, a bar and garments on the market, attended by his pals and family members.
Clare stated: “Everybody who loves Zac got here collectively to rejoice his life and spend time with him. It was so particular.”
Zac’s pals have been arranging a tribute occasion in his reminiscence known as ‘Zac’s 44 Legacy Memorial Match Charity Day’ at Outdated Patesians RFC in Cheltenham, which was scheduled to happen on April 4. The occasion was set to function a rugby match between Zac’s pals for the inaugural “Summers-Cameron Cup”, alongside dwell music, DJ units, raffles and auctions.
The occasion was elevating funds for Maggies Centres, a charity that offered very important assist to the household all through their ordeal. Clare remarked that Zac would have completely loved the event.
She added: “He can be the primary one on the dance flooring. We’re touched by the love proven by his pals and the area people.
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“We’re trying ahead to sharing our recollections of Zac and celebrating his life. It is simply so unhappy he cannot be there as a result of he would find it irresistible.
“He had such a vivid future forward of him and needed his family greater than something. All of us miss him a lot.”
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