I had my penis amputated after my cancer diagnosis - it was hell and mental torture because you lose all your confidence, your masculinity and your identity

A man who was diagnosed with a rare form of penile cancer before having his penis fully amputated has urged other men to look out for the warning signs - after the condition left him in 'mental torture'.

During Thursday's episode of ITV's This Morning, Craig Mycock, from Stockport, opened up about his 'hellish' experience.

He told presenters, Rylan Clark-Neal and Josie Gibson, that he had braved appearing on national television in the hopes that he could encourage other men to watch out for the warning signs of the condition. 

Each year, 700 men are diagnosed with penile cancer in the UK.

Craig had no idea he had cancer in 2018 when he went to the doctor for an unrelated procedure to check on his bladder.

During Thursday's episode of ITV 's This Morning, Craig Mycock (pictured), from Stockport, opened up about his 'hellish' experience 

During the procedure, the nurse spotted an unusual freckle on the end of his penis that concerned her so much that she had to call in a doctor for a second opinion.

Craig, who is a bus driver, was horrified when doctors informed him that he was suffering with an aggressive form of cancer and he’d need to have a full amputation immediately. 

He had no idea that the mark on his penis was anything to be concerned about. 'It wasn't itchy or painful, I just thought that it was something that was there so I'd just ignored it up until then,' he explained.

Craig was sent to the Christie hospital in Manchester, known for treating cancer. He remembered being terrified when he knew he was being sent there.

'When you hear Christie's, your heart just sinks,' he shared, recalling other family member's experiences with cancer in the same hospital.

Craig was then given a biopsy and two weeks later, he told it was an aggressive, fast-growing cancer and they'd need to remove part of his penis. 

At this stage, Craig said he was 'concerned by not too concerned. I thought it would be okay to carry on my life.'

When he arrived at Christie's hospital for the operation, he was told the cancer had spread. After further testing, he was told the cancer had accelerated and he would need an operation to remove the penis completely.

Craig appeared on the show next to his wife, Colette, who he credits to surviving the experience. The couple have been together for 33-years-old 

Because of lockdown at the time, he had to attend these appointments alone. 'I couldn't have anybody with me which affected me a lot but you had to grin and bear it,' he said. 

When Rylan asked Craig what it felt like to know he would lose his penis, he described the experience as simply 'hell'. 'You lose all your confidence, your masculinity, your identity really,' he explained.

He went on to say he would never have recovered mentally if it weren't for his partner of 33-years, Colette Daniels, and his family.

Craig then opened up about the extremely challenging emotions his diagnosis brought out, that led him to attempt to take his own life.

Sharing her side of things, Colette said: 'The mental health side of it was the most difficult for me because seeing Craig go from a man's man and a joker to someone who sat in a chair and didn't speak for days, and never went out. 

'If he went out and saw someone he'd run away, that hurt me more to see him shrivel up into a shell of nothing. Craig to me, is the bravest man on this earth,' she said. 

Colette said she was initially surprised that Craig had wanted to share his experience, but was proud that her partner was sharing for the sake of helping others.

Though the amputation was successful, Craig said he still experiences a lot of pain around the site of the surgery and sometimes find the agony 'unbearable'. 

Amid the physical paid, Craig said the experience was 'mental torture'.

'It took me as far as it possibly could and at one point I broke and I did the stupid thing of trying to take my own life but that's part of my story and I've come out the best side of it,' he shared. 'Penile cancer is there and not many people know about it,' he said.

Craig (pictured on This Morning) had no idea he had cancer in 2018 when he went to the doctor for an unrelated procedure to check on his bladder 

Dr Nighat appeared on the show to give her advice on how men can check themselves for the first signs of penile cancer.

She said that penile cancer is fortunately rare, only affecting 700 men a year, less than one per cent of new cancers. She noted that prostate cancer, which is much more common, still faces 'a lot of stigma and taboo'.

She said: 'As a GP, I get patients who have come in after all my treatment with the aftermath and it's the mental toll that it takes because you can feel very very alone.'

Dr Nighat acknowledged Craig's challenging diagnosis that had taken place during lockdown, when he had to face the news of the cancer when he was alone. 

She encouraged men to look out for a number of warning signs to get checked, saying men should look out for: 'Any skin changes - we say persistent changes - meaning over four weeks, any irritation, any rash. A discharge as well isn't normal or any blood.

'It's really important then to go a little further from the genitals and look in the groin area because you can get lumps in the groin. Just like we would say for breast to look under the armpit and the neck, look under the groin.'

Dr Nighat also encouraged men to look out for 'red flag' signs such as unintentional weight loss, bowel symptoms, you just feel really tired, bone pain, they are really sinister symptoms.'

In light of such symptoms, Dr Nighat urged individuals to 'come and see us'. 

Penile cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in men over 50, though she urged people to make sure they are still being checked regardless. Smokers also have an increased likelihood of developing cancer. 

'The most important thing is being aware of it and please don't be embarrassed to come and have that conversation with a doctor,' she urged in conclusion.

For help and support contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org