Sam Docherty’s Journey with Testicular Cancer
Sam Docherty was at the peak of his career as a professional Australian Football League (AFL) player when he faced a life-changing health issue. The former Carlton co-captain made an unexpected discovery while staying at a Gold Coast hotel in late 2020.
“I was feeling around, as you do as a bloke, and noticed that there was a hard bit above my testicle,” he recalled. At the time, he was a healthy 27-year-old, but this small lump would soon change the course of his life.
Two weeks later, Docherty found himself on the operating table undergoing surgery for stage two testicular cancer. “It was a pretty crazy turn of events,” he said. “You hear the word ‘cancer’ and you just think: ‘I’m in a world of hurt’.”
Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers among men under 40 in Australia. In 2025, it was estimated that around 1,040 Australians were diagnosed with the condition, with nearly 40 people losing their lives to it that year. The average age of diagnosis is around 36. While highly treatable if detected early, it can become more dangerous if left unchecked.
Dr Weranja Ranasinghe, a genitourinary oncology specialist, explained that early detection often means treatment can be completed with surgery alone. However, if the cancer spreads beyond the testicle, it may travel to other parts of the body, requiring more complex treatments like chemotherapy.
In Docherty’s case, the cancer had already spread to the epididymis — the coiled tube above the testicles — by the time it was identified. Despite immediate surgery, further testing revealed that the cancer had spread throughout his body within a year of the operation.
This led to multiple rounds of chemotherapy, which Docherty described as feeling like being hungover without any relief. Despite the challenges, he managed to return to the AFL field within months of finishing his final round of chemotherapy in November 2021.
“I ran on for round one and had almost my best year of footy after that,” he said. “It was a pretty crazy experience.”
April is designated as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, aiming to encourage young men to perform regular self-checks. This involves checking for lumps, swelling, pain, or hardness on the testicles using a thumb and forefinger. It is recommended to do this regularly, ideally after a warm bath or shower.
“There’s nothing overly comfortable about getting checked, but the earlier you catch these things, the more treatable it becomes,” Docherty emphasized. “The most uncomfortable news you could get is that it’s too late.”
Since retiring from the AFL in 2025 after playing 184 games, Docherty has continued to raise awareness about cancer and serves on the board of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation. His story highlights the importance of early detection and regular self-checks, especially for men who may not always prioritize their health.
