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Alastair Munro: Removing 30% of my Penis Saved My Life – This is Why I Let The Surgery be Filmed
Alastair Munro is encouraging men to get checked out by a GP as soon as they see anything that doesn’t seem right
When Alastair Munro noticed a small lump on his penis was starting to get bigger he suspected he was dealing with something serious.
He put off going to the doctor for about six weeks but as soon as the GP saw him he was told it was likely to be cancer.
“It was quite a bold thing to say,” Alastair, 49, said. “I was shocked. He couldn’t say 100% but he thought it was cancer.
“A week later the urologist at Raigmore said the same thing. Then it was just the case of getting a biopsy.”
Three months after first noticing the lump, Alastair, a construction engineer from Inverness, received confirmation that it was penile cancer – a rare condition that only affects 80 to 90 men a year in Scotland and 700 across the UK.
This story contains graphic descriptions of surgery.
BBC/Dragonfly Film and TV Productions Surgeon CJ Shukla is standing with the large lights of an operating theatre behind him. He has a beard and is wearing surgical scrubs and dark glasses. He is looking into the camera. BBC/Dragonfly Film and TV Productions
Alastair credits surgeon CJ Shukla with saving his life
“I was pretty shocked but had been confident it was cancer,” he told BBC Scotland News.
“I’d never, ever heard of this kind of cancer before. Things moved pretty quickly after that.”
A CT scan confirmed that the cancer was spreading.
Alastair’s surgery was followed by a BBC camera crew and will feature on Wednesday’s episode of Surgeons: At The Edge of Life.
The complex procedure involved the removal of the tumour and 30% of Alastair’s penis in a seven-hour operation.
The cancer had spread to lymph nodes in Alastair’s groin, so they also had to be removed. His penis was then reconstructed using a skin graft from his thigh.
Six weeks later, Alastair, who is originally from Kingussie, had to go under the knife for a further three-and-a-half hours after results from the first surgery showed a small amount of tumour was still present.
There was a 50% chance that the cancer would spread to his pelvic area.
“They can’t actually tell if its cancerous until they get inside you,” he said. “What they actually do is cut away the cancerous nodes and check them straight away. They are basically just digging through you.
“They keep going until they find the end of the cancer. It sounds pretty primitive but that’s what they’re doing. It’s quite amazing really.”
Alastair then underwent a month of radiotherapy and was given the all-clear in February.
He can’t currently have sex or urinate properly because he has developed lymphedema as a complication of the surgery and radiotherapy. This involves swelling of the skin.
Alastair is likely to have reconstructive plastic surgery to improve this in about a year’s time.
He has been warned that there is a high chance the cancer will return within two years.
Raising awareness
Alastair found telling family members about the cancer hard, particularly as it was one many people hadn’t heard about.
But he also had to tell them his surgery was being filmed for a BBC documentary series.
“The whole purpose of it is to raise awareness of men’s cancer,” he said.
“If there’s one person out there who’s got something wrong with their penis but is too embarrassed to go to the doctor and he watches this programme and says ‘I’d better go to the doctor’, that’s basically the whole purpose of it.
“It’s so difficult to spot. There are very few symptoms. It could just be a wee spot on your penis.
“If anyone finds a lump or is having problems with erection or blood, just get checked out.”
BBC/Dragonfly Film and TV Productions Close-up shot of surgeon CJ Shukla’s face. He is wearing a surgical mask, scrubs and dark glasses and is staring into the camera. BBC/Dragonfly Film and TV Productions
Surgeon CJ Shukla works at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital, one of only two centres in Scotland that can treat very rare male cancers
Alastair’s lump was on the head of his penis. It wasn’t painful but grew, and at one point he noticed blood.
His surgery was carried out by Consultant Urological surgeon CJ Shukla at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital.
It is one of only two centres in Scotland able to treat very rare male cancers.
Alastair has already seen a preview of the programme.
“I must admit, I thought it was pretty gruesome to be perfectly honest,” he said. “You see in the programme that I have a major bleed. When I watched it I said ‘well nobody told me about that’.
“But my surgeon just said it was nothing, that it happens all the time.”
Despite the gory content, Alastair – who has been back at work for five-and-half months – admits he will probably watch his surgery again when the programme airs.
“I want to thank the surgeons and all the staff at the Western General in Edinburgh and the district nurses,” he said.
“The treatment I got was unbelievable. I can’t fault it at all. I can’t thank the NHS enough.
“Dr Shukla basically saved my life.”
‘Deeply personal’
Shukla, who has been a consultant for 14 years, said Scotland has the highest incidence of penile cancer in the UK.
“The projection is that by 2030 to 2040 it’s just going to go higher and higher so we need to be prepared to look after these patients well, ” he said.
“It’s typical for us to see patients who have sat on this for two or three months before they see doctors.”
He said many patients had never heard of penile cancer and that even with prostate cancer – where there is more awareness – men shy away from getting help due to embarrassment.
He said GPs can also misdiagnose the cancer as the yeast infection thrush, and it is not until weeks of treatment have passed that the patient is referred to hospital.
Even then, they are usually first sent to a local hospital before eventually getting access to one of the specialist centres.
“It’s important for men to act quickly,” Shukla said.
“The question is why are we higher than the rest of the UK?”
He said risk factors included smoking, obesity, hygiene and having human papillomavirus (HPV) – many of which could be linked to social deprivation.
But, he said, anyone could get the condition, no matter their age or social background. He believes Scotland needs more nurse practitioners and psychological support for sufferers.
This is the first time Shukla has featured in the TV series.
“For me, the driving force was to try and see if there would be patients willing to share their story and Alistair is pretty brave to put his story out there because it’s deeply personal,” he said.
“It’s about sharing his story so other men can benefit from this.”
Surgeons: At The Edge of Life will be broadcast on BBC Two at 21:00 on Wednesday, on BBC Scotland at 21:00 on Monday 11 May and is available after on BBC iPlayer.
Breaking News
Troops of JTF Arrest 6 Suspected Terrorist Logistics Suppliers in Borno
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested six suspected terrorist logistics suppliers during a road maintenance operation in Borno State.
The development was disclosed by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, in a post on his X handle.
Military sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday by troops of the 5 Brigade under Operation Desert Sanity.
The suspects were identified as Madu Bagoni Bunu, 32; Kaka Hana, 28; Kwado Bukar, 25; Modu Goni Musa, 28; Lahari Hassan Taira, 30; and Bulama M. Kiari, 25.
According to the sources, the suspects were travelling in an Isuzu pickup vehicle with registration number YOBE AF 106 GDM when they attempted to flee upon sighting troops.
“The suspects abandoned the vehicle and tried to escape, but were pursued and apprehended by the troops,” the sources said.
Items recovered from them included five mobile phones, comprising Redmi, Infinix, Tecno and Itel devices. as well as two new sewing machines.
Others were 10 bundles of assorted clothing materials suspected to be intended for the production of terrorist uniforms, five 25-litre containers of groundnut oil, and two sacks of different varieties of green tea.
Security personnel also recovered seven large wraps of kola nuts, an empty jerrycan, two ATM cards linked to OPay and Moniepoint accounts, the Isuzu pickup vehicle, and N5,077,700 in cash.
Military authorities said the suspects are currently in the custody of the 5 Brigade, where they are undergoing preliminary investigation.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics networks and cut off supplies to insurgent groups operating in the North-East.
The military added that the general security situation in the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and operational efficiency remain satisfactory.
Breaking News
2027: Nigerians Split as Obi, Kwankwaso NDC Move Sparks Debate Ahead of 2027
Nigerians are sharply divided over the political alignment involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), with reactions ranging from renewed hope to deep skepticism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development has triggered widespread debate across Nigeria and online, with citizens expressing mixed expectations about what the move means for opposition politics in the country.
While some Nigerians view the alignment as a potential breakthrough for opposition unity, others argue it reflects recurring instability within political coalitions.
At the centre of the development, Obi defended his decision, linking it to the worsening condition of the country.
“The condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria informed my decision to leave ADC for NDC,” he said.
He added that the decision followed deep reflection and was not driven by personal ambition.
“This decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation,” he said.
Obi also cited internal crises and legal battles within opposition parties as part of his reason for leaving, noting that, “I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises…”
However, reactions from Nigerians suggest the explanation has not settled the debate.
Some supporters across social media maintained that loyalty to Obi remains unchanged regardless of party platform.
“You don’t need to be in the same party with Peter Obi to vote for Peter Obi… All you need is your PVC,” NDC North Star wrote on X.
“From LP to ADC to NDC, the mission never change, rescue this country,” Tell Another Bro said.
Others questioned the consistency of repeated political movements.
“If you keep changing parties, what exactly are you building?” Teejay 2 asked.
“Leaving a party over ‘internal crisis’ sounds valid… but isn’t crisis part of Nigerian politics everywhere?” Odunayo wrote.
Some Nigerians were more direct in their criticism of leadership credibility.
“Someone that can’t rescue ordinary LP or ADC from crisis,” Pragmatic DB said.
“You are not in any position to rescue the country because you could not rescue a small Anambra State,” Teejay 2 added.
Concerns were also raised that the development could mirror the fragmentation witnessed during the 2023 elections.
“Na the same way una enter 2023 elections lose you wan enter 2027?” Biodun Adeyanju wrote.
Beyond individual criticism, some Nigerians pointed to deeper structural issues in the political system.
But others disagreed, arguing that political change in Nigeria is driven more by individuals than institutions.
Even within opposition circles, the debate continues.
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed questioned Obi’s decision to leave rather than fix internal challenges within the party.
“Someone who got the Labour Party’s ticket so easily should have stayed to fix the problem of the party no matter how difficult it is,” he said.
According to him, “If you are not ready to fight, stay in your house.”
Meanwhile, reactions also followed comments by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who reportedly described the ADC as a “dying party.”
Some Nigerians disagreed with the framing of the comment.
“Dismissing opposition as ‘dying’ only weakens democracy… Healthy competition is what drives real progress,” a Niger State indigene who spoke under anonymity said.
Others dismissed it as routine political rhetoric.
Reactions from other Nigerians, who spoke to DAILY POST, also reflected mixed expectations about the unfolding political alignment.
Kingsley Moses, an Abuja-based youth, said the development could reshape opposition strength if properly managed.
“Honestly, this Obi–Kwankwaso talk makes sense. If they combine structure and credibility, it can shake things. Obi has youth and middle-class support, Kwankwaso has northern grassroots. This might finally be the balance we’ve been talking about,” he stated.
In Kano, Mal Bello Hamidu urged caution, stressing the importance of structure and mutual agreement:
“Kwankwaso is not a small politician. He has his own movement. This idea of him ‘joining’ anyone is where the problem is. It has to be partnership, not absorption.”
In the South-East, a trader, Amadi Chigozirim said trust remains, but expectations are high.
According to him, “People in this part of the country still trust Obi, but we are also watching closely. We don’t want promises again, we want results. If this new arrangement can bring stability and development, we will support it.”
An APC supporter, Aminu Sani, Bauchi state, dismissed the excitement around the alignment,
“People are overhyping this. Politics is not Twitter trends. Elections are won with structures, not sentiments. Let them come together first, managing ambition alone will scatter everything,” he stated.
A trader at the Minna market in Niger State, Madam Mary said her concern remains the economy rather than political arrangements.
He said, “My own is simple: will it reduce food prices? These politicians will always join and separate. If Obi and Kwankwaso can make things better for ordinary people, we will support them. If not, na the same story.”
In Lagos, a commercial driver in Oshodi said political movements no longer influence his daily concerns.
“All these political movements don’t move me again. Whether Obi or Kwankwaso, what I want is just one thing , let fuel and transport be affordable. If they can fix that, fine. If not, it’s the same cycle every time,” he noted.
Overall, the reactions highlight a divided public opinion, with some Nigerians hopeful that the alignment could strengthen the opposition, while others remain doubtful about its durability.
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