sport news Inspiring rugby star Fenby on his recovery from cancer… and how he now wants ... trends now
As Andrew Fenby gets to the crunch point of his inspirational story of recovery from not only stage two cancer, but also the loss of his business, he briefly pauses to show a long scar down the centre of his stomach.
It tells you everything you need to know about what has been a tough 18 months for the 36-year-old.
'It's my crocodile bite, as my son Freddie refers to it,' Fenby tells Sportsmail.
Andrew Fenby with his children Freddie and Bertie during his recovery from cancer
Fenby's scar from the seven-hour op he had to remove cancer from his lymph nodes
'I first noticed a problem when I was putting Freddie into the car and he kicked me flush in my right testicle. I immediately felt something wasn't right and booked in to see the GP who suggested it was likely just a trauma and sent me away. But I should have trusted my instinct.
'I knew something wasn't right. Unfortunately, I lost nine weeks and in October 2020, I got a private scan and the consultant just gulped.
'He said it was very likely it was testicular cancer and we had to get moving.
'I had the right testicle removed almost immediately, but then I had a CT scan and that confirmed the cancer was stage two.
'It had gone from my testicle up to my abdomen and was in my lymph nodes.
'I'd had two months of chemotherapy in the December and January and had secured a new job, but then we had to go hunting for the lymph nodes.
'I was cut open and they took all my insides out.
'It was a big operation in June last year. I was out for seven hours, I think.'
After 12 seasons in professional rugby and 126 tries in 214 games, Fenby, from North Wales, retired in 2016. He had impressive stints at London Irish and Welsh side Scarlets as well as Newcastle.
He also briefly came out of retirement to play for Saracens on a short-term deal after their then wing Chris Ashton was handed a long ban for biting. He then moved on to a successful post-rugby career.
Fenby was thriving in the hustle and bustle of London's corporate world and had set-up his own rugby agency when, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, he was hit by a seismic double blow.
Fenby, pictured with his wife Henni, received lots of support from the rugby world
'I had a lot hit me at once. You don't expect that,' Fenby says. 'Covid decimated the rugby industry and I had to make the tough decision to close the agency.
'In the week I closed it, I then got my cancer diagnosis. As bad weeks go, that was up there.'
Fenby is matter-of-fact when reflecting on his remarkable journey, but the reality is not many would have had the strength he showed in the face of such adversity to not only survive, but thrive.
'I've now been able to reflect on what's happened in the last 18 months,' he says. 'I saw cancer as a fitness test I was going to crush. I wasn't going to let it beat me.
'I had a sportsman's mentality where I was so focused and single-minded. One year ago, my family and I were going through a very difficult time. We had just had a baby, I'd closed my company, and then I got the cancer diagnosis. That's tough in any situation, but in the depths of the pandemic we had to lockdown and stay extremely isolated while I went through my treatment.
'It was really tough. One of the only silver linings of Covid was we had temporarily moved from London back to my hometown in North Wales which meant we had the support of my parents.
'They were incredible during the whole year we ended up spending there and I'm so grateful to them for everything they did for us.
'We all got through it, but only now can I really see they were pretty dark times.
Fenby collects the Blyth Spirit Award at the Rugby Players' Association dinner earlier this year
'Now, 18 months on, the good times are back. I had my last scan three weeks ago and it was all clear. You can achieve anything in life if you want it or work hard enough'
On the field, Fenby excelled as a talented back with an
