'Friends don't recognise me': shock diagnosis rocks Canberra sports star

Duke Didier was in the middle of a brutal competition season, ignoring the nagging ache and swelling in his groin to battle through some big trials on the Gold Coast.

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He blocked out the pain to continue competing in the sport he's done since he was eight.

Canberra MMA star Duke Didier has opened up on his battle with testicular cancer. Pictures by Keegan Carroll

Two days later, the Canberra MMA star was sitting in hospital being told he had cancer.

"You hear the word [cancer] and you fear the worse," Didier told The Canberra Times.

"There's a lot of time you're left with your own thoughts."

On Sunday, June 21, Didier was doing the thing he loved.

He was competing in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Asia and Oceania trials, where he made the bronze medal match.

Having gone to get checked out with what he thought was a muscle issue, he was told on Tuesday night he had cancer.

On Wednesday, he had surgery.

It was a whirlwind three days for the 37-year-old, where he went from the high of competing to a "big valley".

On top of that, then came the uncertainty of chemotherapy.

For the past four months, Didier has kept his cancer battle private, with only his family and close friends aware of what he was going through.

But now he's opened up, hoping he can help others going through a similar ordeal.

Anyone who needs someone to talk to knows where to find him - at his Progression MMA and Fitness gym in Tuggeranong.

It was the mental battle Didier found the hardest.

While the chemo made him feel sick, it was the uncertainty and worry that troubled him the most.

He only had to look in the mirror to know what he was going through.

Didier's trademark beard and mullet were gone.

Even his friends didn't recognise him.

"Chemo wasn't too bad. I had a bit of nausea at night time," Didier said.

"I was really dreading chemo. I spent a lot of time dealing with that. In the end I got through the chemo.

"The chemo is more of a mental thing - especially changing my appearance.

Didier has urged anyone going through cancer to speak to someone. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"My friends will walk straight past me and not recognise me.

"It'll be nice to be able to get some hair back.

"It was the not knowing what was next each day and not knowing how I was going to react.

"The fear of the unknown ended up being probably worse than the actual treatment at certain stages.

"If this is as worse as it is - no hair and no beard for a bit - I'm very lucky."

A visit to Canberra Hospital's cancer ward gave him a valuable reality check - and also a more positive outlook.

He said the staff were fantastic, but it was the other patients he talked to who were the real inspiration.

Most of them were doing it much tougher than he was, but they still had a smile on their face.

Didier came away from the Canberra Hospital cancer ward with a fresh perspective. PIcture by Keegan Carroll

It added a new perspective to his saying, "Chin to chest and keep on swinging."

"They were fantastic at the cancer ward there at Canberra Hospital," Didier said.

"Just the positivity from the staff and even the other patients, the positivity in the room, you could really sense that there was a lot of hope.

"It gave me a lot of gratitude that hopefully I won't be having to experience this again.

"People are going through it so much worse and they're still smiling up there.

"You're just grateful for every day because life's short and you don't know what's around the corner."

Now Didier's set his sights on getting "back on the mats".

He's got a check-up in January and he slowly wants to build up his fitness to a point where he can compete again.

But he also wants to help.

He's already had one seminar at his gym for Rise Above, which raises funds to help people with cancer, with more to come.

Didier also urges anyone who's struggling to reach out for support from those around them - and even reach out to him.

He was super grateful for the support from his family and fiancee Alex.

"One hundred per cent it is [the goal to compete again]," Didier said.

"It's a big part [of me]. I've been doing this since I was eight. I don't know anything else.

"It's nothing new to deal with a bit of adversity.

"Once I'm back on the mats and competing I'll feel like it's all behind me."

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