“I burst into tears. It was the dreaded ‘C word’.”

When Tom Hine was substituted for Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday, October 11 against Maldon & Tiptree, he had no idea of the dangerous path that lay ahead.

Fighting fit and only 23 years old, Hine had been an ever-present for Bowers in the first three months of the season.

But four months later he was attached to an IV drip at Broomfield Hospital, beginning the long and arduous journey of chemotherapy as he strived to overcome testicular cancer.

And Hine says he now views life in a different way, having come out the other side of his treatment and been given the all-clear by specialists - after he remarkably played 90 minutes in Bowers & Pitsea’s final game of the season on Saturday.

“I’d had a good pre-season but got a groin injury against Maldon,” said Hine, who is from Cold Norton. “It took three weeks to heal and I was in good shape so wasn’t sure what had caused it.

“Two weeks later I found the lump on my left testicle. I went to the doctors and they referred me for an ultrasound at the South Woodham Ferrers clinic.

“I had gone by myself as I didn’t expect to find much out but I was told by the nurse that I needed to be prepared for the worst. I didn’t know she was going to tell me that.

“I came out and burst into tears. It was the dreaded ‘C word’.

“You think ‘why me?’ I was a young fit lad that looked after himself. No-one in my family had ever had testicular cancer. I was in bits for a few days. I spoke to my parents and broke down in front of my boss.

“I got a letter that week saying Broomfield Hospital neurologists wanted to see me. Mum and Dad came with me and it was the eeriest place I have ever been to. Everyone knows why everyone else is there.

“I was told I would have to lose my left testicle as they needed to do a biopsy on it. They had found three lumps and were 99.9 per cent sure of what it was.

“It was hard to take. I put on a brave face on the day as I was with my mum but I kind of expected it.”

Echo:

Back in the fold - Tom Hine played 90 minutes on his return against AFC Hornchurch on Saturday

Hine was told he had two types of cancer - known as multifocal seminoma and embryonal carcinoma.

He was advised to bank his sperm as a precaution before having his pre-operation assessment, which he did in November.

Having never had an operation before, he admits he was ‘extremely nervous’ although his surgery went smoothly.

But Hine said waiting for the test results to come back over the festive period was incredibly traumatic, as he struggled to adapt to a less than physical lifestyle having returned to work on December 12.

“I wasn’t allowed to walk or lift after the operation and I was told to have two-and-a-half weeks of recovery,” said Hine, who works in sales for a logistics firm. “I saw Rob (Small - Bowers manager) and his family and a few other people the day after the operation and on Friday I was shattered.

“After that it was about waiting for the biopsy results, to see whether it was a malignant or benign cancer. I struggled to enjoy birthdays and Christmas and my mum and dad said the same.

“But at the start of January the chemo unit rung me and booked me up for a kidney test and lung function test to test what levels of chemo I could take.

“I had been told there was a 20 per cent chance of the cancer coming back if I didn’t do the chemo so it was a no-brainer for me.

“One form of the cancer was malignant but they caught it early. I started my chemo on February 8.

“I actually went down the gym before I started. I had put on a bit of weight and I wanted to see how my groin felt. I wanted my body to be in the best shape it could be to deal with the chemo.

“I arrived at 8.30am and for first three days I didn’t leave until 5pm. I had five sessions of BEP chemo - it was a short but quite aggressive form of treatment.

“I was attached to an IV drip and had my mum and best mate with me. It was weird but I got used to it and it was easier to talk to someone that was going through it or had gone through as no-one can compute how you would react.”

Echo:

Smile back on his face - Tom Hine after the match against AFC Hornchurch

Although reacting well to his treatment, one side-effect Hine had not prepared himself for was losing his hair.

Having got through the chemotherapy without his hair falling out, he admits the moment it came out was one of the most difficult of all.

“I had been told about the side effects and after my final session I still had my hair. I still wanted it as you can tell the difference between someone with a shaven head and someone who has had cancer.

“But on March 1 I was in the shower and my hair just started coming out in droves and that was one of the most horrible things to have ever happened to me. I looked like a cancer patient.

“I was balling my eyes out to my mum on the phone as I needed my head to be shaved. I wish I had done it sooner now.”

On March 7, Hine was told the chemotherapy had been a success, although would need to return for check-ups over the next decade.

And, having made his comeback for Bowers & Pitsea, he has encouraged everyone to stay vigilant in the fight against cancer as he gears up for next season.

“It is now about getting my life back on track,” he said. “I don’t want sympathy, just for people to be aware that this can happen to anyone.

“When you are young you think you are invincible and it was a huge reality check for me.

“I appreciate every moment now and so should everyone else. Just live for today.”

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Hine: My fear at Bowers return

TOM Hine admitted he was terrified ahead of his return to competitive action for Bowers & Pitsea in their final match of the season on Saturday.

Hine only finished his chemotherapy for testicular cancer at the end of February, but was now contemplating a return to first-team football before the end of the season.

And it wasn’t just another game - Bowers manager Rob Small termed the match against AFC Hornchurch as the ‘biggest in the club’s history’ as they attempted to reach the Ryman North play-offs.

Small asked Hine whether he was ready to play last Friday and, although doubting himself at first, Hine said the Bowers chief inspired a chance of heart.

“We had a few injuries and Smallsy needed players so asked me if I was available,” he said. “My first reaction was ‘are you mad?’ It was a huge game but he asked what I was worried about.

Echo:

Cramp - Tom Hine receives treatment on his Bowers return

“I told him I didn’t want to let the team down. But Rob said after everything I had been through the this was the last thing I had to worry about. So I thought ‘OK let’s do it’.

“I was very nervous before hand which was unusual. I am normally excited ahead of games but I was terrified this time. But once the match began I forgot about it.

“It was a happy release. It was strange playing without a hat as I wear one to work and at all other times but I forgot about it all.”

Hine had played a Sunday League match for his boss’ Sunday League side William De Ferrers at the end of March - the first time he had kicked a ball in seven months.

Echo:

March 2016 - Tom Hine playing in an FA Vase semi-final against Morpeth Town

He attended spinning and weight sessions, although admits he was worried he would not be able to reach his previous levels.

“I was worrying about competing as you don’t know how your body will react to the treatment,” he said. “The first few signs weren’t good. I was struggling at the gym but that was natural albeit frustrating.

“I just wanted to look like myself again.

“I played Sunday League first of all and then got back into training with Bowers. I did some one-on-one with (coach) Joe Corey. My lung capacity was a lot less but I desperately wanted my routine back.

“I wanted to work, play football and I still haven’t got that back yet.

“I won’t have six to eights weeks off like everyone else. I need to get my fitness back to be ready for pre-season.

“I can’t thank everyone at Bowers, and of course my parents, for everything they have done. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

Echo:

Joy - Tom Hine celebrates with his team-mates on Saturday

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Small lauds brave Tom after return

BOWERS & Pitsea manager Rob Small says Tom Hine showed ‘incredibly bravery’ after he made a swift return to football following his recovery from testicular cancer.

Hine played 90 minutes for Bowers in their final game of the season - a thumping 4-1 win at AFC Hornchurch - just two months after he completed an aggressive form of chemotherapy.

And Small said he couldn’t have been happier or prouder to see Hine in a Bowers shirt so soon after he had beaten the disease, while admitting he was shaking when he broke the news of the cancer to his team-mates.

“Tom had played almost every minute of every game until the Maldon & Tiptree game on October 11,” said Small.

“He picked up an injury at half-time and it kept him out for a few weeks. He was on the verge of coming back when he called me.

“He said he had something difficult to tell me and that he hadn’t told anyone except his parents so I thought something was up.

“He said he had found a lump in that area, that he had had it checked and that they had not ruled anything out and it could be the worst.

Echo:

Proud boss - Rob Small picked Tom Hine in Bowers’ final game of the season as he was ‘the best man for the job’

“I remember the day he sent me a text after he had had it confirmed. It was the weekend we played at Ware (November 19). He text me on the Friday and asked me to let the players know.

“He said it was unconfirmed whether he would need chemotherapy yet.
“I told the players after the game and it was a dressing room of shock. I was shaking as I told the players. I remember the looks on their faces.

“He is a much nicer person than I ever will be and I mean that, I am not just saying it.”

Hine is a player Small knows well, having signed him for Southminster St Leonards after spotting him as a 17-year-old.

He says he had no hesitation in bringing him to Bowers when he became manager in 2014, and said there was no sentiment when he asked him to play against Hornchurch.

“I knew he maybe wasn’t match fit but also knew he was naturally good enough to do a job,” he said.

“He was less sure. I asked him on Friday if I was asking too much of him but on Saturday I wanted to start him and he was ready. All he was concerned about was letting his team-mates down.

“I said to him, ‘the last thing you ever need to worry about is football. It is just a game and you should have no fear about doing anything in life.’

“He played the game like he had been there all season. It was not a friendly and he played 90 minutes. You could see the determination on his face.

“I am devastated we fell short in terms of the play-offs but what he achieved in a game of that magnitude showed incredible bravery and ability.
“I trust him, that’s why I played him. I wasn’t picking him for him, I picked him because he was the best man for the job and we needed him.

“What Tom has been through has moved and affected everyone. I can’t speak highly enough about him.”

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Players stand united with pal Hine throughout cancer

BOWERS & Pitsea and the football community have rallied around Tom Hine throughout his cancer and subsequent treatment.

Using the hashtag #TH7 on Twitter, the team have shown their support for the winger.

Here are some of the messages following Saturday’s win at AFC Hornchurch.

Luke Wilson: An unbelievable season, would have been great to nick it but there was nothing better seeing our #TH7 back on the pitch

Julian Simon-Parson: Pleased my man Tom Hine is back playing! #TH7

Joe Corey: You can put all the results aside today, the real result was seeing Tom Hine back in a @Bowerspitseafc shirt. Proud of you Tom. #TH7

Denise Hilton: Well done #TH7 @Bowerspitseafc always a great player so pleased for you good luck for the future

Simon King: Buzzing to hear #TH7 made his return today. 90 mins as well!

Wayne Franklin: Thank you to all the players for your hard work and dedication over this season. Forget the result #th7 being on the pitch again ‘nuff said !!

Lewis Manor: So happy to see my man Tom Hine back on the pitch after everything. Proper proud #TH7

Echo:

Support - Lewis Manor supports his friend and team-mate