22-year-old man died after doctors misdiagnosed cancer for infection
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
A 22-year-old passed away after he was misdiagnosed with an infection that was actually testicular cancer.
Zac Summers-Cameron passed away in November 2025 at the age of 22 after he discovered a painful and swollen testicle as well as pain in his abdomen.
Doctors initially put the symptoms down to an infection and Zac was treated with antibiotics.
However, nearly four months later and Zac, who was at the end of his first year at the University of West England in Bristol, was admitted to hospital where he discovered he had stage three testicular cancer.
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Zac's mum, Clare Summers-Taylor, 58, is now urging others to get checked if they have any concerns over changes within their body.
She said: "Zac lit up every room, he was so special. He was the life and soul of his friendship group and our family.
"We are absolutely devastated by his loss and cannot believe he isn’t coming back. It is especially sad to lose someone so young and we want to raise awareness.
"If only he had been scanned earlier and fully checked things could have turned out differently.
"We don’t want what happened to Zac to happen to anyone else."
Testicular cancer has a 96 percent survival rate if caught early. But despite numerous appointments and two stints in A&E, Zac was never scanned, despite being in intense pain.
In September 2024, Zac had a private ultrasound scan and was immediately admitted to hospital for further investigations and a CT scan.
"The scan revealed the worst possible news that Zac had advanced testicular cancer which had spread to his lungs, liver and abdomen," said Clare.
"At the time we were told he had a 60 per cent chance of survival."
Zac underwent 15 months of treatment, including chemotherapy and high dose chemotherapy with stem-cell transplants.
"What Zac went through was horrific," said Clare.
"The treatment, the constant pain and the side effects were awful.
"For nearly four months his symptoms were in keeping with testicular cancer.
"The warning signs were there.”
Clare explained that her advice to others is not to take no for an answer.
"My advice for other people is ‘don’t take no for an answer," she said.
"If you have a lump, a swollen testicle or pain - make them investigate it properly and insist on a scan.
"Zac was seen by various medical professionals, but testicular cancer wasn’t mentioned."
Zac was a keen sportsman and entrepreneur and following his death, his friends are organising an event called 'Zac's 44 Legacy Memorial Match Charity Day' at Old Patesians RFC in Cheltenham on 4 April.
There will be a rugby match as well as live music, DJ sets, raffles and auctions in order to raise money for the charity, Maggie's Centres.
Clare added: "We are looking forward to sharing our memories of Zac and celebrating his life.
"It's just so sad he can't be there because he would love it.
"He had such a bright future ahead of him and wanted his own family more than anything.
"We all miss him so much."
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