BEING told you have cancer can be a terrifying ordeal.

But Dale Harris is drawing strength from his own little soldier, his daughter Mya.

The nine-year-old has spina bifida, and has had countless operations at the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Over the years she and her father have become the unofficial ‘faces of fundraising’ for the hospital where she has received all her care.

Now, in a cruel twist of fate, Mr Harris, from Cowley, has himself been diagnosed with a life changing condition – testicular cancer.

The father-of-three said: “I’ve checked myself regularly since a friend of mine was diagnosed with it.

“I noticed a lump, but being a bloke I put it off for a few weeks. I have since had an operation.

“Going through that made me realise how much Mya has been through since day one.

“She goes through those feelings every time she goes in for an operation.

“Mya has been giving me advice, saying ‘oh they will do this, and you will feel this’.

“She has been a huge support. She is a little old pro.”

Mr Harris has been by his daughter’s side as she undergone several complex operations.

The inseparable pair have helped launch every single Oxford Mail OX5 run – an event which has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for vital equipment for the Oxford Children’s Hospital – with dad Dale running and Mya on the sideline cheering him on.

The 30-year-old, from Cowley, is now waiting to hear whether he requires any more treatment.

But he will continue to raise money for the hospital that has not just saved his daughter’s life, but now his too.

Fewer than 100 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in Oxfordshire each year.

It tends to strike men aged between 20 and 30.

Mr Harris has urged others to check themselves regularly, and to act soon if they find anything.

He said: “People are scared to talk about it.

“The quicker it is caught, the better your chances are.”

Paula Jackson, of Oxfordshire’s public health team, added: “Cancer is easier to treat when diagnosed early which is why it is important for men to check their testicles regularly. Regular self-examination will help you become more aware of the normal feel and size of your testicles so that any abnormalities can be spotted early on.

“If you notice anything unusual, go and see your GP as soon as you can.

“Good advice on how to check your testicles effectively can be found online at nhs.uk/conditions”