Our young goalkeeper Dan Barden gave an interview to our matchday programme OTBC over the festive period as he continues his recovery from being diagnosed with testicular cancer in October.
Dan, at the age of 20, played a crucial part in the Championship title winning season last campaign when he stepped in goal to play league matches against Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City, as the Canaries picked up four points from those two games, as well as an FA Cup third round victory over Coventry City.
This year, while furthering his development on loan at Scottish Premierships side Livingston, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Having detected the cancer early, the prognosis was good and now, after nine weeks of chemotherapy, Dan will await results of a further scan before turning his attentions back on a return to the game he loves.
Dan spoke to the club to talk about his journey, the importance of getting checked and acting quickly and the support he has received from family, friends and the football community. His full interview is below.
canaries.co.uk: Hello Dan. How are you feeling?
DB: All things considered and although it’s been a tough few months dealing with surgery and then chemotherapy, pretty good thanks!
It's gotten a little easier dealing with the treatment as I’ve learnt what’s happening as I’ve worked through the cycles, and I am now wrapping up the last week. Looking back on everything that has happened, I feel more at ease and relaxed.
canaries.co.uk: You were diagnosed with testicular cancer in October. Thankfully, it was caught very early. Can you just run us through that diagnosis and what you were feeling at the time?
DB: It was a really quick turnaround from me finding what I can only describe as a hard, pea-sized lump in early September to getting the diagnosis that it was most likely a tumour a few weeks later. That news was really quite a shock, and every thought imaginable went through my head.
Initially I thought it would be nothing more than a cyst but when I was told it was a tumour and I would need surgery, there’s not much that can prepare you for that. The club arranged all the medical care and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been treated at the Royal Marsden in London. One of the important things I’ve been told numerous times is that I caught this about as early as was possible, which is hugely important in terms of prognosis.
canaries.co.uk: You have undergone treatment for the cancer and, as you said, you are now in the last week of that. Can you tell us about that process?
DB: I had surgery to remove the tumour which was the first stage of the treatment which was only five days after seeing a specialist. After the surgery I was told a PET scan had found a small amount of the cancer had spread and would need further treatment. Hearing that news was incredibly hard as in my head I was already planning to be back at Livingston for the end of November and playing again.
It was then decided that chemotherapy would be the best treatment to deal with the spread. Each cycle is divided into three weeks, week one is a five-day course in hospital followed by one session each week for the next two weeks. It was recommended I do three cycles for the best possible outcome which is cure. The week in the hospital is pretty intense, but it got a bit easier when I was back at home with my family. It has been quite a long period, but I am in my ninth week now, so I am pretty much finished.
canaries.co.uk: You have received a lot of support and help from friends and family, but I just want to first of all touch on the medical departments both at Norwich City and Livingston FC and everyone at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Can you tell us about the care and support you have received from these medical departments and how much that has helped you?
DB: Everyone has been brilliant. Firstly Livingston, for how quick they acted after I first flagged it with them that I had found something. I saw the club doctor and a scan was arranged between Norwich and Livingston for an ultrasound assessment. Then once we had the results from the scan, I was booked in at the Royal Marsden in Fulham.
Both football departments have kept in close contact with the hospital throughout the treatment. At Norwich, Nick (Wilford, Norwich City club doctor) and Damien Bowyer, who I have worked with quite closely, have been incredibly supportive. I know Nick was the one who decided that I should be treated at the Royal Marsden.
The Royal Marsden have been unbelievable as well. The treatment I have received and also knowing I’m in world-class care, has mentally and emotionally been a huge comfort. All the staff and nurses have been brilliant, they have made the whole process a lot easier for me. I didn’t really understand everything going into it, but they have made it as straightforward as they can.
They are professionals and experts in their fields, and I am so thankful for how they have supported me from the very first consultation. My oncologist professor (Robert) Huddart has been great helping me through the treatment and explaining any questions I had as well as reassuring me through the process as has my surgeon professor (David) Nicol, who dealt with me in the first couple of weeks especially with the diagnosis and the surgery, explaining it is very similar to a hernia operation but less invasive. As hernias are fairly common in football, and knowing the club’s medical team deal with these, that small piece of information and assurance lifted a load off me.
I'd also like to say a massive thank you to all the nurses and staff who work at the Royal Marsden. The job they do is unbelievable and I can’t thank them enough for the treatment and care I received while I’ve been in hospital. It’s made the whole process a lot easier for me and my family.
canaries.co.uk: Moving onto the players and staff at Norwich. They all wore jerseys at Chelsea, which had a message of support for you. How has that support, from the players and staff at Norwich, helped you? And how often have you been in contact with the likes of Neil Adams, Stuart Webber, and the players at the Lotus Training Centre?
DB: Well, initially, there was a period where I wasn’t too sure what was going on and at that point none of the players knew but once Norwich told all the first team players, I received loads of messages, wishing me the best and saying that if I needed anything just to ask. That was really nice, and it made such a difference knowing that they were there to support me. Then seeing the warm-up shirts at the Chelsea game, was a bit emotional. I was at home with my family when I saw it on the TV. It was such a nice gesture and it really did help, seeing it front and centre on the TV. It was mad. I really, really appreciated it.
Stuart (Webber) and Neil (Adams) have been really supportive through the whole treatment as well. They have been messaging frequently and talking to my parents, wanting to know how I have been getting on, but also keen to see me as well. A few weeks back I went into Colney to see Neil and Stuart as well as staff in the academy. They just said: ‘take your time with the recovery... the club will always be here to support you in getting back to playing’. Hearing that was just so reassuring, my long-term health is obviously the number one concern but the career I want is a very close second.
I also had wonderful messages from Delia Smith, Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke. It’s hard to describe what that meant at a time when I was so uncertain about the medical outcome and my place in football, given how quickly everything changed. To have such personal and reassuring messages from them shows just how much of a family the club is and how much care and attention there is behind the scenes.
canaries.co.uk: We know goalkeepers are a tight-knit group and we saw a wonderful video message from goalkeepers across the Premier League giving you their support. How much did those messages - from the likes of Ben Foster, Dean Henderson and others - mean to you?
DB: I have had so many messages. Tim (Krul) has been in contact with me quite frequently checking how I’ve been getting on and Micky (Michael McGovern) as well. They were a massive help to me last year, in the season we had, and they have been in contact throughout the treatment. I know people joke about the GK union, but the video (from Premier League goalkeepers) really shows how strong a union it is, and it was massively appreciated. Just seeing everyone come together and put their support behind me has definitely helped getting me through the tougher points in the treatment.
canaries.co.uk: I also wanted to ask about your family. Their strength of character is always crucial in times like these. How much have they helped you over the last few months?
DB: Yes, my family have been great. The initial diagnosis was, obviously, a shock to everyone. It has been nice to be able to do this treatment while being at home with them. My dad has been coming with me to all my appointments and my mum has been coming to visit me in hospital. They have been with me, by my side, through the whole thing. When I go into hospital, they spend the whole week with me there and that helps me get through those tough weeks.
It is nice being able to spend time with my parents and sister, whether going for walks or time around the dinner table because normally, with football, I wouldn’t be able to do that as I would be away at Norwich and they are in London. So being able to spend this time with them has been positive from everything that’s happened.
canaries.co.uk: You are still a very young goalkeeper, at the age of 20, but have already helped Norwich City to the title last season with a couple of big performances in crucial Championship matches, and represented Wales at under-21 level as well. How much does that success you have already had in the game spur you on in this current challenge of getting back to football?
DB: Yes, how I rehab and work my way back to fitness and back between the sticks has always been in my mind throughout. It has been a tough period, physically dealing with the chemo but also mentally. The doubts and worries that go with professional football don’t go away especially as this is all I’ve really focused on since I was six or seven years old. It is tough to know at the minute when that will be because I will have a scan at the end of this month (December), and I will be waiting on the results from that. I am still not 100 per cent sure what the time frame is, but they are looking at the back end of this season and the start of next season.
In terms of my career so far, the success last year was brilliant. For a first season in the first team, I don’t think you can ask for a much better one. I really enjoyed the games I played in last year, and it was really special to be involved in that December/January period. This year obviously hasn’t gone as I would have planned but once I make the full recovery, which I know I will, I can get back out there playing and doing what I love.