He kept his sense of humor after beating testicular cancer and losing a testicle.
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For more than a year, “Mr. Ballsy” Thomas Cantley featured cancer survivors as part of his campaign of cancer prevention awareness, using #IamBallsy as the hashtag to unite cancer patients and survivors as he spread his positive message. Here is one of those stories.
I Let My T-Shirts Do The Talking, By Trevor Dyer
I am fortunate enough to call myself a testicular cancer survivor. I live in a small town in central Alberta.
I guess my journey starts like others that have been affected by this type of cancer.
I had abdominal pains like no other and lower back pain as well. This went on for approximately nine months before I was properly diagnosed. I was told beforehand that I had such things as heartburn, pulled groin muscle, hernia, acid reflux, etc.
In November 2010 I had gone to the ER almost nightly for about a week with severe abdominal pain. I finally got into see my family doctor and discussed with him a lump I had discovered in my left testicle. He examined me and an ultrasound appointment was made that day. That was November 23, 2010. That evening I got a call from my doctor (never got one of those before, must have been serious). An appointment with a urologist was made for me a couple days later, and during that appointment the “C” word came up, but I wasn’t sure if I had cancer or if it was just a possibility.
On November 26 I had an orchiectomy on my left testicle. I was now a “one baller,” and didn’t really know how to handle everything going on. I managed to keep my sense of humour during my hospital stay. My operation was on a Friday, and I got to stay the weekend, but had to move to the pediatric area of the hospital for the weekend. It was kind of cool for a 32 year old to be in the pediatric ward. A nice change for the nurses on that floor I am sure.
I got to go home on my 33rd birthday, the 29th of November.
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During my recovery in December I had researched what had gone through and what I was about to go through with the BEP Chemo treatments. I was astounded at my survival results being 97%. I had what they call Stage 2 “good risk” Non-Seminomatous germ cell cancer. CT Scans had also shown that I had 3 lymph nodes in my lower back had been infected as well (explaining the lower back pain).
I started my Chemo treatments December 28, 2010. What a ride I was in for. Nine weeks of treatments. I was very tired, lost all my hair, and appetite, but no weight. I had tremendous support from my wife, family and friends. It was tough being off work for six months financially, but we made it work.
All in all it wasn’t bad, but I don’t think I want to go through it again.
I had discovered a few forums on Facebook, one which I am a frequent visitor to called Global Testicular Cancer Awareness and Support Forum. I have made some great friends off this forum which I hope to meet one day in person.
Another great organization which happens to be in my backyard is the OneBall organization (www.oneball.ca). They are based out of Calgary, AB and have done tremendous work for testicular cancer. I have met the president (Jason Baker), and am very proud to say that from when I started growing my hair back, I didn’t cut it for over a year. I participated in the annual headshave fundraiser for Oneball. I was part of raising $40,000 for that year. There have been 4 annual headshaves; I have been to 3 of them. It is an awesome evening out, and a great way to spread awareness.
I have also been fortunate enough to meet the spokesperson for The Canadian Testicular Cancer Association, Mr. Peter Laneas. All I can say is–what a great guy and advocate.
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After going through my cancer journey I am now going on almost four years cancer free.
I try to talk about testicular cancer on a daily basis whether it is through humour or actually telling people what I went through in a general conversation.
I get a smile on my face and a sense of accomplishment when some of the guys I talk to come back to me and say, “Ya….I checked my nuts the other day and no lumps.”
We laugh about it, but I do tell them I am proud, and to spread it around to other guys.
I have a growing collection of T-shirts in which the subject matter is Testicular Cancer (as you can see in my awesome family photo).
I feel I spread more awareness through my t-shirts. They are great conversation starters.
When I was approached by Thomas/Ballsy to write this, I was honoured to help in his campaign.
One day, I will meet this great man and get his “I Am Ballsy” t-shirt.
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Photo: Thomas Cantley/Trevor Dyer
This essay first appeared on Mr. Ballsy’s 167 Days of Ballsy on Facebook.
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