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.
By Josh Cooper
Why Am I Ballsy?
Considering I only have one these days, that makes for a good story. In September of 2012 life was going pretty good. I was a healthy and happy 24 year old that thought that nothing could bring me down. That month I began noticing my left testicle felt a bit heavy, pains from time to time, but didn’t look too much into it for a few weeks. Finally I had enough, and after terrifying myself via Google, I made the decision to get it looked at.
Having no health insurance, I went to an urgent care clinic and paid the money to be seen. I was told that I in fact didn’t have cancer, but epididymitis, a bacterial infection. I was given antibiotics and sent on my way. Over the next 2 weeks the pain got worse and the testicle was growing, almost twice the size of the other now. I called back and got an ultrasound done.
Later that day I received the phone call that would change my life. The doctor said the C word, and my vision blurred. I couldn’t hear anything else that he was saying. I never thought I would hear those words. I still remember that day, sitting in my car, I felt as if my world was crashing around me.
Over the next few days I met with a urologist, and was told I needed an orchiectomy, and that I would lose my left testicle. Due to financial issues my surgery was pushed back to October 10. That was the day that I was diagnosed with stage 1b seminoma testicular cancer.
In my following scans, it was revealed that the cancer had spread into the lymph nodes in my abdomen, so I now had stage 2a. I was told I was very lucky I caught it when I did, and that because it was pure seminoma, radiation would be done, and chemotherapy or RPLND wasn’t necessary. Shortly after Thanksgiving spent with family, I began the first of 17 radiation treatments, ending just before Christmas. I couldn’t believe it, the radiation worked.
January 30, 2013, I was told I was cancer free, ending what seemed like the longest few months of my life.
Cancer has changed me.
It has changed my outlook on life, and as many survivors can attest to, I am not the same person I was pre-cancer. I believe that I am a stronger person, a smarter person, and a better person. Throughout everything, having testicular cancer taught me the good in people. I was amazed at the support and love I received during my difficult times.
I have let go of the bad things in my life and moved on to wanting to do good, for myself and others.
◊♦◊
Here I am, (Ball)sy and almost a year out since I was told I was cancer-free.
My November scans showed no signs of cancer. Now my scans and bloodwork are being pushed from three to four months apart. Being proactive about what I felt in my body is what saved my life. I am committed to this cause and letting guys know to do monthly self exams, and not to be too proud or embarrassed about changes they may feel.
In the past year I have been lucky enough to volunteer for the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. (http://
I will always continue to work towards being a great advocate for this cause, because it saved my life, and it will many others.
My (Ball)sy story has just begun, and I look forward to where it will bring me in time.
Photo: Josh Cooper, with permission
This essay originally appeared on Facebook/Josh Cooper.
Read Mr. Ballsy every week here on The Good Men Project!