NEW YORK, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – We all know about prostate cancer and how men of a certain age should be tested. But there is another type of reproductive cancer affecting younger men. Only problem is there is no test, but there are ways to prevent it from becoming fatal.
It is a journey to save the lives of young men. At just 26, Thomas Cantley was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer.
Cantley told Ivanhoe, "why me I had perfect health?"
Which is why he ignored the signs.
"I had a couple of symptoms where I had slight enlargement, there was slight discomfort" said Cantley.
That's a part of the problem. Since testicular cancer mostly affects men between the ages of 20 and 34─it's a disease young men often ignore.
Bernard Lewin, MD, Internal Medicine Specialist, said to "Look for any increase in size, note any tenderness when he feels the testicle or any lump that is there." But "The good news is that almost without exception it is curable."
That's why Thomas started an education movement called I Am Ballsy. He lost one testical to cancer and now he's documenting his journey of survival. Anyone touched by cancer of any kind is encouraged to sign the ball. He is raising awareness about a deadly disease that doesn't have to be.
Testicular cancer is a rare cancer. The American Cancer Society reports a little more than eight-thousand men will be diagnosed this year. Out of those diagnosed, nearly 400 young men will die.