by Brittney Parks

For the month of September, we launched our men’s health awareness campaign throughout the province. We are encouraging men to have a game plan because these cancers can have positive outcomes if detected and treated early. The focus is on three cancers below the waist; prostate, colorectal and testicular, because these three cancers alone account for more that 40 per cent of all new cancer cases in men.

Here are a few steps for your “Game Plan”?
• Know your body
• Watch for warning signs and symptoms
• Check your equipment
• Talk to your Dr. about whether screening is appropriate

Canadian Cancer Society staff and volunteers were spreading the “What’s Your Game Plan?” message at varsity events, fundraisers, throughout university communities and at the Union of BC Municipalities 2011 Convention.

Here are a few photo highlights…

University of Victoria Undie Run

Canadian Cancer Society with Mayor Richard Stewart of Coquitlam at the UBCM 2011 Convention

Jay Majkowski of the Sports Zone, City of Cranbrook Mayor Scott Manjak, Councillor Bob Whetham, the Kootenay Ice Director of Sales Geoff Davidson and Kootenay ice players John Neibrandt and Joe Antilla joined the Canadian Cancer Society

For more photo visit us on at facebook.com/CanadianCancerSocietyBCY

What’s next for us?

Women’s health!

For the month of October the Canadian Cancer Society’s will be launching its women’s health awareness campaign!

More highlights to come…

In the back of my mind, I suspected I had cancer. Close to a year passed, and I did nothing about it. Fear and denial kept me from admitting to myself something was wrong.

Ultimately, I required surgery and chemotherapy and recovered fully.

In hindsight, I was extremely fortunate. I should have taken action immediately.

In the shower one day, I noticed that my left testicle didn’t feel the same as my right one anymore. It was becoming hard to the touch instead of soft and grape-like. For months, the change from soft to hard continued but it was so gradual I convinced myself it was nothing to worry about. Every once in a while, the words “testicular cancer” would pop into my brain but I would quickly push them out again. Eventually, I forgot about my concerns almost completely.

Then, one night after a hot shower, I felt an actual lump. My reaction was disbelief but I also knew I had a serious problem. Still, I didn’t go to see my doctor because I was on the verge of leaving for a week-long trip. I promised myself I’d make an appointment when I got back home.

A week after my medical exam, I got confirmation – I was told I had testicular cancer and was already booked for surgery that night. My testicle was removed, which was difficult to accept. But, my overwhelming emotion was relief.

Subsequent testing revealed my cancer was of the rare choriocarcinoma variety and my oncologist advised me that if I didn’t undergo chemotherapy treatment, I had a 50/50 chance of cancer returning somewhere else in my body. If I did have chemotherapy, he said I could be 99 per cent certain of avoiding future problems.

So, my decision was an easy one to make and I spent the rest of that summer in treatment. The chemotherapy drugs made me terribly sick but, with the support of family and friends, I got through the ordeal. I have been cancer-free ever since – more than 16 years now – and am the proud father of two kids.

My advice? Check yourself regularly when you are in the shower or bathtub and pay attention to any changes in your testicles. With early detection and intervention, testicular cancer has a high cure rate. Don’t leave your future to luck, like I did.

Jason Peters