It's hard to say the exact date when a process begins, but I guess this is as good a day as any other. Today is as close as it comes to a five-year anniversary of when I found out that I had testicular cancer, which had metastasized to my lymph nodes before we caught it. Those interested can find the story, in its essentials, here.
So anyway, this isn't about me asking for attention or love or nothing like that. This is a PSA, my heartfelt plea that you do that self-exam thing that you're supposed to. It's insanely easy: gentlemen, when you are in the shower, just spend a little bit of time feeling your testicles, rolling them between your finger and thumb - gently, of course, they're not golf balls. It's not hard to tell if something is there; indeed, it is heart-stoppingly obvious. You've already got your hand just a couple of inches up from there - don't lie, I'm a man too, I know how it goes in a hot shower - and what's the ten seconds out of your busy life?
And ladies, do the same. I mean, not the "same", but you know... I don't have breasts, so I'll have to flip this one over to the American Cancer Society. Anyway, same deal: it's a minute that could save your life. So do it.
Remember, folks, you're never too young. I was 23. It still gives me pause to think about how easy it would have been to miss 24. Forgive me for being morbid, but this is important stuff.
29 January 2010
6 comments:
Just a few rules so that everybody can have fun: ad hominem attacks on the blogger are fair; ad hominem attacks on other commenters will be deleted. And I will absolutely not stand for anything that is, in my judgment, demeaning, insulting or hateful to any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. And though I won't insist on keeping politics out, let's think long and hard before we say anything particularly inflammatory.
Also, sorry about the whole "must be a registered user" thing, but I do deeply hate to get spam, and I refuse to take on the totalitarian mantle of moderating comments, and I am much too lazy to try to migrate over to a better comments system than the one that comes pre-loaded with Blogger.
There's so much cancer in my family that we invite cancer to Thanksgiving dinner. When I was a kid I wasn't afraid of the boogieman in my closet, I was afraid of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity in my closet. I'm nineteen and I already know my kids are going to be screwed.
ReplyDeleteI roll my eyes when I see these sorts of ads on TV or something (maybe I'm just a brash, punk teenager), but coming from someone who's been there, I tend to stop and think. Glad you aren't dead. Who would let me on their blogroll?
I love how you are funny even when giving PSAs about testicular cancer.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it is kind of scary hearing you were 23 when I've been like, "Whatevs, I'm 21, I don't need to worry about cancer, I don't need to grope myself."
Aw hell dude, well, I'll still congratulate you!
ReplyDeleteCancer is a serious thing and I'm glad that you caught it in it's infancy.
Mr. Tim, though you may not want or ask it I thank you for speaking about your cancer and urging all of us to check ourselves. I haven't been as diligent as I should be, but will work on it. Early detection is vital against disease and on a personal note (without sounding too mushy) I'm glad you're here with us--even when I so disagree with your views I want to smack you upside the head and say, "What were YOU watching?".
ReplyDeleteAlthough our worlviews differ, for what it's worth, God Bless You, Tim Brayton.
Even though I'd rather avoid a heavily spiritual/political discussion, this is a rather personal post, so I'd like to say that I'm pleased not only to hear that you made such an excellent recovery, but that you also suffered from something so life-threatening for countless individuals, enduring perhaps moments of doubt and certainly surgeries before recovery was near...yet, despite all of this, you still hold skeptical convictions and did not let your worries shake your viewpoints concerning the nonexistence of deities that other beings worship. You're a true answer to the "no atheist in foxholes" nonsense, sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everybody who commented, and who e-mailed, for offering your well-wishes; but even better is hearing how many of you have pledged to perform self-exams as a result of this post. At last I can be certain I've done something worthwhile with my bully pulpit.
ReplyDelete