Chris' Story: Take Your Health Into Your Own Hands
Chris Jones
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
As a university student, it never crossed Chris Jones’ mind that he’d have to worry about cancer. But at the age of 22, he was diagnosed with the most common cancer in young men: testicular cancer.
When Chris first noticed something felt off with his right testicle, he decided to go to a walk-in clinic. They told him everything looked okay, but that if things got worse or changed that he should come back right away. All Chris heard was “Things look okay!” and took that as his sign that he was good to go.
As time went on, Chris noticed that things were getting worse, the irregularity was growing in size. But he wasn’t ready to take it seriously. He dreaded going back to the doctor, as it felt so private, and was too embarrassed to let his parents know what was going on. Then COVID struck, and this served as the perfect reason to further delay that important visit to the doctor. Finally, Chris decided to call his doctor – this seemed like a less awkward option than in-person – and let them know that things had changed.
Within a week of this phone call Chris had a visit to the urologist, blood tests, and a CT Scan, ultimately learning that the irregularity in his right testicle was a cancerous tumour that had spread to his lymphatic system.
Now, on the other side of the diagnosis and treatment that included surgery and radiation, Chris is using his experience to raise awareness about testicular cancer and men’s health as a Mo Bro and Nuts & Bolts guide, encouraging young men to take care of themselves.
“There's a huge stigma around being a man, being vulnerable, admitting that something's wrong. So, that's why I am the guy that's up there standing on the podium saying, ‘Go check yourself,’ because it can happen to anybody.”
Learn more about testicular cancer and what’s normal at movember.com/KnowThyNuts
