Never Give Up on Testicular Cancer
Joyce Lofstrom, MS, APR, Fellow PRSA
Owner and Principal at Joyce Lofstrom & Associates
If you follow me at all on LinkedIn or Twitter or know me through my personal or professional life, you know I share news about #testicularcancer.
April 30 is the last day of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month where people across the globe have shared stories, some of survival and some not, about this disease. My interest in this topic began with the death of my son Max Mallory in 2016 at age 22. He had advanced testicular cancer when we discovered it. He lived for seven months and hoped, and planned to survive. He didn’t.
I am astonished still, now almost six years later, how much and how little has been done to raise awareness about testicular cancer.
How much
How little
And for my family
My comments are not to blame, even though the ‘how little’ list sounds like it. I am a parent who didn’t follow up with pediatricians to ask them to check Max for his undescended testicle.
No doctor ever asked about it on annual checkups. We didn’t worry since we were told by a pediatrician and pediatric surgeon that Max never had a second testicle. Ok, it wasn’t there when they looked. But it was there.
The cancer conversation
Women began to check their breasts for lumps when other women did and talked about their cancer. Women died from breast cancer and asked their surviving relatives to help raise awareness of the disease so that other women wouldn’t suffer the pain and ultimate death that they did.
Cancer treatments have improved for many cancers, including testicular cancer. But, as the death of my son indicates, the treatments didn’t work for him. We didn’t find it soon enough because we never thought he would have it, because we were told he never had that second testicle. After chemo, RPLND surgery, brain surgery, high-dose chemo and stem cell transplant, Max died. Why? What treatment might have worked for him? Is it still to come?
My cancer conversations
So, rather than blame, let me say I have channeled my attitude of anger into giving back through our family foundation, the Max Mallory Foundation, established by Max’s dad, Chuck Mallory; his brother John Mallory; and me. We are small and like many foundations, came to fruition so that others may know more about testicular cancer through storytelling from survivors, caregivers, researchers, and others touched by this disease. We have a magazine -The Testicular Cancer Magazine. We have a podcast – Don’t Give Up on Testicular Cancer.
As Testicular Cancer Awareness Month ends, take a moment to talk to the young men, old men, all men around you so that they know more about this disease.
It’s ok for men to check their testicles each month.
It’s ok for doctors to tell them to check their testicles each month.
Parents, girlfriends, significant others, any relative or friend – make sure the men in your life know about this disease.
If your child was born with one testicle, make sure you track that condition into adolescence with a doctor who knows about testicular cancer.
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Save a life
As the saying goes, talk is cheap, but in this case, those conversations may save the life of someone you love.
Here are some but not all of the testicular cancer groups
Raleigh Testicular Cancer Foundation (Canada)
Robin Cancer Trust (UK)
Testicular Cancer Support Groups or Information
Testicular Cancer Support Group (Facebook)
Shorty Koza ‘N the Survivors (Facebook)
Support Groups for Young Adults with Cancer