Written by Elizabeth C Johnson
Three things nobody wants to experience — but males across the world are experiencing more often — is cancer, infertility and surgery.
Tony Jon, a senior education major at Kent State, in Ohio, was diagnosed last month with testicular cancer at the age of 22. He had to have a quick scheduled surgery just a few weeks ago.
The percentage of males facing such risk is roughly 1 out of every 250 males. Just applying this number to our current male student body alone, about eight students who currently attend Harding will become part of this statistic.
Jon had to face these three things after a visit to the doctor just six weeks ago.
“I read online that the pain I was having was normal at first, but eventually I just couldn’t take it any more,” Jon stated.
When asked if he ever thought to do any form of a self check-up, he answered, “Cancer never crosses your mind when you’re 22.”
Testicular cancer is most common among males between the ages of 15 to 35, and most people ignore the signs of the cancer.
“Throughout this whole medical situation I’ve been blessed with the support of my family, friends, teachers and fiancée.”
Testicular cancer, when found early, has greater then a 98 percent cure rate. In order to properly diagnose Jon with testicular cancer, the doctor needed to do many tests. This included a blood test and a CT scan to see if the cancer had spread to his abdomen, which would be the first place it would go. Luckily, he caught it in time and he never passed Stage 1 of cancer.
Jon is recovering from the experience, and he said he has an amazing outlook to life now and that not much has changed.
“I just appreciate everything so much more now because I could have had it much worse. I am so thankful it was a quick process and I was truly blessed overall,” Jon said.
