Jason Greenspan joins Lee on this week’s episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast to talk about his personal story battling testicular cancer at a young age, and how he’s become an advocate.
Jason shares how he first found a lump and received a testicular cancer diagnosis at the age of 18. From there, Jason’s story goes into how testicular cancer impacted and ultimately shaped the relationship he has with his mother, to a world record-setting event and his efforts to bring awareness of the disease to the world. This episode is all about breaking the stigma to help improve the testicular cancer survival rate through self-exams and open discussions without fear or embarrassment.
Guest biography:
Jason Greenspan is the founder of National Ball Check Day and a testicular cancer survivor. Diagnosed at 18 years old after he found a lump, Jason has been through testicular cancer treatment and come out on the other side. He’s now looking to make the conversation easier and help save lives as he brings awareness of testicular cancer to the masses.
Table of contents:
- Introduction of Jason Greenspan and the start of his story
Jason talks about what went through his mind when at 18 years old, he found a lump on his testicle and got a diagnosis of testicular cancer.
- The difficult conversation
In what’s already a difficult and perhaps embarrassing topic of conversation for a young man, Jason’s discovery was made even tougher on his mother due to his grandmother being rediagnosed with cancer of his own.
- How Jason’s mother coped and helped
Though certainly difficult for Jason himself, he shares what his mother did to help support him through his journey -- from staying strong to taking off work for three months to take him to chemo treatments.
- How testicular cancer has changed their parent-son relationship
Through a shared journey has come more understanding. Jason discusses how the relationship with his mother has been positively impacted and how it’s stronger now because of what they went through together.
- Going from fighter to advocate
Now cancer-free for nearly eight years, Jason has turned his story into one of advocacy and awareness. Jason now tries to educate others, especially young men, about the process of going to the doctors and what to look for themselves to help diagnose early. If caught early, the testicular cancer survival rate is high.
As a part of his advocacy, one of the biggest things Jason looks to do now is counter the notion testicular cancer is embarrassing or taboo to address. Jason talks about the reactions he personally faced from both students and faculty when trying to put together an event at his school to raise awareness of testicular cancer.
Jason helped found National Ball Check Day, which takes place on the second Tuesday of April. Designed to bring awareness to testicular cancer and show men how to self-administer a testicular cancer test, the goal is to open up the discussion.
- Bringing his activism elsewhere
Now out of school and with his own experiences at hand, Jason has transitioned into doing events for a non-profit organization.
Wanting to continue his legacy at school and beyond, Jason created an event that set the Guinness world record for most guys doing a testicular cancer test together. From organizing the event and keeping in contact with the former record holder to the logistics of setting a world record, Jason talks about how the idea came about and how it all happened.
Why doing regular tests and talking about testicular cancer is important for everyone to think about more often.
Links mentioned in the show:
National Ball Check Day
Testicular Cancer Society
Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation
Testicular Cancer Foundation
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