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We will start our series with what I originally called the Unspoken Affliction. Back in the summer of 2003, while I was taking a shower, I found a painless, small lump in an area most guys will not talk about, let alone have a doctor check out.
While many of us know about testicular cancer through famous names like Lance Armstrong and Tom Green, how much can you really say you know about testicular cancer. As a matter of fact, testicular cancer is the number one cancer killer of 15 to 35-year-old young men. But it's a fair bet most men you know have no idea they should be performing a monthly self-check for the rest of their lives--which is really the only way for any man you care about to save their life from this cancer form.
I know this all too well. That's why CBS 11 News has teamed with the Anchorage School District's health education coordinator. So, starting next year, every year, all ASD eighth graders will learn Jason's story.
"I walked in on Jason's arm and they kind of interviewed us. Before the game it was a big exciting thing for the seniors. And I think it was an exciting time for him," said Jason's mom, Dorris Struble.
It was exciting for Jason Struble to finally achieve that coveted spot on his high school basketball team during his senior year. After all, this quiet, nice kid had worked toward this night. But while his parents thought they were watching their son's dream come true, down on the court, Jason told his coach something was wrong.
"After he came back after a certain time, Dave said, 'You don't run as hard as you normally do. What's wrong?' And Jason said, 'I can't get my breath.' And, of coarse, we were up in the stands and we weren't
Those breathing problems would only grow worse and came to a suffocating climax, as Jason plead for his parents to help him breathe.
"'Something wrong with my body. I can't breathe,'" said Dorris Struble.
"Couldn't get his breath," said Tom Struble.
The plea turned into them rushing him to the emergency room.
"'These are not normal lungs,' is what they told me. I said, 'OK.' She said, 'Check the testicles.' I remember the emergency guy was like, 'Check the testicles.' And they did and it was." said Dorris Struble.
"When he was diagnosed, he was in what they consider stage three cancer. So he was pretty far down the road at the time," said Tom
Time is not something most teenagers are concerned with. But, in fact, testicular cancer, what Jason had been diagnosed with, is a young man's cancer.
"Young men often think they're quite invincible. And this particular type of cancer occurs in men age 15 to 35. They're often somewhat reluctant to think they'd get cancer," said oncologist, Dr. Max Rabinowitz.
And while maybe you picture a traffic accident as the biggest threat to killing a young man you care about, it's another young man's killer that's a well kept secret.
"...one doctor from St. Louis University tell me we're not doing a good job at informing young men about testicular cancer," said Tom Struble
Jason Struble was one of those young men,
"What is it he said? 'If I hadn't been so proud?'" said Tom Struble.
"'If I hadn't had so much pride, I'd be alive.' But it's more then just pride. It's the fact he didn't know about testicular cancer. And that's what we want to get young men to be aware of. The disease exists and you need to do a monthly self-exam. And don't be bashful about it, because it could save your life," said Dorris Struble.
But a little more then two years later, because Jason had not asked for help early on, testicular cancer would end up cutting his life short. His doctors told him they were running out of ways to treat him.
"They
"And then he said, 'Am I a quitter? ' Because he was not. His mother's not a quitter. And he sort of had that unfortunate trait. Then at that point, we could focus on living, but on planning to die. I always felt like I taught him how to live and he taught me how to die," said Dorris Struble.
Jason's dignity in dying was this lasting wish he made to his mom.
"He said to me, 'Mom, I want you to go to all the high schools in Missouri and tell these kids about testicular cancer.' And I told him, 'You know Jason, that's not going to work. I'm a mom. I'm going to go in, and they're not going to pay attention to me. No, you need to do that.' He said, 'If just one kid doesn't have to go through what I went through, my life would have meaning.' He didn't want us to forget him. He wanted there to be a legacy, so to speak--which certainly has happened. Quiet, kind of a shy kid is talking to a lot of people through this video," said Dorris Struble.
"At Laffate High School alone, since Jason died in 1992, there's been five cases of testicular cancer at one high school. Now we've sent out 5,000 videos. We had no feedback, because we don't request that kind of information. We just want to get it out there. But you have to believe statistically that there's more than five boys out there from 5,000 videos. So that's healing," said Tom Struble.
The video the Strubles are talking about is produced by their foundation to make sure Jason's wish lives on. It not only teaches kids about testicular cancer, but teaches young men how to do monthly checks for the rest of their lives.
CBS 11 News has now partnered with the Anchorage School District to make sure all eighth graders will see this video in their mandatory health classes, and pass the word on to their loved ones.
CBS 11 News encourages you to do the same for a man you care about and have him proactively perform a self-check every month.
To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.
