One of the first things I learned in a journalism class is never to make the story about myself. And that's a rule I've followed pretty closely to this day. But there's always an occasion to break the rule. After I had my testicular cancer scare, I knew I had to get the word out.

I know you've probably heard about testicular cancer through famous names like Lance Armstrong. But do you, or a man you care about--especially the young men in your lives--do they know testicular cancer is not only 15 to 35-year-old men's most common cancer form, but it's the number one cancer killer in that age group?

So why don't we talk about it? Why don't young men know to do monthly self-checks? Because, after all, testicular cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat if it's caught early. In fact, denial, embarrassment and a lack of knowledge keeps most guys from getting help. That's what one Alaskan testicular cancer survivor, just like me, is hoping to change.

"And sitting there bumping chairs in the winter. I had to work to bump the chairs. And every time my stomach muscle flexed, I just felt like a sharp shooting pain. And was like, 'Aw man.' So I went and got it check out," said testicular cancer survivor, Ryan De Witt.

A doctor's office is about the last place you'd expect to find Alyeska lift attendant De Witt. After all, his winters are spent down in Girdwood. In the summer he's up in Denali.

"Aww man. Just scenery. Back packing. I love being outdoors," said De Witt.

But last October he found himself indoors--at a doctor's office. While the 23-year-old did not know what was wrong, he had a gut feeling it was bad.

"When the lady at the clinic didn't know what was going on, I thought it could be kind of serious. I just kind of like, 'That's crazy. She doesn't know what's going on,'" said De Witt.

So De Witt came to Anchorage. After visiting an urologist he was referred to oncologist Max Rabinowitz, who would become De Witt's

cancer doctor.

"Ryan is actually a perfect example. He's just a regular guy trying to live the Alaskan life. Came from Michigan. And snow boarding. And working in the park. And he was found to have testicular cancer," said Dr. Rabinowitz.

"Gave me a CT scan. Sent the results over to the lab. And then he went through and he spun around in his chair and said, 'You're the next Lance Armstrong.' That's all he said. It took me a few moments to say a few things. It took me a moment to gather my thoughts. And say, 'What do you mean?' I don't know it hit me. It hurt me; it hit me hard," said De Witt.

And even harder was having to call his family.

"And I just said, 'Hey I've got cancer.' And they were like, 'What? What are you going to do about it? Well he says I'm going to go have surgery. They flew up right away and were there for me," said De Witt.

Within 72 hours, De Witt was in surgery. He thought his cancer was gone, but it had spread to his abdomen. That led to the chemotherapy De Witt credits with saving his life.

"Just a positive attitude about the whole thing. Testicular cancer's beat. I mean, chemotherapy's off the wall. Ten years ago if you were diagnosed with testicular cancer, there was nothing they could do about it. Chemotherapy, as long as you catch it early, it's real curable. It's just a trip when you start going through it. And your hair starts falling out. And all that jazz. You feel like crap," said De Witt.

"All I have to

realize is, I'm me. I'm always in a good mood and it's the drugs and everything that's making me down. I can't let that stuff keep me down, because I'm having a good time," said De Witt.

"He'd stop by my office in his ski bum gear and say, 'Hey what's shakin?' and I'd say, 'Hey Ryan, you remind me of my own kids.' I just can't believe it," said social worker, Lynette Knapp.

Knapp was more than De Witt's social worker. She was also from Michigan. As she supported De Witt through treatment, she realized something.

"And we don't see high school teachers talking about it very much. We certainly don't see dad and sons, or fathers and sons, talking about it very much. How often do sisters talk to their brothers about it? And we even

all talk about Lance Armstrong, who we know had testicular cancer, but we don't know the specifics. Or we don't talk about the specifics," said Knapp.

"No I didn't know anything about it. I knew he (Lance Armstrong) had cancer. I knew he beat it. But that's really all I knew. Any kind of cancer, breast cancer, you should really be self-aware. And, just know, it's out there and be self-aware. And be aware more people are getting it. All you have to do is check yourself. Don't be afraid. That's an important part of your body. I don't know how you could neglect that kind of thing," said De Witt.

"It is important to find it earlier. Because this particular type of cancer can spread. We can cure the cancer even if it has spread. We can still cure it with chemotherapy. But the sooner we find it, the easier the treatment is," said Dr. Rabinowitz.

"I feel great today. I feel like a million bucks, you know. Everything I do is worth it. And I'm having a good time," said De Witt.

Now in remission, De Witt's hair is growing back just as fast as the list of places he plans on traveling. He holds on to the fact he was smart enough to get help early.

"I think it's all the attitude that gets you through it. There's no luck involved. When you're diagnosed with something like that. You're not drawing straws to figure out if you're going to make it or not. I feel like I grew up a little bit, to actually start pulling my life together, to actually be able to get my life together, you know. And bettering my situation. Because you don't know how long you got," said De Witt.

CBS 11 News has now partnered with the Anchorage School District to make sure all eighth graders will see a testicular cancer education video in their mandatory health classes, and pass the word on to their loved ones. We encourage 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.