In December 2021, just days before Christmas, Christian started experiencing intense pain in his groin. He initially thought he may have pulled a muscle playing sledge hockey, but the pain persisted and his parents grew concerned and took him to their local hospital to get the issue checked out.

At the hospital, Christian saw an urologist, who delivered some daunting news: he had testicular cancer and would need surgery as soon as possible to remove the tumour.

“I was terrified,” remembers Christian. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to handle that. It was really scary. But I knew that the surgery would help, so it had to be done.”

He was just 23 years old at the time. The possibility of cancer hadn’t even crossed his mind and suddenly he was confronted with a very real diagnosis.

Christian underwent surgery to remove the tumour the first week of January. The surgery was a success, but follow-up scans revealed that the cancer had spread to his lungs and lymph nodes.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Christian has a word of advice for anyone who finds themselves in an overwhelming situation: “If there’s ever something scaring you, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help.”

For moral support, love and comfort, Christian turned to his parents. For cancer treatment, he was referred to Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre.

Chemotherapy took a toll. Sometimes it was hard to keep his strength and spirits up, but through it all, Christian remembers the kindness and compassion of staff. Whether it was bringing him a blanket to warm up, a pillow to take a nap or just keeping him company during the long hours it took to administer chemotherapy, the expert, compassionate care he received was extraordinary.

Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre has a bell that you can ring when you’re finished your last chemotherapy treatment, and last June, Christian got to ring the bell. He has been in remission for over a year.

Your support ensures that when patients like Christian ask for help, Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre is able to answer with the best possible care at every step of their cancer treatment. Support other patients like Christian with exceptional care at stage of their cancer journey by donating at giftofhealth.ca today.