Spotlight:
Prem Aithal
When was the last time you checked your health?
Most people don’t experience signs or symptoms of cancer until it’s in advanced stages. But you don’t need to wait for symptoms to get a potentially lifesaving health check-up or cancer screening. Early detection of cancer can mean less extensive treatment, more treatment options and better chances of survival.
Research shows that with the knowledge we have today, up to 50% of all cancer cases and deaths are preventable. When we educate people about the routine screenings needed at every age and encourage everyone to be proactive, not reactive, about checking their health, we shift the power from cancer to the people—where it belongs.
My dad is a retired cardiologist, so I always took for granted that if something were seriously wrong with my health, I would know better than to let it linger.
Yet it never occurred to me that the sharp pain I suddenly felt in my testicle was a crisis that needed serious medical attention. I was only 28—too young for testicular cancer, I thought.
But the pain kept getting worse. I finally mentioned it to my friend Morgan, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. “Man, do me a favor and just see your doctor. Do it for me,” he said.
Currently, there is no recommended routine screening for testicular cancer.* Had I not listened to my friend, I might not have survived.
I got an appointment with my primary care physician, who was slightly alarmed. He sent me for an ultrasound the next morning. It turned out I had cancer and had to quickly undergo surgery to remove the tumor, which was found to be non-seminoma testicular cancer. I also learned that, while rare, testicular cancer is one of the more common types of cancer in young men, with the incidence highest among those ages 20-39.
After a procedure to see if the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes and chemotherapy as a result, I have lived cancer-free since 2006. Even though it’s been nearly 20 years since my “all clear” from cancer, there has been relatively little advancement in detecting and treating testicular cancer. It’s time we made a change! I am especially passionate about prevention and survivorship and working on starting my own nonprofit to ease the fear and pain for others going through similar situations to what I experienced.
I know that nothing in life is guaranteed. I also know now that it’s better to use our time on earth to help others—and that when your best buddy tells you to get that pain checked out, do it right away!
*While the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not include screening for testicular cancer in their recommendations, the Prevent Cancer Foundation encourages individuals with testicles to ask their health care provider to examine their testicles as part of their routine physical and to talk to them about testicular self-examination.
Colorectal cancer is on the rise in adults under 45, and Black Americans are especially at risk. Black people in the U.S. are more likely to develop colorectal cancer and more likely to die from it than other racial or ethnic groups. That’s why the Prevent Cancer Foundation has continued to invest in colorectal cancer prevention and early detection public education pieces, including our award-winning public service announcement, “Too Young for This Sht”.*
The PSA concept was developed following a series of focus groups with Black Americans that found that the existing “Too Young for This Sh*t” messaging resonated with this high-risk community, but the campaign assets were not representative of them. The PSA features a diverse group of voices, including a Black male as one of the leads, to help reduce the taboo associated with the disease.
To date, this PSA has earned 124 million impressions and has run on television stations in nearly 650 major markets, accruing more than $8 million in donated airtime. Donated airtime is decided by major network producers based on the quality of the service announcement and the importance of the message.
It’s important for all adults to learn about colorectal cancer prevention, early detection, and the signs and symptoms of the disease—even if you think you’re too young for this sh*t. Visit tooyoungforthis.org to learn more.
Prevent Cancer Foundation leads 500+ organizations in support of Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
Routine screenings can be key to finding cancer early to achieve Better Outcomes. But currently in the U.S., routine screening is available for only five types of cancer, which means even people up to date on their screenings are not being screened for most cancers.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is pleased to support legislation currently under consideration in Congress that would ensure Medicare can make a coverage decision on multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests to detect multiple types of cancer at once.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation opened a sign-on letter in 2021 with the goal of demonstrating broad support for the the pending MCED legislation.
Since then, more than 500 organizations have joined the Foundation in endorsing the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2407) and the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (S. 2085). The Foundation is humbled by the overwhelming support that demonstrates the significant potential for impact MCED tests could have across diverse communities nationwide. For more information on multi-cancer early detection, visit: preventcancer.org/early.
Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas)
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.)
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
Sen. Tim Scott (D-Ala.)
