Cancer, Life, Faith
Steve Pake
A New Life and a Fresh Start a Decade After ...

It’s been ages since I’ve done much in the way of writing about my cancer journey here, but it’s time to start writing again.

A New Life and a Fresh Start a Decade After Testicular Cancer
Cancer, Faith
Steve Pake
Cancer and Faith Q&A

A snapshot of my cancer and faith journeys, and the bridging of two worlds into one centered around God.

Cancer and Faith Q&A
Cancer, Faith
Steve Pake
How Rekindling My Faith Cured My Mental Health ...

I suffered needlessly for years from my mental health issues after cancer. Rekindling my Faith is what ultimately cured them.

How Rekindling My Faith Cured My Mental Health Issues
Doggos
Steve Pake
Raya's First Time At The Beach with Puffles

The only thing better than having a dog is having two dogs. And the only thing better than taking a dog to the beach is taking two dogs to the beach. :)

Raya's First Time At The Beach with Puffles
Doggos
Steve Pake
Crazy or Not? A Month With Two Dogs, Puffles ...

So a month with now two dogs. How did it go? Are we nuts? A lot of people we’ve talked to have said we’re crazy for getting another dog, but just remember there’s a fine line between genius and crazy! :)

Crazy or Not? A Month With Two Dogs, Puffles and Raya

Policy

Negotiating Surveillance and Long-Term Follow-up for Testicular Cancer

Negotiating Surveillance and Long-Term Follow-up for Testicular Cancer

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for are the bible by which Testicular Cancer patients are treated and managed. The follow-up care recommendations within these guidelines only goes out to 5 years, and even within those 5 years, there's been some significant adjustments to the recommendations over time. It's entirely possible that if you were diagnosed with testicular cancer within the past few years, that you might be able to make some adjustments to your follow-up schedules in favor of fewer scans or appointments, but what do you do after that? It's up to you and can go on a case-by-case basis. Here are some answers.

There Is No Easy Cancer

There Is No Easy Cancer

On at least two occasions when I've mentioned my cancer story to new friends or acquaintances that hadn't known, I've received comments that were just short of dismissive that testicular cancer is an "easy cancer", alluding to the high cure rate. I'll be honest in saying that I haven't been offended by such comments, because I know that short of having been there in some way themselves, it's simply impossible for people to truly know what a cancer diagnosis feels like, nor all that one entails.

Doctors Say, Keep Checking Your Nuts

Doctors Say, Keep Checking Your Nuts

In February 2015, Steven Petrow published an article in the Washington Post titled "Guys, here’s why it’s not worth testing yourself for a ‘lump’ down there", coming out against testicular self-exams (TSE) after having previously been supportive of them. What's surprising about the article is not just that such a view against testicular self-exams exists, but because Mr. Petrow himself is a twenty years and change survivor of advanced stage testicular cancer. I applaud and congratulate Mr. Petrow on reaching such a milestone. It's something that we cancer survivors take great pride in and stories like his are inspiring to so many of us, but I could not disagree more with his recommendation against TSE. Petrow thinks that it's "smarter" now to keep his hands to himself, but is it really? 

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