Springtime Health After My Testicular Cancer Diagnosis

Spring has officially begun. Winter blues are gone, but I can feel new energy levels are already here. After those dark, cold winter months, I always look forward to spring, a new rebirth. Spring is renewal for me; it is not just about survival but living life to the fullest. It was autumn, and the leaves were all falling and changing when I received my cancer diagnosis. The coolness in the air was a sign of the end of a season. I believe all this factored into my initial hopes, needs, diagnosis and goals.

I always knew after the thaw that the grass was going to grow again. The birds chirping meant spring was around the corner. It was a resurgence. Consider the value of your overall health.

As 2025 unfolds, I am putting forward my thoughts on how to get healthier. I give myself permission to be me. I am no longer struggling with the doldrums that plagued me after my cancer. Health and wellness do not come from perfection. They come from showing up and attempting to work on your health every day.

Everyone should focus on long-term health goals. It is largely determined by the small choices you make daily. Be honest. Does your health need a little extra attention? Is there any area where you need to prioritize? Any symptoms that you feel need to be addressed?

If you answered, “Yes,” then you are among most people I encounter every single day. Eating a Mediterranean diet, walking and biking daily help to keep me motivated. I am not going to lie; your body needs a little bit of energy from the winter. So, do yourself a huge favor and get your doctor’s checkups. In my experience, I have learned that avoiding health checkups can cause issues you might have never thought existed. In response, I have adopted a less judgmental approach towards doctors. Try to leave any negative emotions at the door.

A health checkup for spring can make your whole life better. Consider renewing your body and mind as your spring clean-up. This spring, give your body and mind that same loving care that you give your car and home. Most importantly, allow the season to usher in new, healthy habits. Remain focused on your well-being.

After my cancer diagnosis, those spring overcast days did evoke feelings of sadness and depression. I found myself analyzing how others saw me so that I would know what they think I should look like. Before I even knew it, springtime was there. It took me decades to understand my doctor’s checkups were what helped overcome the anxiety of being a survivor.

Now I visit my urologist yearly. This is to check for any tumors for prevention. It also helps my overall mental wellness knowing I have a clean bill of health. In the last 10 years, I have discovered a few basal cell carcinomas that were early skin cancer. I had them quickly removed and now have a complete body check once a year with my dermatologist. The sun is powerful and should be respected.

Spring is the time to think about your health and the relationship of one’s own body. Spring is a season of transition and can be a season of one’s own transformation. Like a snake shedding its old skin and the emergence of the new. Similarly, the journey through cancer is often characterized by profound changes — physically and emotionally.

Make the next few months about your own personal renewal. With each passing week, shed those moments and habits that are unhealthy. Replace them with at least one new healthy habit. As summer approaches, determine if this is enough change or if something else is needed as well.

The challenges of life after cancer can be overwhelming, but choose to focus on just one thing about your health habits to improve. Invite peace in your life and positivity in your heart. The winter blahs are over. Have your spring come with blessings in the new year due to your thoughtful changes. The secret to life’s happiness is not about the unknown, it is about doing the right things. For example, learn to rest on some days and create new activities for others. This helped my own peace of mind. It was a wonderful thing to give myself permission to just rest.

Dreamlike blushes smile on me today. Decades after my cancer diagnosis, I no longer hide away. Learning about my body carries lessons within itself. I can have some control over my health. As cancer survivors, we must remember after the grip of winter to emerge stronger in spring and more resilient than ever before.

May the coming of spring renew and inspire us all to embrace change.

Here is to a healthy and happy spring 2025.

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