Kris Gay, Firefighter, Testicular Cancer, Diagnosed at 39

fatigue | noticed a lump | Testicular Cancer

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About Me

I am a firefighter at Ocean View Volunteer Fire Company in New Jersey.

How This Started

At 39, I was feeling off. For several months, I experienced persistent fatigue but chalked it up to side effects from a new medication, which I was taking as part of my medical transition as a transgender woman.

After adjusting the dosage and undergoing bloodwork that came back normal, I figured it was nothing serious. Still, something didn’t feel quite right.

What I Noticed

Thanks to my training with DetecTogether, I was paying close attention to my baseline health. I noticed my times on the treadmill and rowing machines were slipping despite working out at the gym frequently.

When I felt a lump on my testicle during a shower, I knew to act immediately.

What Happened Next

As soon as I detected a lump, I contacted my doctor, remembering our DetecTogether training.

That quick action made all the difference.

My Decisions Along the Way

After adjusting the dosage of my medication and receiving normal bloodwork results, I still felt that something wasn’t quite right.

And when I felt a lump on my testicle during a shower, I contacted my doctor immediately.

Why It Was Easy to Wait

I chalked the fatigue up to side effects from a new medication. After adjusting the dosage and undergoing bloodwork that came back normal, I figured it was nothing serious.

The Moment Things Changed

When I felt a lump on my testicle during a shower, I contacted my doctor immediately.

What I Learned

Taking timely action matters. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 testicular cancer, a highly treatable form of cancer when caught early.

What Would Have Helped Sooner

Not specified.

What I Want Others to Know

Ironically, I’m the one at my fire station who implemented our 3 Steps Detect program. If I had ignored the symptoms, normal medical monitoring would not have caught this so early.

Call to Action

Pay attention to changes in your baseline health and act when something doesn’t feel right.