In January 2024, after completing his first round of reserves in the Gaza Strip, S. considered continuing to serve in the reserves elsewhere. However, he realized that his wife, children, and work needed him, so he had no choice but to return home. When he tried to resume his routine, he postponed a visit to the family doctor. About a month and a half later, the family doctor urgently sent him for an examination. At that time, S. started experiencing severe pain in the testicular area. The pain was so intense that he had trouble functioning and even fell asleep in the middle of the day for hours. He eventually went to the emergency room and was admitted to Bilinson Hospital for treatment.
At the hospital, it was discovered that S. was suffering from stage 3 testicular cancer, on the verge of stage 4, with a large 11 cm metastasis in the large intestine that had caused a hole in the duodenum. He underwent surgery to remove the affected testicle and required four rounds of chemotherapy at the Davidoff Center, directed by Dr. Victoria Neiman. Thanks to the treatments, the metastasis shrunk significantly, and S.’s chances of recovery are positive.
Despite his medical journey, S. expressed that the most challenging part was missing the reserve rounds and not being able to fight with his team. Dr. Raz Motei, the oncologist treating S., emphasized the importance of early detection in cases like S.’s. He highlighted the need for regular testing to increase the chances of a successful cure.
S.’s story serves as a reminder to pay attention to signs that may indicate cancer, even during challenging times. Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer. The importance of taking care of one’s health should not be overlooked, even when other priorities demand our attention.