Nathaniel Lam
“Life is short, don’t take it for granted. A big cheesy smile will do wonders because you never know how a smile could have positive effects on others.”
At just 26, Nathaniel Lam was stunned when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. “My first thought was, ‘Why is it happening to me?’ I was hoping someone would tell me that it was being misdiagnosed.” While at first he felt “let down” and in a bad mental space, Nathaniel adds, “For me, it was accepting that it has happened and what I can do to fight and defeat it.”
At the time of his diagnosis, Nathaniel was unaware that testicular cancer is most common in young and middle-aged men. “For me, the symptoms started a year before I was finally diagnosed by a urologist,” he said “I visited so many doctors in that year and no one could diagnose what was causing those symptoms. I’m glad it was caught early and localized.”
“At that time, my life and my future were going in a positive direction,” Nathaniel explains. “However, with this news, everything came to a complete stop.” He has the greatest gratitude for those who supported him throughout his journey – “The entire medical staff and team that were in charge of my case, plus my friends and family who were always there for me.” He advises others facing a cancer diagnosis to “allow yourself to express your emotions, surround yourself with people that will support you, and try to be as positive as possible.”
Today, Nathaniel is a survivor and back to an active lifestyle. He is an avid marathon runner who also champions advocacy and awareness: “Being a cancer survivor makes me look at life differently. My hope is to raise awareness for men to do monthly testicular self-exams. Don’t skip them just because you are young.”
He is also passionate about research and says, “I understand that for cancer patients to have hope and a future, it is through research. It’s the foundation of curing cancer and without it, it’s impossible for medicine to advance. I Stand Up To Cancer for my best friend, my uncle, and myself.”
Our Mission
Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.
