Around this time last year, Nate Solder was told he has testicular cancer, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. The New England Patriots left tackle had kept quiet about the diagnosis until now, waiting to make a public reveal in April, which is National Testicular Cancer Awareness month.
Nate Solder reveals he was diagnosed with testicular cancer before 2014 season
Nate Solder did not miss a game for the Patriots last season and appears to be cancer-free after surgery. Now, he’s raising awareness of the disease nearly one year after his diagnosis.
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“I knew nothing about it. It was a complete surprise,” Solder told Reiss. “You Google something like that and it kind of scares you, so I was like, ‘I’m not going to freak out about this.’ Had I not had a routine physical, I probably wouldn’t have checked it, saying, ‘Oh, it’s just in my head, I’m going to be fine.’”
The cancer was discovered last April at the start of the Pats’ voluntary offseason program. Solder mentioned during his physical that he felt something around his testicle. The Patriots medical staff ordered an immediate ultrasound and found the culprit. Luckily, they also found that the cancer hadn’t spread. Three days after the ultrasound, Solder had the testicle removed and appears to be fully healthy today. He’s had checkups every three months since the surgery, and every test result has been good.
Solder started every game of the Patriots' Super Bowl run. In four seasons he has missed just one game, and has 60 starts under his belt at just 27 years old. He played a pivotal role during the 2015 playoffs, not only protecting Tom Brady but catching a 16-yard touchdown pass during the Pats' blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship.
Early detection allowed Solder to play. He had a relatively easy recovery process -- two weeks of rest during offseason training activities and some time to allow his incision to heal, allowing him to return in June well ahead of training camp. Other men might not be so lucky, which is why Solder is using his platform to raise awareness.
According to American Cancer Society statistics, almost half of all cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed in men between the ages of 20 and 34. The lifetime chance of getting testicular cancer is about 1-in-263, and the risk of death from the disease is about 1-in-5,000.
“It’s more common than people realize.” Solder said. “A lot of people are either afraid to do it, or they don’t think it’s important enough to get it checked. It’s a simple check. Six months, a year, and then it starts spreading and then you start to feel symptoms and it’s a more serious situation. So that’s a big thing -- you can save lives with early detection.”
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