Brian Sluga

A reflective Christmas morning run, following a cancer diagnosis, inspires profound gratitude for life and a renewed commitment to living a meaningful life.

For many years, I have trained my mind to have more discipline, especially after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in my 20s.

When a dear friend told me he has lung cancer, I opened up and shared my own perspective and experience as a survivor of testicular cancer.

After my surgery for testicular cancer, my good friend Joe helped me through my goal of training and running a marathon.

I stopped pondering why cancer happened to me and instead focused on achieving my goals and taking life on.

Cancer tried to zap my will to live and taught me to learn about time. After being diagnosed, I realized that I had to make the most of each day.

After testicular cancer hindered my self-image and identity, I decided to create a five-point system to help me achieve a successful future.

After recovering from testicular cancer, I feel as though I've earned a second life where I face my fears head-on.

Looking back on my experience with testicular cancer at a young age, I realize that cancer didn't define me — it helped shape me.

A 45-minute cancer procedure deemed me to be "cancer free," but it did not assuage all my anxieties.