My New Year’s Resolution After A Testicular Cancer Diagnosis

Brian Sluga is now a testicular cancer survivor after receiving the diagnosis when he was 20 years old. Catch up on Brian's blogs here!

The New Year's resolution is a tradition most of us know. At the beginning of each calendar year, a person undertakes a new activity, sets a personal goal, or takes on something that is not in their wheelhouse. Under Julius Caesar, the Romans had a tradition of setting goals for the new year. To them, January was a time for individuals to reflect on their past and look toward their future. The Romans would strive for spiritual growth through personal self-reflection. They were the early-day goal setters.

I, too, prefer to start my resolutions on January 1st. A clean slate for a new calendar. After my cancer diagnosis, I was not focusing on any resolutions except getting healthy and cancer-free. Now, I focus on something I want to do which will challenge me and set me apart from where I was last year.

Although the future is not certain, being a survivor is unquestionably important and takes resolution. Therefore, resolutions which involve my daily life which express how thankful I am to live each day are what I need to survive in this ever-changing world. A simple example of this is a resolution of mending past relationships with old friends. Indeed, my past is in the rearview mirror, and anyone can improve and reinvent who they are.

I advise to resolve “choosing you” and believing that good things are ahead. It is important to live in the moment. With no more tests or medications that tire you, now is the time to concentrate and focus on a new year and a new you.

Never cry over not being good enough, not being the cool kid or not taking the right risks at the right time. The new year is a wonderful time to reflect on your past successes and what was once your biggest challenge. Remind yourself that life is not over yet. This is the year of “You.” Shoot for the stars.

In the past, I often tried to make the new year more enjoyable and capture the essence to explore the new. Sometimes, the “festive” season comes and goes too quickly. It is always a more reflective time of year. After my cancer surgery, it was just 110 days until the new year. I had a short time to think about how I wanted to improve.

I was young and lacked courage and confidence to understand what was happening. There I was at the steering wheel, wondering where the road would lead me. But the mystery of who I was as a person and friend had shapeshifted to become real. Things did not remain the same in that new year.

There was struggle; however, in life, it is a given that one will suffer pain. I have suffered in life after cancer but learned to accept that suffering as it helped me focus on a life that reflects my character. That is a life of love, teaching and giving of myself when people need me the most.

Just because you have uncertainties in life does not mean that you are wrong or that you do not know how to live. Make your resolutions to point you in a direction. That direction can always be course corrected. The important thing is to start. Sense the thrill of the challenge and do the right thing; bet on yourself.

Once again, in a new year, I find myself retreating to the trusted treasures of the past. Often thinking of that weathered time and the passing winds. This year is waiting to be set free like a butterfly. Life is at times confusing but can be changeable. Why shouldn’t this year work out better than last?

Happy New Year to all, and may your resolutions be great.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.