In 2009, Canadian photographer Thomas Cantley was working in New York.
He went to see a doctor about a lingering pain and odd shape to a testicle. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer.
Now four years cancer free he is rolling a giant rubber flesh-coloured ball across Canada to raise awareness about men’s cancer.
Thomas Cantley spoke to me by cell phone from Toronto.
ListenThe campaign is called “ I am Ballsy” and the goal is make people aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease, which is the most common cancer in young Canadian men between the ages of 15 and 29, according to Health Canada.
It is easily treatable and curable if caught early, but in his videos, Cantley explains that many young men are never taught how to do a self-examination in the way that young women learn to check their breasts for lumps.
Just recently returned to Toronto after a combination of driving to cities and towns across Canada and then rolling the ball to attract attention, Cantley says he’s been warmly greeted everywhere.
The trip was documented in photo and film by his girlfriend Samantha Hitchcock and filmmaker, Tim Cadeny
He points out he is not seeking money nor fund-raising for testicular (or prostate) cancer research, but rather is simple trying to raise awareness about a little talked about health issue.
He says with other awareness campaigns often the message gets lost in the giant fund raising events, fun-runs, bike-a-thons etc. He feels his one-on-one approach may not reach as many people, but the retention rate for the issue is much much better.
He hopes to use the “I am ballsy” campaign, twitter account (iamballsy), and website as resource hub on the signs, detection and treatment of the disease.
The campaign has attracted attention and he says he’s been contacted by other areas and agencies who want him to bring his awareness campaign to their areas in eastern Canada, the US, and even Britain.
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