Philip Lehtola was 21 when this picture was taken. A senior at Iowa State University, he was enjoying a very normal life. Philip was majoring in Electrical Engineering and had an outstanding GPA. He enjoyed working out and spending time with his friends.

In this photo, Philip has just arrived for a visit to Gainesville, Florida in August 2002. He poses with "Waiter Gator," one of the sculptures in the "Gator Trails" public art event (October 2002 - April 2003).

As the chemotherapy took an increasing toll, Philip had little energy and needed to rest frequently. In addition to attacking his cancer cells, his treatment reduced his white blood cells and his ability to fight infection.

During this time, Philip remained enrolled at ISU. He completed 2 of his 5 classes that fall and would complete the other 3 at a later time. He went to each of his professors to tell them about his condition and discuss with them how it might impact his studies. When one of the professors heard Philip's story, he said, "Let me tell you what happened to me 30 years ago!" He too had dealt with TC.

In this photo, Philip curls up on the sofa with a pet cat and a can of Lysol.

Philip after five months of chemotherapy.

Philip was able to enroll for the spring semester at ISU and completed the 5 classes he was enrolled in. He coordinated his chemotherapy schedule and his class schedule and missed relatively few classes. His spring break was taken up with chemo, but the nurses set him up in a corner chair where they hung posters of sandy beaches, gave him a sand pail, a piña colada cup for his water, etc. Some go to Cancun, others go to chemo!

In July 2003, doctors determined that chemotherapy had not been enough to destroy Philip's tumors. On August 7, 2003, Philip went to Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis for major surgery on his chest and abdomen. (This is where Lance Armstrong was treated.)

At the end of August 2003, Philip began the fall semester at ISU. However, his chemotherapy medications were so intense that he had to withdraw. He would begin again in the spring semester and he would complete the semester.

In Fall 2003, he had two more major rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell harvest/infusion in the bone marrow transplant unit. Each round of chemotherapy became more and more intense, with more severe side effects, including potential damage to his lungs and numbness and loss of dexterity in his hands and fingers. His weight had dropped from 245 lbs in November 2002 to 150 lbs.

In October 2004, Philip's specialists in Indianapolis declared him cancer-free and recovered -- it has been more than a year since any new tumors were discovered. The chances are now less than 2% of a recurrence. His BHCG level has remained below 1.0. Philip will have examinations every 4 months for the next year.

Philip returned to his regular workouts. He will graduate from Iowa State University in December 2004. Feeling and control in his hands returned, and he recently won 2 intramural pool tourneys.

Philip's story is presented to increase awareness of testicular cancer and to provide encouragement and hope for young men who have been diagnosed with TC.

So why doesn't anyone tell us about this?"

A college student in my agricultural safety class asked this question after I shared the story of my son Philip's battle with testicular cancer. I share the story with my college-age students because they are in the peak years -- approx. ages 17-25 -- for TC. Please share this information with men in your families, or the men that you work with or teach. If you can work to get coaches to talk about it and, for example, provide PSAs, that would be great! In a lot of high schools and colleges guys listen to what the coaches have to say. Two excellent Web sites with more info about TC are:

• Testicular Cancer Resource Center
• US Food & Drug Administration

When in Indy Philip commented to his transplant nurse that there wasn't a ribbon color for TC (e.g., pink for breast cancer etc.) -- but then who thinks of these things anyway!!!! She asked him what he thought it should be and after thinking about it, decided it should be 'platinum with a blue stripe!' Platinum because that is the key ingredient in the chemo and blue because 'it's a guy thing'! Let's rally to support the 'Platinum and Blue'!!

The point of all this is that TC can and all too frequently does hit guys at the age when they think they are invulnerable. So don't be shy about passing along the info.

Carol Lehtola, University of Florida
Excerpts from Safety News & Notes, February 2004