The Island of Misfit Mos 2011

In honor of Movember, a crack commando unit was formed when they each were separately affected by a tumor mass that they were not willing to accept. In 2010, these men promptly joined forces to combat these horrible diseases. Today, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The Island of Misfit Mos. (Cue the A-team theme song...)

JOIN US! ADD YOUR PICTURES ON THE WALL OF THE FACEBOOK GROUP! WE HAVE MEMBERS OF VARIOUS CANCER ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED ON THE ISLAND WITH A COMMON PURPOSE TO FIGHT ALL TUMORS AND CANCER... IS YOUR ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED?

I lost one of my best friends!

My name is Matt Ferstler and I am a Testicular
Cancer survivor and advocate. In January of 2008 I notice something different on my left testicle; for a year I kept pondering what it could be until one year later on January 23^rd 2009 I mustered up the strength to find the answers! I remember that day; the office was cold and lonely and I thought no one knew the fear I had. Two weeks prior I had done research on what was attacking my left testicle and much to my surprise I self-diagnosed myself as having the C word. I lost it! In my mind only people who are 70- or over are diagnosed with cancer, I was 22 and invincible. So, back to the doctor’s office; as I waited and waited my world was shaking beneath me. I knew that in only minutes all this cancer talk would become a reality. I got the verdict around 10:30am that morning and at about 10:39am I was a passionate fighter. I knew right away what my calling was in life.

The following Monday I had my scheduled left radical orchiectomy in which I lost one of my best friends. It was a sad moment for me but also a new beginning. I took on the nickname that January of “single jingles” meaning one testicle.

Over the next year in a half I created a non-profit to educate young men about the importance of self-exams. It is my goal to spread the word about Testicular Cancer all awhile helping men along the way. TC is the number one most common cancer among men in the US ages 15-35. Scary huh! Then let’s start talking about it!

Single Jingles has created shower cards and education materials all because TC is 98% survivable if it can be caught early and TC self-exams are the best way to check for signs monthly. I am now 2 years in remission and God willing I will be for a life time.