Patriots lineman Nate Solder was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2014

By Josh Hill | Apr 21, 2015

Nov 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; New England Patriots tackle Nate Solder (77) after the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Sometimes sports just don’t matter, but in a strange way they can save our lives in more ways than one — and Nate Solder is an example of that.

New England Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder revealed in a recent interview with ESPN that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2014 before the season kicked off.

Solder is coming forward to let other men know that they have nothing to be ashamed of in revealing or admitting they have testicular cancer as being alive is much more important that caring about what people think of your genitals. Solder was successfully treated for cancer and had his cancer-ridden testicle removed days after it was found — and that’s a scary idea to so many men.

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Sometimes sports can save your life in more ways than you think, and Solder is proof of this. His use of team doctors helped pin point the scariest diagnosis of his life and treat him in time to save his life.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Solder revealed that he was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer last offseason.

"“I knew nothing about it. It was a complete surprise,” Solder said. “You Google something like that and it kind of scares you, so I was like, ‘I’m not going to freak out about this.’ Had I not had a routine physical, I probably wouldn’t have checked it, saying, ‘Oh, it’s just in my head, I’m going to be fine.’ “"

Solder wanted to note that he wasn’t going forward to be some sort of hero, or make his incredible 2014 season seem even more incredible. Rather, he has experienced first hand how cancer can sneak up on you out of nowhere — no matter your age or health status — and he wants men everywhere to start being cautious.

"“It’s more common than people realize. A lot of people are either afraid to do it, or they don’t think it’s important enough to get it checked,” Solder said. “It’s a simple check. Six months, a year, and then it starts spreading and then you start to feel symptoms and it’s a more serious situation. So that’s a big thing; you can save lives with early detection.”"

This is in incredible story — incredible.

So many times we hear stories about cancer coming into someone’s life and it being too late. Lauren Hill was the most recent example of this, and she was able to become a hero and a legend in her short time on this earth. Solder’s story is a different kind of harrowing tale, as while he has beat his cancer, he still serves as an example of how cancer can effect anyone.

From Lauren Hill, a teenager with so much life ahead of her, to Solder who is a professional athlete with million dollar medical treatment, cancer can effect anyone. This should be a call to check yourself, be wise about your health and never play off a strange illness that creeps up out of nowhere.

Solder was lucky, but it seems cancer is effecting people at a younger and younger age and that’s something that we should all be concerned about. It’s why Solder has come forward with this story and it’s why we need to take his message seriously.

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