Asa Newell was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2020 when he was 17 years old. In response, he thought, “I can either curl up in a corner or I can be the most positive person I can be.” He chose the latter.
Asa details the challenges of being in high school as a young adult cancer survivor, primarily how others his age didn’t always know how to react when they found out about his cancer. Staying true to his mantra of being positive, Asa now sees how being diagnosed so young helped him grow up faster than most since he had to grapple with questions like “Are you okay with dying?”–something kids his age typically don’t think about.
In 2022, Asa found Epic Experience through the Testicular Cancer Society. After meeting other TC survivors with successful lives and stories of perseverance, Asa understood the true potential of living beyond cancer. He left camp with the realization that “to be the person you want to become, you have to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way.”
Asa’s advice to cancer survivors is “No matter how hard it gets, never give up. Get up out of bed and take your first steps of the day. Those are the most important steps of the day. Don’t be afraid to fail in anything. That’s your first step towards success everyday.”