TCAF Board Member Shares his Perspective of Being TC Doctor/Patient

TCAF Board Member Shares his Perspective of Being TC Doctor/Patient

Dr. Sean Q. Kern is a urologic oncologist in the Murtha Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He is the founding Director of the military’s Testicular cancer Enterprise for Survivorship, Treatment, and Investigational Sciences “TESTIS” Program and the Program Director of the Walter Reed Urology Residency. He is an Indiana University-trained urologic oncologist and was able to attend the Testicular Cancer Conference at IU in October of 2023, offering a very unique perspective.

In April of 2023, Sean Kern was diagnosed with testicular cancer himself. Quickly changing from someone who treats the disease, to someone needing the treatment. After being diagnosed, he came back to IU to receive the guidance and care from his mentors as a patient this time, instead of a colleague.

“I’m probably the only urologic oncologist in the world who has testicular cancer,” said Kern, one of the military’s top experts in the field. “It was really weird to be on the other side of the conversation.”

Dr. Sean Kern spoke at Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation’s TC Conference as the inspirational speaker, alongside his wife Aneta Kern, a phycologist, offering a perspective not normally heard of. He discussed how about a year before being diagnosed, he started the TESTIS (Testicular cancer Enterprise for Survivorship, Treatment, and Investigational Sciences) program within the military at the Murtha Cancer Center at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He had no idea that a year later he would be going through a lifechanging diagnosis of testicular cancer, of all things.

Sean and Aneta shared an inspiring story of how they navigated the diagnosis with two young kids and busy careers. When receiving news like this, it impacts everyone around us, causing just as much anxiety for the patient as it does the caregiver. Sean and Aneta have traversed this path with grace and strength and Sean said his diagnosis has given him more empathy for what his patients go through.

To read the full article about Dr. Sean Kern, click here.