FEATURE: A Hockey Fights Cancer chat with Davidson

Blackhawks defenseman Brandon Davidson was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 21. The illness was discovered during a routine physical while with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate. After his battle with the disease, chemotherapy, and rehab, Davidson was told two years ago he was cancer free and the probability it will return is very low. He now devotes this month each year to telling his story, raising awareness for men's health, and aiding in Hockey Fights Cancer initiatives. chicagoblackhawks.com's Chris Wescott sat down with Davidson to discuss his story.
WESCOTT:This comes around every year and every year you get involved somehow. What does Hockey Fights Cancer mean to you?
DAVIDSON:I think it's a special month for a lot of reasons, personally. It kind of hits home, and for a lot of people it does as well. It's just really good to see the whole league and all the organizations come together to raise awareness for health and support in that department.

WESCOTT:How much does specifically raising awareness to get tested and receive check-ups mean to you? Because it was just a routine physical exam [that discovered your cancer]. People don't often realize this could happen to anybody.
DAVIDSON:For sure, I think being affected by what I went through was life-altering. It really opened up my eyes a lot and it really makes things easy for me to promote this month and for a lot of people to promote this month. I think in families, on hockey teams and in communities, one way or another it will touch all of those. This is a good month to raise that awareness and to get checked.

WESCOTT:Even though you didn't get a chance to skate that day with him, did you get a chance to meet \[the Make-A-Wish kid\] Carter?
DAVIDSON:Yes, I did! I got the chance to meet Carter outside of the locker room and I was able to introduce myself. It was a brief conversation, but it was nice to see that he had a smile on his face. He was around the guys and I know they had a good time with him on the ice as well. Hockey is such a small community. In saying that, we really come together and rally around things like that. It was special for us to have him around and have him in the locker room to understand what he's going through and lend our support.
WESCOTT:How did hockey help you through your tough times? Your teammates in Oklahoma City shaved their head in solidarity. You had several players from around the league call you? So how did the hockey community help you?
DAVIDSON:Yeah, I mean… people reached out in different ways and lent their support. I think to go through something like that, I found comfort in knowing there are people out there that are willing to lend their hand and support, and really just be there for you in those hard times. Hockey kind of put things in perspective and it really just showed me how much you give to the game and how much the game can give back to you.
WESCOTT:Did it help to have the goal to return to the ice in mind? I don't think you ever wavered from "I'm going to return. My career is not over." Did having that marker, that goal, help you?
DAVIDSON:Yeah, definitely. For me, anyway, I always look for markers or goals in all parts of my life. But knowing I was going to have the chance to come back and knowing that I would be able to fight through this with the support of my teammates, my family and friends. Having those benchmarks really set goals for myself. Going through that situation really altered my opinion on life and made me truly understand the opportunity that was in front of me. It motivated me to really pursue what I wanted.

WESCOTT:This isn't something that goes away is it? A cancer diagnosis sticks with you the rest of your life, if not physically then mentally in terms of what you went through, what you overcame and now how you want to help others, right? This is for life.
DAVIDSON:Yes. This is a big month for me. It's an all the time thing now, for me. But this month, especially, is special in that way that I can bring awareness, promote my story and maybe lend some guidance to people along the way."
WESCOTT:I'm Carter, or any kid or person, hockey fan or player, dealing with a diagnosis like this. What do you say to me?
DAVIDSON:I think just give them a good sense or understanding that your family and friends are going to be there for you. The support of the people around you can give you comfort and will help you through your hard times. For me, I just think meeting him yesterday and having him around the team brought back that sense of childhood. I'm sure he's gone through some hard times and at hospitals. I don't try to talk about too much that goes on in the hospital but bring that smile back. I'd let him know you're going to be OK and there are people around you that care about you and love you.
WESCOTT:Last one. Take me back to the day that you were told you were going to be OK, that they didn't see any signs of the cancer. What was that moment like for you?
DAVIDSON:I was told when we first began that five years was the marker of when you're basically in the green zone. You're safe. It was a happy day. I knew the cancer that I had was very curable and very beatable. But it still always plays tricks on your mind throughout the years where I kind of do doubt myself and it kind of brings me back to that scary time in my life. When I was finally told at five years I was cancer free and the probabilities of it returning dropped immensely, it was a very special moment for my family and I and the close people in my life. It was a moment I will never forget.