Jon Garino, an unlikely protagonist in Maryland’s run to the 2017 NCAA men’s lacrosse championship, has testicular cancer. He was diagnosed last week and had surgery Monday, he announced on Instagram.

“The past few days have been filled with unbelievable stress, extreme anxiety and sleepless nights,” Garino wrote. “I am choosing to be open about this to encourage others to self exam. I was able to detect something was not right early and sought care. Early detection can save lives.”

 

 

 

 

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Last week I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had successful surgery today. The past few days have been filled with unbelievable stress, extreme anxiety and sleepless nights. The support from family, friends @terpsmlax and others has been amazing and has given me a ton of strength. I have never been more appreciate for those people in my life. I am choosing to be open about this to encourage others to self exam. I was able to detect something was not right early and sought care. Early detection can save lives. I will continue to need support as I continue this fight but know how thankful I am for all ya’ll!! #fuck2020 ps. @espn The @lancearmstrong 30 for 30 prompted my self exam so thank you for potentially saving my life .

A post shared by Jon Garino (@jongarino) on Aug 10, 2020 at 12:56pm PDT

Garino played a memorable role in helping Maryland end its 42-year NCAA title drought. A third-string faceoff specialist who used the standing neutral grip approach, the Terps treated him like a closer as they had to go through Albany’s TD Ierlan, Denver’s Trevor Baptiste and Ohio State’s Jake Withers.

Garino, who started the season behind Austin Henningsen and Will Bonaparte on the Maryland depth chart, went 73.5 percent against that Murderer’s Row of FOGOs. He dominated Ierlan in the NCAA quarterfinals (12-for-14), drew even with Baptiste in the semifinals (3-for-6) and outdueled Withers in the championship game (10-for-14).

Now he faces an even more daunting opponent.

“I will continue to need support as I continue this fight,” Garino wrote, adding that the ESPN “30 for 30” documentary on Lance Armstrong prompted him to complete a self exam.

Maryland coach John Tillman reposted Garino, commending his former player’s strength and for “being so open to inform and help others detect problems early.”

Garino is not the first lacrosse player to go public with his battle against testicular cancer. Premier Lacrosse League player Joey Sankey, now with Archers LC, was diagnosed in September 2018 and similarly used Instagram to raise awareness of the disease as he underwent chemotherapy. Matt Poskay spent the 2009 Major League Lacrosse season in recovery from testicular cancer that was diagnosed that spring and came back the next year to be named the league’s MVP while playing for the Boston Cannons.

Testicular cancer is easily detectable, highly treatable and the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35, according to the Mayo Clinic.