Matt Cross, a youth hockey coach and cancer survivor, has dedicated his life to training young men to become leaders, not only on the ice but in life. Raised in Toronto and now a Raleigh resident, Cross emphasizes courage, bravery, and responsibility to his athletes. His mission took on a new dimension following a personal battle with cancer.
Diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 36, Cross found a new purpose in his journey. “Because I work with a lot of families and young people, it was very easy for me to decide that there was a reason why I was going through this,” he said. “It was an opportunity to make my family and friends proud and to show young people what you do when you have a really difficult obstacle in your life.”
Facing the Diagnosis
The turning point came when Cross’s father experienced heart problems. In an effort to compare EKG readings, Cross wore an Apple Watch, which returned an abnormal result. This prompted him to visit a doctor, where he also addressed a lingering concern.
“While I was getting my physical, I said, ‘Hey, you know, why don’t you check out this lump,’” Cross recalled. The lump had been present for months, but like many men, he delayed seeking medical advice until he had a compelling reason.
On Christmas Day 2019, Cross received the diagnosis: Stage 2B testicular cancer. “Stage 2B means that the cancer originated in the testicle,” he explained. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men aged 15 to 35, typically treated by removing the affected testicle.
The Journey to Recovery
As a coach, Cross was accustomed to fighting for victory. However, his battle with cancer required a different kind of resilience. Aware of the tradition of ringing a bell to mark remission, Cross was initially disappointed not to find one at his doctor’s office. After enduring two surgeries and three cycles of chemotherapy, totaling 15 days of infusions, he finally got his moment.
“The story goes, when I came in for my very last day of treatment, they had installed a bell,” he said. “So I was able to have a celebration and ring it.” For Cross, celebrating small victories became an essential part of his journey.
“As a cancer patient and survivor, you learn to celebrate all the wins, the small ones, the big ones,” Cross said. “Cancer is all sorts of life lessons kind of thrown at you all at once.”
Support and Advocacy
Throughout his fight, Cross received overwhelming support from the hockey community. “That looked like emails, phone calls, texts, food gift cards, a GoFundMe,” he recalled. “A lot of the local hockey teams taped their sticks purple and put ribbons on their jerseys.”
This support fueled Cross’s determination to recover. “It was really a big part of my fight; I can’t let these people down,” he stated. Now in remission for five years, Cross has returned to his mission of modeling leadership and advocating for men’s health.
A year after his diagnosis, Cross launched the Raleigh Testicular Cancer Foundation, aiming to raise awareness and educate men about testicular cancer. “Our slogan for our charity is Check Your Acorns. That’s kind of like a clever, cute way to encourage men and young people to perform self-checks,” he explained.
“We’re trying to tear down stigmas so that men book that doctor’s appointment and that annual physical,” Cross emphasized.
Breaking the Stigma
Cross highlights the need for men to take their health seriously, drawing parallels to the widespread acceptance of breast cancer self-exams. “Men need that extra nudge to understand the risks of ignoring their bodies’ warning signs,” he noted.
“It’s not about being masculine and being strong,” Cross said, “it’s about saving your life, potentially. The cure rates for cancer when you find them in stage one are significantly higher.”
Cross’s story aligns with broader discussions on the increasing incidence of cancer among younger adults. The WRAL Doc unit’s latest documentary, “Diagnosis: Young. The New Face of Cancer in NC,” explores this alarming trend, following three North Carolinians in their 20s and 30s who faced unexpected cancer diagnoses.
“Diagnosis: Young” is available on WRAL’s streaming platforms and YouTube channel, and will air on FOX 50 and WILM on June 29.
Through his foundation and personal journey, Matt Cross continues to inspire young men to take charge of their health, turning his battle with cancer into a powerful message of leadership and resilience.
