How a cancer diagnosis helped Sum 41 guitarist Dave Baksh bring the band's final tour into perspective

In the winter of 2022, Dave Baksh – lead guitarist of Canadian pop-punk legends Sum 41 – was gearing up for the band's first postpandemic tour. The shows were something the musician needed on a personal and professional level. A life spent writing music and touring made slowing down hard. With the music industry and live performance sidelined, Baksh had spent a lot of time wondering if he'd ever get his former life back – and what his life would look like if he wasn't making art.
The tour was a chance for things to feel normal again. But the guitarist's excitement was put into jeopardy when he found a lump on his testicle.
After a checkup with his doctor and a follow-up with a specialist, Baksh was diagnosed with testicular cancer. That news initially came with a lot of fear and uncertainty. Was he going to be able to go on the tour? Was he going to be okay? Surprisingly for the musician, treatment and recovery were relatively simple. Because things were caught early, all that was needed was surgery and two months recovery. Then everything was back to normal.
Recently, Baksh has been sharing his story in support of the Canadian Cancer Society's fundraising drive. The Globe and Mail had the chance to chat with the musician about his diagnosis, treatment and how that informed his attitude during Sum 41's final tour.
In 2022, you were getting ready for the band's first postpandemic tour when you got your diagnosis. How did you know to get screened? And what did it feel like getting the news?
One day I was taking a pee and felt an odd lump on my left testicle. I was like, 'Okay, I guess that's something to pay attention to.' It kept going away and coming back. When it was there for about three days in a row, I said to myself, 'This is strange. Time to go to the doctor.'
The doctor checked and immediately sent me to a specialist in Oshawa. I get to that appointment and am told after the examination, 'We're pretty sure that you have testicular cancer.' He also said, 'I think we've caught it early. This is, statistically, a cancer that is 88- to 92-per-cent survival rate. Realistically, it's more like 98 per cent. We're going to basically cut you open like a wallet, remove the testicle and then off you go. You can live your life.'
I was just blown away by the fact that I had been diagnosed with cancer. My mind raced. But the whole time I was assured that it was going to be a very quick and easy recovery.
I think a lot of people can be nervous about going to their doctor or even self-screening. Even using the proper terminology here, talking about the health of your testicles can feel awkward or embarrassing. Where do you think that hesitancy comes from?
I think because of the generation I was brought up in, we were taught by our fathers or people with testicles to just shrug things off. I sat there for probably about a week being like 'Lump on/lump off. Whatever. It probably isn't a problem.' Then finally I woke up one day and was like, 'Well, what if it is a problem?' Luckily, I did. There are people in my family who have gone through worse with the same diagnosis.
Aside from the lump, was there any feeling of sickness, lethargy or anything else to indicate that there might be a problem?
No. Absolutely nothing. I only knew because I was doing what I really recommend everybody who is born with testicles, however you identify, does. Please, please take some time to check yourself.
Sum 41 has had their fair share of health scares over the years. I was wondering how your bandmates reacted to the diagnosis and if it impacted the work at all.
Oh, man, it was immediate love: 'Whatever we can do – whatever we have to do – we will do for you." I was really, really sad because I was thinking the diagnosis and the recovery from the surgery was going to make me miss my first tour back after the pandemic. After spending all this time on a couch, drinking, binging Love on the Spectrum, trying to figure out if my life was ever going to be the same again, we're about to head back out and all of a sudden I get hit with this. The guys were just super supportive. Same with management. The outpouring of positivity was amazing during a really vulnerable time.
Did that diagnosis in conjunction with all the time in the pandemic change your perspective on playing shows or making art for a living?
I don't think it changed my perspective. I think it just added to the perspective. I don't know if it was overcoming cancer, but I definitely felt a deeper connection to the guys even on top of the chemistry that we have on stage. Because if I had waited longer, who knows? I may not even have been able to experience that.
Why be open about your diagnosis and your recovery story? What's the desire to share?
Man, I was blown away with the fact that everything happened so quickly. The biggest dent to my life during that period was an eight-week recovery. That's it. Because I decided to go ask a doctor if something was wrong with me, it was only eight weeks out of my life. We have a health care system that will take care of you. We have to take advantage of things. I have seen things go south with people I love. But a major impact in your life can be prevented if you just take the time to check your body, listen to your body and be present with your health.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

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