'Summer House' Star Jesse Solomon Reflects on His Testicular Cancer Diagnosis: 'Puts Everything Into Perspective' tram

Five years after his diagnosis, Jesse Solomon calls testicular cancer "one of the better things that's ever happened to me."

The newest Summer House star opened up about his health on Thursday's episode of the Bravo series, and revealed to his housemates that the experience changed "everything" about his entire perspective on life.

"When you're on your ass and you can't get up to piss, and your brother and your dad lift you up, you're like, 'Wow,' " Solomon, 31, recalled. "It definitely puts everything into perspective and makes you realize the importance of family and your friends, who's there for you and who is not."

Soloman is actually a two-time cancer survivor. He was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in August 2017 during a routine check-up.

"I was just like, 'Let me get an STD check," he said. "The first time they called me they were like, 'Hey you need to come back to the hospital right now,' And I was like, 'Oh f---, I have chlamydia!' "

After having one of his testicles removed ("I am a one-nut warrior"), Solomon said he felt "totally fine" until another check-up found that the cancer had spread to his stomach.

"The first time I was diagnosed with cancer it was weird because it was like, 'Did I just have cancer?' I just had a quick surgery. It was serious, obviously, but I didn't feel like a cancer survivor," he said on Summer House, going on to note that the second time, he underwent chemotherapy and "the whole thing."

According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 of every 250 males will develop testicular cancer at some point during their lifetime, with 9,760 new cases of testicular cancer estimated to be diagnosed this year — an increase in the United States over the past several decades. The death rate is estimated to be about 500 men.

The disease is largely one of young and middle-aged men, with the average age of males being diagnosed at 33. Only 6% of cases occur in children and teens, and about 8% occur in men older than 55.

Testicular cancer or its treatment can affect fertility. "In some cases, if one testicle is left, fertility returns after the testicular cancer has been treated," the ACS said.