I'm a Survivor: David Cline

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cassandra Whitman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  (This article is part of a series featuring Airmen and their families, as well as DOD civilians who have fought or continue to fight a battle with cancer. To view the previous story, click here.)

For Senior Airman David Cline, a 354th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator (dirt boy), the day began the same as any other. He was busy working and even had plans to play softball later on that day. At 1:30 p.m., he received a call that would change his life.

"We have the results and they don't look good," the voice on the other line said. "We have you on a plane to Anchorage at 8 a.m. tomorrow."

Cline found out he had testicular cancer May 5.

"I thought she had the wrong person," said Cline.

It didn't quite hit him that he had cancer and was heading out for surgery the next day.

"I didn't really tell many people at first," he said. "No one in the shop knew except a few close friends. I needed a buddy to go with me to drive me around after the surgery."

Cline stayed in Anchorage for a couple of days to recover after his May 6 surgery, but said he was relieved to know that his cancer was gone. Just as quickly as doctors found it, they removed it.

"My case was really lucky!" he exclaimed. "They found it; they took it out and that was it."

Cline said he didn't tell his mother until a month and a half after the surgery.

"I didn't want her to worry, but she had the typical mom reaction," he said. "She took it worse than I did."

When Cline did tell his fellow dirt boys, he said they were nothing but supportive. "If anything, they cracked a couple of jokes to put me at ease," he said.

After his bout with cancer, Cline explained that he feels more motivated. He said it's pushed him to not be as lethargic as he may have been and to strive toward goals he wants to accomplish.

"You never really know," he said. "One day you're going to play softball and the next minute you're on a plane to have surgery."

Cline's advice to anyone still fighting is to take things day by day, one step at a time.

"Don't let anything get you down," he said. "Win."