Latest news with #DaveBaksh
Globe and Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
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.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sum 41's Dave Baksh was his 'own worst enemy' after his testicular cancer diagnosis
Sum 41's Dave Baksh recalls feeling the crushing weight of thinking he'd lose everything in his life after his cancer diagnosis. For someone so rooted in his community, receiving the dreaded news about his health was a fear that ultimately led to a breaking point. "It was at that moment that I took a second to put my head above water and realize that I'm surrounded by a very, very high amount of positivity and good people," the lead guitarist of the long-running pop-punk band from Ajax, Ont., shared. "That was the moment where I was like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. I could lose all of this.' I definitely broke down, cried and quickly tried to remind myself ... 'stay positive.'" This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Back in early 2022, Baksh was gearing up for a co-headlining tour with his bandmates and fellow Canadian artists Simple Plan. Hitting the road with his friends was an exciting project at the time, after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the "In Too Deep" hitmakers from touring for two years. But that February, the then-41-year-old musician found a lump on his testicle that was presenting differently than something like a cyst or lump of fat. He recalled it appearing that one day and then disappearing the next in a "day on, day off" pattern. That was until it reappeared for a couple of days in a row, which made him suspicious and led him to call his family doctor in Whitby, Ont. Within a week, he met with Oshawa, Ont.-based urologist Dr. Arun Mathur and immediately talked about booking a surgery. "I think just hearing 'cancer' is an alarming thing," Baksh added. "But the doctor was really, really quick to reassure me that, essentially to quote him, 'This is winning the lottery as far as cancers go.'" Luckily, Baksh said his journey with testicular cancer was "really quick" and he emphasized how he had no discomfort about discussing his health with his medical professionals. Chemotherapy was also not required since his testicle was being removed; surgeons couldn't try removing the tumour at the risk of cutting it and allowing the cancer to spread in his system. "The only alarming thing that happened during this whole process was that, as I was about to go to sleep for the operation, I heard the anesthesiologist was a big fan, so I was like, 'Oh my God, I've got no bottoms on,'" Baksh, now 44, joked. Despite being surrounded by a circle of loved ones and having a relatively fast cancer experience, there were still moments for Baksh that weren't as seemingly easy going. Internal struggles came in the midst of his diagnosis, where he began running laps around unanswerable questions like "what did I do wrong?" and "what did I do to contribute to this?" I was my own worst enemy upon the Baksh of Sum 41 Those intrusive thoughts would strike a chord at various points throughout his day, from leaving a medical appointment to lying in bed at night with his fiancée, Kendra. He'd ponder over the sole idea of having the disease, and worried about falling in the small percentage of people who unfortunately don't survive testicular cancer. "The emotions that went through me at that moment were similar to accepting death in other situations that I've been in in my entire life," he noted. "It's not an easy thing to go through, but I do think that emotionally, I came out stronger because of it." According to the Canadian Cancer Society, survival varies depending on the stage of testicular cancer, but the earlier it's diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. In Canada, it's estimated that 1,300 men were diagnosed with testicular cancer last year, with roughly 30 dying from the disease. However, it's believed around 97 per cent of people who receive a testicular diagnosis will survive for at least five years. Baksh's diagnosis also came on the heels of his mother going through her own experience with cancer. Around eight months prior to his health news, his mom learned she had been living with breast cancer. "I was more scared for my mom than anything else." At the time, his mother was set to repatriate back to Guyana to be with his father, but her diagnosis forced the delay of those plans. In late 2021, she received the news she was cancer-free and "couldn't book her ticket fast enough" back home, Baksh shared. "It was kind of scary thinking about the prospect of losing my mom to something that was out of our control. It scared me a lot for her," he recalled. "But the same way she sprung to my aid when I was diagnosed, I think the same thing just happened to me. We're a family of nurturing people." That sense of care and love for other people — even those who are strangers — is seemingly at Baksh's core of being human. Then, seeing that support reflected back towards him essentially acts as fuel to help Baksh thrive. "Through my ability to lean on my friends and just get that emotional support of 'whatever you need, whatever can do, we got you,' and then to have something as big as the Canadian Cancer Society do the same thing for me. For a person like me, that's important, because I come from not only a career that relies on community but I'm also a person that thrives on community," he noted. Connecting with community and supporting others was a key part of his experience while participating in Relay For Life, an annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraising event that he and his partner plan to attend again this June in downtown Toronto. Baksh first took part the summer after his diagnosis in 2022, and walking the victory lap amongst other cancer survivors was a moment he recalled as being powerful. "We got to walk around the track and experience that same type of feeling through community from people we don't even know. Just walking around the track being clapped for — it was really moving. ... To be there in support of people in remission, cancer-free, surviving, it was a very special moment and something that I'll remember," Baksh shared, Cancer is something that half of the people in Canada are expected to be diagnosed with — this is wild to me. ... I'm glad to be part of Baksh of Sum 41 When the Canadian Cancer Society reached out to Baksh asking him to share his story back around the time of his diagnosis in 2022, he remembered feeling a bit of guilt because he didn't necessarily experience any hardship. "I had a little bit of imposter syndrome at first, but I think because my story was over so quickly, I think it was important to get it out there." After hearing from the organization, he realized this was his chance to do something that could benefit someone experiencing a similar situation. "I was like, 'Yeah, I could probably do something positive for people going through the same diagnosis I went through,'" he said, urging anyone with testicles to regularly check themselves to ensure they're fine. "Just go take care of it — just go." Baksh reflected on the prominence of cancer in Canada, where it's estimated nearly one in two Canadians are expected to hear the words "you have cancer" in their lifetime. He said he's glad an organization like the Canadian Cancer Society exists for people surviving the disease. April is also Daffodil Month, which is the organization's initiative — using the flower as a symbol of hope — to raise funds, awareness and support for people impacted by cancer. Baksh urged people to recognize the importance of uplifting charities like the Canadian Cancer Society: "This is a society that is changing cancer and has changed the lives of people dealing with cancer." Additionally, he hopes one of the messages people take away is that there's no use shying away from seeking a health-care provider's help when necessary. "It is so much easier and better to do in person, especially if we're talking about finding a lump somewhere or not feeling right," he said. "It's important and it's up to you to get diagnosed and to be preventative. Otherwise, you may be sitting with something in your body that could eventually kill you — and that's not worth it for you or the people around you that love you."
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sum 41 fans only just learning 'wholesome' meaning behind band's iconic name
They've been creating music for 28 years - but some Sum 41 fans are only just learning what their iconic stage name actually means. The rock band, consisting of Deryck Whibley, Dave Baksh, Jason McCaslin , Tom Thacker , and Frank Zummo, came together in Ajax, Ontario in 1996. Since then, they have won numerous awards for their music - with their most popular songs including In Too Deep, The Hell Song, Fat Lip, Still Waiting, Landmines, Pieces, Walking Disaster, With Me and Noots. But despite their decades-long fame, some listeners have no idea what their stage name means - and whether there's a meaning behind the number 41. In a Reddit thread titled 'Band name origins', a user asked music lovers whether they know the "origin of names for the bands they listen to". In response, one user shared their surprise after recently discovering what Sum 41 means. In an interview with Alternative Press, frontman Deryck Whibley shared how the name came about, saying it's a nod to their childhood in the 1990s. He said: "The band started on the 41st day of summer for us, because when we were in high school, we considered 'summer' the day that the school ended. I don't know if it was the official 41st day of summer but to us, when we were 16, summer started when the school was over, and the day we started the band was 41 days after that." READ MORE: Maroon 5 fan think they know what name means despite Adam Levine keeping it secret He went on to explain how the band was originally called Kaspir when he started playing with school friends Steve Jocz, Grant McVitie, and an unnamed student. He added: "We went to the Warped Tour in '96, these were all the kind of bands that we listened to, which was NOFX, Face to Face, Lagwagon, Pennywise, and Kaspir was kind of, like, it leaned to some of that, but it wasn't fully into that kind of world of that kind of sound. "After we went to the Warped Tour and seeing all these bands perform live, it was really exciting and really, it just kind of changed our world. All of a sudden, we just said, 'We need to start a band that is more like this kind of style and that can play on the Warped Tour.' "That was the dream. From that day on, that was the 41st day of the summer for us, and we decided that Kaspir is no more, the band is Sum 41." Commenting on this revelation, one amazed fan said: "This whole time Sum 41 just meant 41 days into the summer? I'm stupid." While another user added: "Someone at school told me it was because the sum of all the band's kids was 41. For some reason I never, not even once, questioned all four band members having 10+ illegitimate children in their 20s/30s."
