CLEVELAND -- Technology can do more than save your life; it can also give you peace of mind. That's what it did for a young cancer survivor.

As part of NewsChannel5's "Loving Partners -- For the Man in Your Life" series, health team reporter Alicia Booth said that Paul Varga, 32, wants other young men to know that cancer can happen to them, too.

One day, Varga was playing golf; the next, he was in the emergency room with a high fever.

"Lucky for me, the emergency doctor did a full physical and found a lump and sent me in for an ultrasound," Varga said.

But Varga didn't feel so lucky when he learned that the lump was testicular cancer.

"Nothing worse than (at) 1:30 in the morning, him telling me I have a tumor that's malignant that possibly has spread through my body," he said.

Varga was shocked, probably like most young men who are diagnosed with testicular cancer, NewsChannel5 reported.

"I feel that I'm pretty healthy," he said. "I eat healthy foods, I'm pretty active, and why me at such a young age?"

But doctors said Varga is testicular cancer's prime target: a young, white male.

What was somewhat rare was that his cancer had spread.

After surgery to remove the affected testicle, he knew he would be starting chemotherapy soon after. But a high-tech PET scan at University Hospitals put things in fast forward.

"On this survivor, we thought he needed attention sooner rather than later," said Dr. Paul Faulhaber, of University Hospitals. "It was really a 'Wow.' That was (a) really unexpected kind of case."

Varga had a lot of cancerous black spots, so chemotherapy had to start right away.

"I just started freaking out," he said. "I didn't know what to do other than come in. I didn't know how to tell my family."

But Varga got through it, with the help of family, friends, and golf.

While it was golf that helped keep Varga's mind off the cancer, he said it was actually the PET scan that gave him peace of mind.

A second PET scan showed the cancer was gone.

Varga's treatment would end, but his commitment to make other young men aware of this disease was just beginning.

"And I feel it's my time to make more people aware of testicular cancer," he said.

Varga is a firm believer that self-exams can save lives, but most men probably don't know how to do one.

For free instructions and information on testicular cancer, call University Hospitals for a free mailer. The hot line number is (800) 641-2422.