OT: 6 weeks before I get married, a doctor tells me I have cancer...a health warning.

Hey guys. I know this is off-topic for the HAMB, but I thought it was an important enough issue to raise with a forum made up of mostly guys. Hopefully my story may prevent anyone else with similar symptoms holding off from seeing a doctor, and get any unusual changes checked out as soon as possible.

I got some pretty bad news a few weeks ago...I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I'm 27.

Story with more details about the diagnosis on my blog here: http://carscameraschronicillness.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/so-six-weeks-before-i-get-married.html

But for those with short attention spans, see below.


Cliffs for the tl;dr crowd.

1. I have gastroparesis, which means my stomach muscles are paralysed, and I haven't been able to eat or drink anything since October 2010, so I get fed liquid nutrition 20 hours a day via a pump machine and tube surgically inserted below my stomach. (see this post for more info and photos: http://carscameraschronicillness.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/my-jejunostomy-tube-swap-1-back-story.html )

2. Saw a GP on Wednesday 14th March about suspicious swelling and hardness of my right testicle. He's concerned and orders an ultrasound the next day.

3. Had ultrasound Thursday 15th, get results, GP uses the terms 'cancer', 'prepare for the worst' and 'sorry'. On my fiance's 23rd birthday. Her mum died of brain and lung cancer when she was 15.

4. Saw urology specialist Friday 16th, looking at scans and after a brief physical examination, they say there's a 98% likelihood I have testicular cancer, and the right testicle/tumour will need to be removed ASAP.

5. Fiance's bridal shower Saturday 17th, was a bit hard for her to enjoy the party under the circumstances.

6. Went to hospital afternoon of Monday 19th for pre-surgery appointments with anesthetist, nurse, urologist and pharmacist.

7. Went in for surgery at 7am Wednesday 21st, right testicle is removed through an incision near my hip.

Couple of photos of the incision site here: http://carscameraschronicillness.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/battle-scars.html

8. Got home afternoon of Thursday 22nd in a fair bit of pain, after having a CT scan to find out whether the cancer has spread anywhere else.

9. Rested in bed for several day in varying levels of discomfort.

10. Had post-surgery doctor's appointment Monday 26th, CT scans and bloods came back clear, cancer hasn't spread!!

11. Made appointment with urology doctor to get tumour biopsy results on April 16th, when they will know what type of cancer it was, how fast it was growing, and if I need more treatment in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. There's still a 2% chance the tumour was benign, but it's very unlikely.

12. I will be referred to an oncologist to discuss the above, not sure about the date.

13. Wedding April 28th.

Conclusion: If you start to notice anything unusual about your nads, get to a doctor ASAP to have it checked out. It might be embarrassing, but the faster you jump on a nasty disease like cancer, the better the chance you have of beating it before it spreads.


So does anyone have personal experience with testicular cancer, and some success stories?

 

I can relate to your situation. I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer 4 months after getting married. I'm lucky, looks like the surgeon got it all, will know more in a few weeks. Got my fingers crossed for you!

 

Man thats a bummer all round hope everything works out for you. Congrats on gettin hitched though.

 

Hang in there Rohan! I went though the same thing back in 2009. Mine was stage 3 and I was put through the ringer with surgeries and chemo therapy and I'm still here! Keep a positive attitude, you'll get through it!

 

Hang in there bro,hope everything comes back in the clear!!

 

Had a huge tumor removed from my neck last Oct 2, turned out benign, went from my jaw to my heart, got an ear to ear scar and the scare of a lifetime. Hang in there, it'll go good.

 

Testicular? No. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma? Yes.

If youre clear after losing one testicle count yourself lucky indeed. Watch your sugar intake as well.

 

Best of luck to you and congrats on the upcoming wedding.

 

Rohan, thanks for the good advice - good luck to you, your goolies and for the wedding.

Good to get all the crap out of the way early!!

 

A little less than a year ago my nephew, 19, was diagnosed with testicular cancer, operated on 10 days later, and having chemo therapy for some time later. The Dr told him after diagnosis to get to a sperm bank immediately if he had any plans of having his own children and he did.
His fiancee has stuck with him so far so maybe they'll make the 2013 wedding date.

Best of luck to you and yours! We'll pray for you as we pray for our nephew for a long life and many adopted children if the "real" thing doesn't work out!

 

Well, Rohan, you did get life's wake up call of what's important in life and what's not. Many folks don't get that until way late in their life

Your tale is on topic because there are many, many survivors here. Me too. As this forum is mostly posted by men, it is fitting that everyone be aware of what some of the various cancer's symptoms are.

The survival rate these days is so much better when it is caught early, like yours.

So give that gal of yours a great big smooch from us here on the HAMB.

Congradulations on your up coming marriage, and for now becoming a survivor.


HellRaiser

 

thanks for sharing

 

I'm only 25 and my wife is constantly nagging me for avoiding the doctor for things I say are nothing but she says are worth looking at. I appreciate you sharing this, it scares me shitless to think that my stubbornness could let something treatable turn into a death sentence.

Again, thank you for sharing this with us, especially the young fellas.

 

Your getting married in 18 days, wow that in it's self is a big deal.....congratulations. Your bout with cancer on the other hand is a little more dicey, what you have gone through couldn't have been pleasant physically or mentally. It's good that you caught it early. Good luck on being cancer free.

 

That was a close one. For all of you who have been though bouts with cancer and those that might in the future do one thing, make sure that you go in for each and every follow up checkup after that even years later. My dad didn't and it came back and got him too soon.

 

You've had some bad stuff thrown your way but congrats on beating it all and getting married!

I just went for a full checkup, everything, doing okay but I don't take it for granted anymore. Co-worker's son is 19, just had his entire colon removed.

 

I wish you the best in a long life with a beautiful bride.
A friend of mine had the same thing. He went through all the standard issue hell that goes with it. NEVER worry about getting checked. It dosent affect your manhood at all. Certainly not like a weird scar. Prostate exam same,same. My Dr. is a teacher. Had the exam scheduled and he "just happened" to have 5 students that day.
Dosent seem so bad now, does it?

 

Hate to hear that man. Hoping it stays away and you heal up right quick!

 

20+ year testicular cancer surviver here. embrinal carsonoma and seminoma, 3 tumors, 1 nut. Still alive and kicking, doing well.

I wish you the best, Mark

 

If I can be of any help feel free to PM me. Mark

 

Have a friend that had Testicular cancer about 30 years ago. Went on to get married and have two kids and he's still going strong. Today they have even better knowledge and methods, so hang in there - we're all praying for you and you'll come through this fine! You Aussies are a tough lot.

 

At 23 my youngest son went thru the same thing. Two and a half years later he's still clear and thankful. He caught it early and the outcome was good. Also he and his wife have a two yr old son : )

Now at 26 he tells the "one nut" jokes and life is good.

All the best - on your recovery and your marriage!

 

hang in their dude, i survived it 20 years ago and have a younger brother that has survived it TWICE in the last 10 years.

 

Thanks for sharing Rohan. There are many, many cancer survivers on the HAMB including myself. Mine came late in my life but cancer does not know the age of it's victims. I pray your outcome will continue to be as good as it has been so far. You are brave to share yours with us and have the right frame of mind. Listen to his words of wisdom guys.

 

l will keep you in my thoughts.

just today l am trying to revive a plan l have had for a long time, build a street legal dirt style car like they raced in the 1960's using a 1940ish dodge body l have and take it out to raise money for cancer patients and research.

cancer has been in my family and it sucks

l want to help others in there time of hardship. maybe by giving of myself, it may make someone's life better.

take care of you're self and please, keep us updated.

Later

 

Sorry to hear about your circumstance, prayers & positive thoughts coming your way! Chin up, forge on ahead, ...keep that upper lip stiff! I've had a triple bypass & valve replacement myself, ...amongst other things. Just figure that any day I wake-up & can stand-up & motate, ...it's a good one! "Above ground, vertical, and breathing" as the saying goes!

 

Sorry to hear about your problems there Buddy. We'll be praying for you!

 

Congratulations on your wedding. And stay strong

 

cool idea, thanks for sharing!

 

Good luck with everything man and thanks for the post. Its definitely a reminder to pay attention to our health rather than avoiding doctors. I wish you and your soon to be wife all the best and I hope you kick this thing as soon as possible.