I had testicular cancer 7.5 years ago.
I’d had a few periods where I’d felt a lump but after a few days it was either smaller, not there of I couldn’t find it. To this day I don’t know if that was the start or just me being paranoid.
Anyways, 6 months, a year or even more after I’d dismissed these ‘lumps’ my left testicle swelled up to the size of a lemon and it felt as if someone had attached a lead weight to it. After ignoring it for a week (as best as you can) it eventually went down. That morning I remember being in the shower soaping up when I felt the most definite pea sized lump ever. I was dried and on the phone to the dr within 5 mins, after insisting in an emergency app a you female student dr was blushing profusely as she examined my bean bag. Her words “yes, definitely a lump”…
I was referred for an ultra sound which happened within days, at this point timescales become hazy. I know what day I had the ultrasound as it was my mums birthday and I chose not to tell her until the next day. The radiographer had all but confirmed that it was indeed cancerous and the dr backed this up the following day with a referral to the oncologist.
Within 15 minutes of meeting the oncologist he’d asked if I had an understanding boss as he had an opening…the following day.
So within 24 hrs of meeting this fella he’d admitted me, removed the offending testie and sent me home in a padded jock strap.
This was effectively the easy bit, it all happened so fast that I didn’t have time for it to sink in. The hard part was the follow ups, had it spread? What follow up treatments would I need? The waiting was a killer but thankfully I was clear.
After chatting it through with my specialist I took a 2 week course of radiotherapy as a preventative measure couple with the usual 5 year observation.
Those still reading may have calculated that I’m now 2.5 years beyond that initial 5 years and everything is fine medically. Mentally I still shit my pants if I’m ill for a prolonged period of time or can’t explain any ailments. I also struggle with weight and fitness but this is possibly due to prolonged periods of no exercise when I get run down.
Anyways, testicular cancer whilst being scary is very very treatable if caught at the early stage, which from what you say would certainly seem to apply should you be unlucky enough to have it. Do yourself a favour, relax, keep away from Google and speak to the right medical professionals.
Should you be in the exclusive minority prepare to have you sack groped by an infinite number of people over the next 5 years, you’ll have more room in your bibs and a vasectomy will take half as much time!
