Don't forget chaps... check down below occasionally
- Thread starter Hades
- Start date
Just had a feel, found nothing out of the ordinary, and rubbed one out in celebration.
Best of luck with the results. A positive mind can work wonders in situations like this
I thought it was time to post an update on what has happened since I started this post.
The Operation
Well as explained in my opening post I was due to have an operation to remove the tumour (which obviously meant remove the testicle too). That took place as planned. It was a day procedure under general anaesthetic. I probably returned to work a little too soon as it took longer than I'd hoped to heal and I had a minor infection. But that's probably because despite being signed off work for two weeks I returned after one (I'm simply not the type of person who takes sick leave when I can avoid it). A biopsy confirmed it was a stage 1 seminoma. That was great news because that type of cancer is one of the most treatable if it had spread. There was some sign of spread into the tubes but very little so it had indeed been caught early.
Observations
I was referred to the Royal Marsden for follow ups and a decision on whether further treatment is necessary and it has been decided that they will adopt a wait and see policy. Chemo isn't required at this point. Apparently I have an 85% chance of no further re-occurrence from the original tumour and if it does return elsewhere in the body then they expect it to be very, very treatable ("near 100% although nothing is guaranteed").
The Trial
It turns out that the Marsden is running a trial on how to observe this type of cancer. Standard practice is seven CT scans over 3 years. However a CT scan exposes you to radiation and while the risk of that is low it's still a risk. So the trial is looking at alternaive observation patterns including reduced numbers of CT scans or alternatively using MRI scans instead. MRI is magnetic and so removes the radiation risk.
I elected to take part in the trial and I've been allocated into the "three MRI scans" group (the groupings were: 7 CT, 3 CT, 7 MRI or 3 MRI). While it is a little unnerving to be in a trial I feel that with a low risk of further spread I would be helping others for the future by taking part. Afterall there have been trials in the past which have indirectly helped me and I felt it was time to try to give something back.
Risk of Another Tumour
Unfortunately I've also been advised that I have a statistical 1 in 20 risk of a separate and unrelated tumour appearing at some point in the other testicle (not everyone has this risk but see below for why I am more at risk than others). This would be bad news because they would have to remove that side too. While I have no future plans for children (I have two beautiful kids already) it would mean my body would be unable to produce testosterone. There are testosterone treatments such as injections but I don't fancy that much.
So I saw the Marsden again today and have elected to have a biopsy of the other testicle. Apparently they can detect pre-cancerous cells up to five years in advance. The biopsy is 95% reliable (but again not a guarantee). The procedure is again a day case but under general anaesthetic and I will be sore for a few days (I bet that's an understatement!). However if they do find anything of concern then they can treat it with radiotherapy while it is in its early stages rather than remove the testicle. This is likely to prevent me having further children (not an issue for me) but would mean that my body can still produce testosterone. So it seemed the obvious route to take. There is no rush for this because there is nothing detected on scans on that side right now. It's simply a preventative measure for the future. So it is likely I'll have the biopsy in January or February.
Risk Factors
I've learned a lot about testicular cancer over these couple of months. Most importantly it is eminently treatable. No-one wants cancer but nowadays this is the type of cancer that really can be treated. It is not a death sentence in most cases and in fact, assuming you find it, you've probably got more chance of being run over than it killing you. The most famous case being Lance Armstrong who had advanced stage 3 and still recovered and go on to be a world class cyclist.
However there are certain indicators that I've been told by various consultants. No-one really knows what causes it but statistically the following issues are found in patients who develop it:
* If you had an undescended testicle when young then your risk is higher.
* If you have fertility issues then your risk is higher.
* If you have a family history of it then your risk is higher.
* You are more at risk below the age of 39. It is a young mans disease. I am at the upper age range (42) and it's less common at this age.
In my case, being completely open and candid on a public forum, I did indeed have an undescended testicle when young. My wife and I also had difficulties conceiving our first child and we never knew why (we also had a round of IVF which failed but then conceived naturally the following month - maybe this is why I am so close to my children as I know how precious they are).
I don't have a family history of testicular cancer although I do have a family history of the other forms. It killed my father and my grandfather. Right from the start I was determined that I would be the first in my family to beat cancer and I'm very lucky that it is the treatable kind.
Unfortunately, because I have had it, my son is at the high statistical risk of having it at some point in the future. We haven't yet told them what has happened to me (one of their school's teachers recently died of cancer so we took a decision not to mention the word in the house as they are too young to understand that there are different types). So they know I was ill but not what it was. But I have been advised to tell my son before he's 9 or 10 so that he can start checking himself.
Why Am I Being So Open And Candid?
I've explained quite a lot of personal information on here but I feel that I am lucky to have had this when I am 42. I am mature enough to not panic and mature enough to deal with it. In the scheme of things it really is a minor issue compared to people with more serious cancers or other illnesses. Yet a few months ago when I found it I didn't know much about it and it does hit you like you've just walked into a wall. So any information for people in the future has to be a good thing. Some of you reading this will discover a lump in the future which may or may not be a problem. But hopefully you will check yourselves as a result of this thread, and if you do discover it is cancer then this information will show you that there really isn't too much to worry about. It is treatable if you act on it.
Some Thanks
I cannot stress how good my doctor, consultant, nurses, and the Royal Marsden have been. And I thank them all.
And Lastly The Most Important Advice of All...
Keep calm and carry on
.
The Operation
Well as explained in my opening post I was due to have an operation to remove the tumour (which obviously meant remove the testicle too). That took place as planned. It was a day procedure under general anaesthetic. I probably returned to work a little too soon as it took longer than I'd hoped to heal and I had a minor infection. But that's probably because despite being signed off work for two weeks I returned after one (I'm simply not the type of person who takes sick leave when I can avoid it). A biopsy confirmed it was a stage 1 seminoma. That was great news because that type of cancer is one of the most treatable if it had spread. There was some sign of spread into the tubes but very little so it had indeed been caught early.
Observations
I was referred to the Royal Marsden for follow ups and a decision on whether further treatment is necessary and it has been decided that they will adopt a wait and see policy. Chemo isn't required at this point. Apparently I have an 85% chance of no further re-occurrence from the original tumour and if it does return elsewhere in the body then they expect it to be very, very treatable ("near 100% although nothing is guaranteed").
The Trial
It turns out that the Marsden is running a trial on how to observe this type of cancer. Standard practice is seven CT scans over 3 years. However a CT scan exposes you to radiation and while the risk of that is low it's still a risk. So the trial is looking at alternaive observation patterns including reduced numbers of CT scans or alternatively using MRI scans instead. MRI is magnetic and so removes the radiation risk.
I elected to take part in the trial and I've been allocated into the "three MRI scans" group (the groupings were: 7 CT, 3 CT, 7 MRI or 3 MRI). While it is a little unnerving to be in a trial I feel that with a low risk of further spread I would be helping others for the future by taking part. Afterall there have been trials in the past which have indirectly helped me and I felt it was time to try to give something back.
Risk of Another Tumour
Unfortunately I've also been advised that I have a statistical 1 in 20 risk of a separate and unrelated tumour appearing at some point in the other testicle (not everyone has this risk but see below for why I am more at risk than others). This would be bad news because they would have to remove that side too. While I have no future plans for children (I have two beautiful kids already) it would mean my body would be unable to produce testosterone. There are testosterone treatments such as injections but I don't fancy that much.
So I saw the Marsden again today and have elected to have a biopsy of the other testicle. Apparently they can detect pre-cancerous cells up to five years in advance. The biopsy is 95% reliable (but again not a guarantee). The procedure is again a day case but under general anaesthetic and I will be sore for a few days (I bet that's an understatement!). However if they do find anything of concern then they can treat it with radiotherapy while it is in its early stages rather than remove the testicle. This is likely to prevent me having further children (not an issue for me) but would mean that my body can still produce testosterone. So it seemed the obvious route to take. There is no rush for this because there is nothing detected on scans on that side right now. It's simply a preventative measure for the future. So it is likely I'll have the biopsy in January or February.
Risk Factors
I've learned a lot about testicular cancer over these couple of months. Most importantly it is eminently treatable. No-one wants cancer but nowadays this is the type of cancer that really can be treated. It is not a death sentence in most cases and in fact, assuming you find it, you've probably got more chance of being run over than it killing you. The most famous case being Lance Armstrong who had advanced stage 3 and still recovered and go on to be a world class cyclist.
However there are certain indicators that I've been told by various consultants. No-one really knows what causes it but statistically the following issues are found in patients who develop it:
* If you had an undescended testicle when young then your risk is higher.
* If you have fertility issues then your risk is higher.
* If you have a family history of it then your risk is higher.
* You are more at risk below the age of 39. It is a young mans disease. I am at the upper age range (42) and it's less common at this age.
In my case, being completely open and candid on a public forum, I did indeed have an undescended testicle when young. My wife and I also had difficulties conceiving our first child and we never knew why (we also had a round of IVF which failed but then conceived naturally the following month - maybe this is why I am so close to my children as I know how precious they are).
I don't have a family history of testicular cancer although I do have a family history of the other forms. It killed my father and my grandfather. Right from the start I was determined that I would be the first in my family to beat cancer and I'm very lucky that it is the treatable kind.
Unfortunately, because I have had it, my son is at the high statistical risk of having it at some point in the future. We haven't yet told them what has happened to me (one of their school's teachers recently died of cancer so we took a decision not to mention the word in the house as they are too young to understand that there are different types). So they know I was ill but not what it was. But I have been advised to tell my son before he's 9 or 10 so that he can start checking himself.
Why Am I Being So Open And Candid?
I've explained quite a lot of personal information on here but I feel that I am lucky to have had this when I am 42. I am mature enough to not panic and mature enough to deal with it. In the scheme of things it really is a minor issue compared to people with more serious cancers or other illnesses. Yet a few months ago when I found it I didn't know much about it and it does hit you like you've just walked into a wall. So any information for people in the future has to be a good thing. Some of you reading this will discover a lump in the future which may or may not be a problem. But hopefully you will check yourselves as a result of this thread, and if you do discover it is cancer then this information will show you that there really isn't too much to worry about. It is treatable if you act on it.
Some Thanks
I cannot stress how good my doctor, consultant, nurses, and the Royal Marsden have been. And I thank them all.
And Lastly The Most Important Advice of All...
Keep calm and carry on
.
It's good that you can be open. Im sure it will be helpful to a lot of people. Keep getting better.
It's not nice being diagnosed with something potentially life changing especially if it threatens your well being. I had that about the time you made your post. Much the same as you I'll probably be fine but its on my mind.
ps. nice 'rado. vr6? Lovely grey.
It's not nice being diagnosed with something potentially life changing especially if it threatens your well being. I had that about the time you made your post. Much the same as you I'll probably be fine but its on my mind.
ps. nice 'rado. vr6? Lovely grey.
Sorry to hear you've got some health issues too. Really hope it's as treatable as mine?
Corrado - Thanks
Yes, it's called "Storm Grey" and I recently managed to find a very rare set of original black cloth electric recaros for it. VR6 with modified cams and mapped. I absolutely love this car to bits http://the-corrado.net/showthread.p...-and-electrical-bits&highlight=storm+grey+vr6
Gratz on finding it early dude! I can't imagine the shock at first, but good luck with the rest of the procedure!
Definitely something us men need to think about more, breast cancer has amazing awareness. We need to raise the awareness for our brethren as well.
Definitely something us men need to think about more, breast cancer has amazing awareness. We need to raise the awareness for our brethren as well.
Sorry to hear you've got some health issues too. Really hope it's as treatable as mine?
Corrado - Thanks
http://the-corrado.net/showthread.p...-and-electrical-bits&highlight=storm+grey+vr6
Yeah, perfectly treatable. Probably been through the worst.
I have Mk2 golf 16v. Got a 1.8t sat in the garage waiting to go in! just collecting parts.
Mint Recaros cost a fortune, those must have been even more. you got a thread somewhere with pictures of the car? im being nosy, sorry!
Sounds stressful, best of luck with it all, my thoughts go out to you.
I will also do this to the ladies. For a fee.
I will also do this to the ladies. For a fee.
Glad that you're on the mend.
I had a mk2 16v when they were almost new. It was a great car (Atlas gey - is there a pattern here?). Apart from the Corrado that was one of my favourite cars. I've had all sorts since including new cars but there's something about old Golf's and Corrado's that I love. I had my 16v on 3 wheels many a time on a roundabout
That will be a rapid car with a 1.8t in it. If I didn't have this then a mk2 would be on my list again Yes the recaros cost a small fortune but they are almost immaculate and I'd get the same money back if I sold them.More pics of mine on the link above (site seems to be down right now). Ping me if you find yourself at GTI Inters or another show this year
Had the mk2 long? Pics?
EDIT: Recaros here: http://the-corrado.net/showthread.p...lectrical-bits/page5&highlight=storm+grey+vr6
Last edited:
Man of Honour
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- 1 Aug 2004
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Very candid and the very best of health to you from here on.
Also guys remind your partners to check for breast lumps.
My wife found one a couple of weeks ago, removed last week and confirmed to be cancer. Luckily we found it early before it spread so she should be ok.
Another thing to remember is if your bowel habits change you should talk to your Dr, we probably saved my dad's life a couple of years ago as he was tell me about a change in his habits but thought nothing of it.
My wife found one a couple of weeks ago, removed last week and confirmed to be cancer. Luckily we found it early before it spread so she should be ok.
Another thing to remember is if your bowel habits change you should talk to your Dr, we probably saved my dad's life a couple of years ago as he was tell me about a change in his habits but thought nothing of it.