+ 11 Boys - Check your nuts
This one is directed purely at the boys, but ladies feel free to chime in.
Before I continue, please be 100% clear I don't want sympathy etc, I've never been lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself. What I do want it to draw attention to something that I think most of us guys don't bother doing. Not something I particularly want to tell others about if I'm honest, but I think it's important that others learn from my mistake.
So a couple of months ago in the shower I noticed a lump in one of my testicles. No idea how long it had been there, I don't check to be honest. Sorry for the graphic details! Have to admit I've been fatigued a lot recently, but I've taken on a new role at work and have been spending too many hours there so I put it down to that. Did what I usually would do, ignored it, it will go away etc. Well it didn't, it still hasn't. Went to the doctor about three weeks ago, referred to specialist etc. Yesterday I was informed I have testicular cancer.
Quite a surreal experience yesterday to put it mildly. Defined currently as stage 2 so the prognosis is pretty good. Surgeon, (cross your legs lads), is sharpening his scalpel to remove Mr Left Testicle in the very near future, at this stage there is no sign of any spread elsewhere in the usual secondary areas. I'll obviously need chemo after the surgery, but should make a decent recovery. Statistically the numbers are pretty good.
Again - No sympathy. I'm uncomfortable typing this. If I'm truthful I've typed it and deleted it a couple of times as I'm not really one for sharing stuff like this. What I do want is simple. Guys - Check! Over here in the UK the women are lectured about breast cancer constantly, testicular cancer nowhere near as much.
Please please please CHECK. (Just don't pm me about your nuts ok)
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Damn Brother, I'm glad your in the clear, but so sorry you had to go through that hell. I can't imagine how tough that must have been. Good luck on your recovery and congratulations on being in the "clear".
FYI - test results = clear
High rate of reoccurrence, but for now I won.
Awesome news, glad to hear it.
RustyhookerExcellent! !! Keep on keeping on!
happy to read that your done with radiotherapy and everything for the moment man..must of been real tough bro. glad to see you on the mend and i hope it continues that way onwards
about a year and a half ago i found a small lump on one of my testies, got checked by the doc and she said it was just a cyst that should go within a couple of weeks, and thankfully it did.
And........
No more chemo in the short term, no radiotherapy. Oh yes indeed. Told you all it was only a flesh wound ;)
There's no end point with it, which is kind if odd to deal with. It does have a high rate of reoccurrence, but in the short term other than a few tests etc I'm done with being poisoned. As bizarre as it sounds, it's not so much the chemo it's spending 15 hours of my week in a hospital that I'm pleased to get rid off.
Thanks to all of you for your support. I'm not the emotional type, but there have been some real bumps along the way here that you have helped me get through often just by distracting me from wallowing around in self pity. Special thanks to a couple of you that have listened to me moaning and whining, Grrrl and TonyT, I thank you both dearly.
Back to normality.
Sorry I didn't see this sooner have been really busy with work. I knew you'd blow right through this man its your personality, to overcome and achieve greatness no matter what. The reoccurrence thing does suck but just keep an eye on things. Worse comes to worst you can scarafice the other one :).....to soon? No need to thank me. Its what a friend does.
All good mate, you know I'm not one for fussing over.
They can have the other one if necessary, stop me leaning slightly to the right
Cat I am mighty pleased to see that you are finished with poisoning yourself ... No need to thank me I am very glad to know that you found it helpful ;-)
Too late, already have
That's great news!!!
GREAT NEWS. Thank you for sharing. Best to you, Catalyst!
I'm very happy for you. I firmly believe that being in great shape and having lots of lean mass helps with response to and recovery from cancer. Keep truckin!
Awesome news my dude!
I just read this. Sorry to hear catalyst. I'm sending one up for you. Not sure if you're the religious type, but in my book, he can do/ heal anything.
Tomorrow, (Tuesday), I hopefully get an update as to where I'm at in terms of ending / continuing chemotherapy etc. Have to admit this last week the chemo has finally caught up with me and started to give me the beating it initially promised to dish out. Tough few days the last five or six. Still managed to go to the gym and train legs this morning mind you
Been in to work for a couple of hours this morning. Hopefully be going back albeit on reduced hours in the near future. Not sure HR are going to allow me to at this stage so we will see.
Thanks for the up date. You hang in there brother. You still have the green light as far as training? How are the headaches?
Headaches are still there, neurologist has stated I'm suffering with cluster migraines. Treating me with beta blockers and a drug called Indometacin. Takes the edge off a little bit, but not a dramatic improvement.
Training wise I just take it as it comes at the moment. Haven't done anything heavy for obvious reasons but just keeping my hand in.
@Catalyst, thank you for this post. I'm late to the party. My apologies. Yes, gentlemen out there, don't be afraid to check your testicles on occasion. @Catalyst, it's been three weeks since you last update. Fill us in when you get a chance! I'm rooting for you, brother.
Holy crap. I just saw this. Darn brother. I wish you a speedy recovering. Sending prayers and positives thoughts your way. Bright side is you caught it early and as you know testicular cancer is highly curable even at later stages. It is very responsive to Chemo. This a wake up call! I am due for an physical.
Update.
This week hopefully marks the end of IV chemotherapy. Tomorrow, (Tuesday) will be round four and if all has gone to plan the last if it. For the most part it really hasn't been that bad. Only thing I've repeatedly moaned about is migraine after migraine which seems to be difficult for the, to control no matter what medication they use. I'll be honest I haven't stepped on the scales since the beginning, I'm slightly scared to. I guess I've lost somewhere in the region of 15-20lbs.
What a relief to hear how well you are doing bro. Awesome!
Hopefully that is it cat. Sounds like you handled trt he chemo well and you found it early. Should be clear sailing from here. I wouldn't worry about scale weight. How do you feel other than the migraines? That in of itself is all that really matters
To be honest nowhere near as bad as I expected to feel. I look like utter shit, huge dark circles around the eyes, dry skin everywhere but I really don't feel too bad at all, just a bit tired.
In the words of Monty Python, "it's only a flesh wound".
IF I get the all clear within the next couple of weeks, I'm shooting to still enter my competition 22nd August. Asking a lot, but hey, why not?
Well HOPEFULLY I've just had the last IV poisoning session today. Still got tablets to take until next Monday and the consultant was very non committal at this stage, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the last time I sit in that part of the hospital listening to others comparing and complaining about their various ailments ;)
"tis but a scratch"... or" merely a flesh wound" lol
Just plucked up the courage to weigh myself. 258lbs. Could have been worse.
so I m going to tell you what I tell my ladies .. get off the scale ;-)
I'm going to. I feel little. My wife laughed her head off when I told her I only weighed 18 1/2 stone.
Look at it this way, I'm at stage weight
But think about this Thank God for good ole muscle memory. You'll be back to 282 in no time.
;-)
Nope its good to have goals. And the fact that you're in good spirits is great. That scene is second only to the witch scene from that movie. Lmfao I haven't heard that in years
We're showing our age mate ;) I wonder how many of the youngsters are thinking "what the hell are those two ranting about"....
All I can say is they're missing out
Thanks for posting - my nuts will be getting checked tonight! Get well soon
Question: How do you know when you've become obsessive about the gym?
Answer: When you have surgery on Friday afternoon, then Monday morning you're in the gym to do a shoulder workout:)
Good luck on recovery. My nuts hurt off and on for a year after vasectomy...then I found out it didnt work anyway!
DONE!
Wishing you a speedy recovery Catalyst! Thanks for being a great guy and much valued community member!
And don't forget "The Bishop"! Lol
All good Theo. Hopefully out of here lunchtime after I see the consultant. If not I'm escaping. SORE this morning, (I swear the one they've removed hurts. "Phantom ball pain" maybe, like amputees get?????), and a crap nights sleep in hospital, but all good.
They are, however, definitely trying to finish me off with a lack of food. If I disappear it will no doubt be down to malnutrition.
Happy to ear you're ok brother, if I could I would snek you some ciken brest and some sweet potato, you'll be back in no time!!!! Be well cat.
Great Catalyst, I'm relieved the surgery went well! Thankfully, you should be home by now! Sorry about the pain and soreness, hopefully that subsides quickly! Rest up my friend and ask Nigella to cook for you, or maybe not? Lol
I'll pm you tomorrow to see how you are doing! To reiterate, I'm happy everything went well! You definitely have the mindset of a true champion! Take care my friend!
All ok, back home.
Tough bit starts now really with the chemo so I'm doing what anyone would in my case, eating everything in sight to minimise how thin I end up after. A bit sore, not too bad though thus far. Only a flesh wound......
Great! I'm glad you're back in the comfort of your own home Catalyst! I'm also glad the soreness is manageable! I'm shooting you a pm! :)) Buon Appetit!
My step dad did 6 months of chemo. He never got nauseous and only got thin hair towards the end. His hair came back thicker and he gained the weight back quickly. You'll be fine bro.
That's good to hear. Hair loss doesn't bother me, just hoping I don't drop a boat load of muscle. Whatever happens I'll be taking it back anyway, it's mine, I earned it ;)
Any muscle loss will be temporary. Hell...look at Levrone. He quit lifting, lost it all, and is now jacked again. Muscle memory is real.
all well wishes and hope your on the mend!
Was coming to wish you well and now see it's done... good deal!
For some reason I read this in a high pitch voice. ;) glad it went well.