My Cancer Scare (My Testicular Cancer Scare)

Member Name: 150983

Product:	My Testicular Cancer Scare
Date:	05/08/01 (371 review reads)
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Hi guys, be gentle with me because this is the first opinion that is actually personal to me and I’m finding it hard to get the right approach to this subject matter.

*I would just like to thank everyone who has read this op and left their kind comments*

Information
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*Facts
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*Testicular Cancer is the most common cancer among men aged between 16 and 40.
*Testicular Cancer affects more men each year, it affects about 1 in 500 men aged between 16 and 40 each year. *Most men ignore the first warning signs, hoping everything will be alright (I’m a good example)
*A delay in seeking treatment can cause the Cancer to spread to other parts of the body
*No-one's sure what causes Testicular Cancer.
*There are two main groups of Testicular Cancer; seminoma and teratoma
*Testicular cancer is extremely sensitive to chemotherapy and because of this the cure rates are higher
* With early treatment there's a good chance there will be no further problems.

My Experience
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I am 17 years old (soon to be 18) and when I was 16, I discovered a lump on my left testicle. At the time, it was very small and I forgot about it for a while until I had noticed that it had grown. I wasn’t sure about what it was at the time and felt too embarrassed to tell me parents or anyone else because I felt that there was something wrong with me. As the time went on, I kept putting it out of my mind and even though it was difficult to, I found ways to occupy my time and school kept me busy. By Christmas time 2000, I felt I needed to tell someone but still didn’t I did though tell myself that the next time I went to the doctor’s, I would mention it.

It got to March and still I hadn’t told anyone and by now the lump was the size of a grape which really worried, me. Since I had a lot of problems with my ears (I had a perforated ear drum for 10
months) I had got an infection in my good ear and so my mother insisted I went to the Dr’s to see if I could have some treatment for it. When I got there and was seen by the Doctor, I was just leaving when the doctor said “Is there anything else that’s wrong?” I thought that this really should be mentioned and plucked up the courage to tell him. I was really nervous and he asked me if he could check it out.

After the doctor had examined the lump, he asked a few questions like if it was sore and so on and then he said that he would write off to the local hospital so it could be checked out by means of a scan. The doctor did assure me not to worry and that it was probably nothing but you can’t help but worry can you. I was told that I would receive a letter from the hospital in a few weeks time about the scan. When I got home, I told my parents who were rather shocked that I hadn’t told them and later told some close friends who assured me things would be OK.

About 2 weeks later, I received a letter from the hospital but I was shocked to see that the appointment was for 3 months time! I was really shocked that I would have to wait for so long and I later realised that it would be during my AS exams which would be a real problem as last year, my ear problems affected my revision for my GCSE’s and my results suffered as a consequence.

As the time went on, I thought about it more and more and thought about what other cancer victims say, “You think it couldn’t happen to you until it does”. During my wait, a programme came on Sky one, which highlighted the problem of testicular cancer, and it had celebrities being interviewed about the subject and also told you how to check yourself. I only wished that this programme was showed earlier on when I first found the lump as I think I would have pushed myself more to get it checked out sooner and it all would have been over a lot quicker! M
y exams were nearing and still I hadn’t done any revision and also I was in hospital for a ear operation to close up my hole in my eardrum. When the day finally came, most of my exams had been over and I hardly did any revision that is why I am dreading my results on the 16th of August (I have got my results, see comments if you are interested. I have decided to re-sit most of them to gte the higher grades).

My appointment was the same time as my neighbour’s funeral and I was rather nervous although I tried not to show it to my parents who accompanied me to the hospital. When we got there, we waited in the waiting room until I was eventually called in. I sat on the bed until the Dr came to do the scan. He asked my to remove my trousers and I then laid down on the bed. He put some jelly type substance on my testicles and moved a hand-held scanner over them whilst he looked at the monitor. It seemed to be over quite quick and he said it was just a cyst. I was so relieved that that was all it was and I got dressed and he told me that he would post the results to my Doctor.

My parents were also pleased it was all over and about 2 weeks later, I went to my doctors to get my results. He told me that it was a cyst that had formed and there was no need to remove it as cysts are quite common. There are procedures that can take place such as removing the cyst or draining it but he said to leave it as it is and it should go away in its own time. He also told me that it is possible that more cysts could form but I hope not.

I was relieved that it was all over and I felt a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and felt a lot happier from then on. I only hope that my exam results haven’t suffered and that in writing this op, it will make you aware that it is possible for a man to get testicular cancer whatever age and you shouldn’t be as stupid as I was a leave it for so long that it could possibly put your life at risk! T
esticular cancer is on the increase and if detected sooner rather than later, it has a, much higher chance of being cured.

Signs and also how to check yourself.
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Signs to watch out for include:

 A lump in one testicle.
 Pain and tenderness in either testicle.
 Discharge or pus from the penis.
 Blood in the sperm at ejaculation.
 A build-up of fluid inside the scrotum.
 An enlargement of the breasts with or without tenderness.

You should check your testicles regularly about once a month.

 Do the self-examination lying in a warm bath or while having a long shower, as this softens the skin of the scrotum (skin sac that holds the testicles), which makes it easier to feel the testicles inside.

 Examine the scrotum, looking for any lumps on the skin or swellings inside.

 Cradle the whole scrotum and testicles in the palm of your hand and feel the difference between the testicles. One is almost always larger and lying lower. This is completely normal.

 Examine each testicle in turn, and then compare them with each other. Use both hands and gently roll each testicle between thumb and forefinger.

 Check for any lumps or swellings as both testicles should be smooth except where the duct that carries sperm to the penis, the epididymis, is. This lies along the top and back of the testicle and normally feels bumpy.

 If you find anything that worries you, it’s best to have it checked out anyway. You can never be too careful!

I have written this op for my own good as well as yours and when I become famous, I will make sure more people know about this form of cancer and if it even saves one persons life, I can say that it was all worth it. Don’t leave it till it’s too late!

I hope this opinion has been beneficia
l to you as I feel it has helped me in a way as well.

:) Mike.

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