Hi guys,
So around November 2009 I found a small lump on one of my testicles. For about a week I figured it was probably just some kind of oddity. Like if you bump yourself and that it would go away. By the following week it was still there and I figured it was time to have it looked at.
Partially out of shame and partially not wanting to alarm anybody I quietly booked a doctors appointment. My initial inspection revealed not much, the doctor was unsure what I was talking about and suggested I came back in a month and was seen by a male doctor. As you can imagine I was a little worried about this but she reassured me it was very unlikely to be anything sinister.
I returned a moth later just before new year and saw the head of the practice. A doctor I have now nicknamed 'Safe hands Silverman'. He had a feel and decided it was best to refer me for an ultrasound. Once again though he stressed it was unlikely to be anything.
In early January I had the ultrasound. Unbelievably the technician exclaimed it was just a cyst and nothing to worry about at all. Then second later completely changed his mind and referred me to a Urologist.
More scans, more meetings, led eventually to the decision it that it was best to take the testicle out (April 2010). At first I thought the whole thing was a nightmare. That my life would now be an endless set of ball jokes and I'd wince every time I heard some one say 'He hasn't got the balls'.
I won't lie, it has at times been tough. But now 2 months on from the surgery I am starting to worry less. The lab inspected the tumour and my fears were confirmed it was a semi malignant cancer. I actually had a rare form. One that is unresponsive to chemotherapy. I know now that taking the decision to remove it was the best thing I ever did.
I have to still go back for years to be re CT scanned to check it hasn't returned and hopefully it will not. Its amazing though how something so slight can have ramifications over your whole life.
Without being too cliché I decided a week ago that I would do soemthing to try and help others who might go through the same. To this end I am attempting the three peak challenge in July.
I am doing this for Orchid a male cancer charity. Although a shameless plug, I would like share the link to my just giving page with you guys who I have always graciously been there for so many people in the past. I truly believe that this forum is one of if not the best online communities there is.
And remember, even it feels slightly different, its better to have it checked than to die for nothing.
Thanks.
http://www.justgiving.com/DavidJames3Peaks
So around November 2009 I found a small lump on one of my testicles. For about a week I figured it was probably just some kind of oddity. Like if you bump yourself and that it would go away. By the following week it was still there and I figured it was time to have it looked at.
Partially out of shame and partially not wanting to alarm anybody I quietly booked a doctors appointment. My initial inspection revealed not much, the doctor was unsure what I was talking about and suggested I came back in a month and was seen by a male doctor. As you can imagine I was a little worried about this but she reassured me it was very unlikely to be anything sinister.
I returned a moth later just before new year and saw the head of the practice. A doctor I have now nicknamed 'Safe hands Silverman'. He had a feel and decided it was best to refer me for an ultrasound. Once again though he stressed it was unlikely to be anything.
In early January I had the ultrasound. Unbelievably the technician exclaimed it was just a cyst and nothing to worry about at all. Then second later completely changed his mind and referred me to a Urologist.
More scans, more meetings, led eventually to the decision it that it was best to take the testicle out (April 2010). At first I thought the whole thing was a nightmare. That my life would now be an endless set of ball jokes and I'd wince every time I heard some one say 'He hasn't got the balls'.
I won't lie, it has at times been tough. But now 2 months on from the surgery I am starting to worry less. The lab inspected the tumour and my fears were confirmed it was a semi malignant cancer. I actually had a rare form. One that is unresponsive to chemotherapy. I know now that taking the decision to remove it was the best thing I ever did.
I have to still go back for years to be re CT scanned to check it hasn't returned and hopefully it will not. Its amazing though how something so slight can have ramifications over your whole life.
Without being too cliché I decided a week ago that I would do soemthing to try and help others who might go through the same. To this end I am attempting the three peak challenge in July.
I am doing this for Orchid a male cancer charity. Although a shameless plug, I would like share the link to my just giving page with you guys who I have always graciously been there for so many people in the past. I truly believe that this forum is one of if not the best online communities there is.
And remember, even it feels slightly different, its better to have it checked than to die for nothing.
Thanks.
http://www.justgiving.com/DavidJames3Peaks
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