A Beginers Guide to Testicular Cancer.
Right, now all you blokes have winced and crossed your legs, take a minute to read this, it might save you a lot of grief later.
It didn’t seem like anything worthy of note at first, just a slight bulge on one of my testicles, noticed whilst taking a leak one morning. Nothing seemed to happen for a week or two, then over a weekend it became rather sore and a little swollen. By Monday it was very sore so an emergency appointment was made with my GP and an early finish negotiated with my boss.
This was to be my first meeting with my new GP since I’d moved a year earlier, and it’s a heck of a way to introduce yourself to a lady doctor, having to drop you trousers to show her the “problem”! Anyone who’s worried about exposing themselves to their doctor really shouldn’t, all the medics I’ve dealt with have been very professional about it at all times. Anyway I came out with a prescription for some antibiotics to treat what had been diagnosed as a urinary infection, so it was off to the chemist and start taking the tablets.
These seemed to do the job quite nicely, the swelling subsided and the tenderness went away, and upon finishing the course I thought no more about it figuring that was the end of that. But something funny was going on, because after I’d finished the antibiotics the problem would come back, then fade away only to reoccur once more. After a fortnight of this I made another appointment at the doctors to see what could be done. The doctor this time was a locum since my GP was on her holidays, and after another examination along with a urine sample and some questions I came out with a prescription for yet more antibiotics and the news that I was to be sent for an ultrasound scan (like they use on pregnant women).
The new tablets didn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference, but I kept taking them anyway and life went on. The date for the ultrasound came in the post, and turned out to be the Monday after we were moving house, which was handy since I already had the week off to sort out getting unpacked. The scan itself was unremarkable, and apart from having my knackers covered in cold goo not at all unpleasant. Thinking nothing of it I went home to be greeted with a telephone call from my GP suggesting that I go and see her that afternoon. This struck me as unusual, and not a little worrying so my partner and I duly made our way to the surgery at the appointed hour……
The doctor informed us that there was a tumour growing on my right testicle, of what sort they weren’t sure, although my previous history (diagnosed with and treated for Hodgkins disease in 2002) meant that it was more likely to be cancerous than not. I was referred to a Urology consultant and left to wait for my first appointment with him.
I wasn’t bored, with all the unpacking from our house move to do, and a holiday to look forward to. During all this the testicle remained swollen and tender, causing me some discomfort and limiting my movements a little, especially when walking.
The visit to the consultant fell on what should have been the last Friday of our week away in Cornwall, so an early return was required to be there. The consultant was very matter of fact, and after another examination and some further questions announced that the tumour would have to be removed , along with the testicle it was attached to. The news that I was to be made only half the man I used to be wasn’t entirely unexpected, neither was it unwelcome since I was thoroughly sick of the pain and movement restrictions it was imposing upon me. Blood samples were taken for analysis and all I had to do then was wait.
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A Beginers Guide to Testicular Cancer...ctd
The operation was scheduled for the following Thursday, with a CT scan to be done the day before. The scan was to check the development of the tumour and ensure any spread was spotted. Before the scan I had to drink a couple of pints of something medical and aniseed flavoured to improve the pictures, and during the scan they injected some special dye to further enhance the images, which gives you a funny warm feeling as it goes through your veins. The aniseed flavoured liquid just gives you a need to use the loo!
The actual scanning process is simply a case of lying back whilst being slid through a large electrical doughnut which whirs and hums in accompaniment to a selection of flashing lights as it does its thing. It put me in mind of something out of Star Trek to be honest.
Next morning I report to the hospital ward as instructed, having had nothing to eat after midnight and no water (or anything else) after 0600. There follows a stream of nurses, doctors and anaesthetists checking my details, checking blood pressure etc and generally getting organised for the job ahead. The one thing that did surprise me was being asked to shave off my pubic hair on the side being operated on, but a nice sharp electric razor was supplied so actually doing it wasn’t a problem. Felt odd though!
The testicle and associated lump were removed through a six inch cut in my groin at the top of my leg. The area was swollen post op as a result of the work required to tidy up all the plumbing in there, although this reduced to virtually naught within a week or so. The hardest part of it all was getting out of bed the evening after the op. With the incision being where it is you can’t use your stomach muscles to help yourself upright from lying down, and finding a technique was challenging since moving the wrong way hurt like hell. The secret is to roll onto your side and then push up with your arms, so I was told a fortnight later! The decision was made to keep me in overnight after the operation since my blood pressure had dropped a little at one point, although this was probably just after effects from the anaesthetic.
Once home I found myself feeling better with every day that passed, so that as I write this two weeks to the day after the procedure was carried out, I can honestly say that beyond a little ache in the area of my scar from time to time I’m feeling no ill effects at all, and will soon have to think about going back to work. Aside from changing the dressing after showering and a trio of visits to the practise nurse at my local surgery to see when the dressing could be removed altogether, there seems to be very little follow up required. As for the embarrassment of dropping your trousers in front of strangers, having seen three different nurses since I’ve been out, it doesn’t last.
All that now remains is for me to hear the results of the biopsy work carried out on the lump they removed from me. I’ve an appointment with an oncology consultant for this, oncology being the treatment of cancers as opposed to the urologist I’ve dealt with up till now whose speciality is ones waterworks and plumbing. The information gleaned from analysis of the lump will determine whether I need any more treatment or just regular check ups. I’ll update this when I know.
But the only thing you need to remember is to practise regular self examination, and if you find something that wasn’t there before, go see the doctor. If its worth worrying about they won’t hesitate to get you checked out further, and the faster something is done the better the outcome tends to be. In my case I went from ultrasound scan to consultant to operation in three weeks which felt like a whirlwind. more......