- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Well, figured it would be easier to start a new thread then it would be for me to individually contact all my CJ-8 friends, or junk up one of my regular build threads 
No way to ease into this, so here it is - I was diagnosed with testicular cancer a few weeks back. Good news, it is one of the easiest to beat cancers, like 99% survivability rate. I caught mine early, so I should be okie dokie soon.
So, that's why I haven't been working on Jeeps, been healing up, which sucks, want to be wrenching/wheeling
Anyway, not looking for sympathy or anything, just explaining why I haven't been too active. And, maybe to help other people who might, but hopefully not, have to deal with this.
I found it ironic to be diagnosed with Testicular cancer during "Pink October" breast cancer awareness month. I am not being dismissive to that type of cancer at all, just thought it was ironic
I know we concentrate on this cancer a bunch, but don't forget about your boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Anyway, quick run down of my story. If you notice anything strange down there, go get it checked out ASAP, it could very well save your life Chances are, if you do find something strange, IT WILL NOT BE CANCER. I just happened to be one of the "lucky" ones 
Friday, September 30 - After having a very minor soreness to my right testicle, and it feeling about 10% firmer then normal, I call my regular doctor. He "inspected" me on that Friday. He thought it was just an infection, but scheduled an ultrasound. VERY IMPORTANT - GET AN ULTRASOUND!!!!!
Wednesday, October 5 - I went back to my regular doctor for an ultrasound. Now, the ultrasound technicians aren't supposed to tell you anything. But, I could tell by his face something wan't quite right. My doctor calls me a few days later after talking to the radiologist. He recommends I go see a urologist.
Tuesday, October 11 - I go to the urologist. He inspects me, and says something is not right. I have another ultrasound in his office. Halfway through this ultrasound, he comes in to view the results. He tells me straight up that I most likely have a tumor, this testicle will have to be removed. He goes back to his office, the ultrasound gets finished up. After this ultrasound, I go to his office. He has already contacted Tulane Medical Center to schedule surgery immediately. I go to the hospital next door for a full CT scan and blood work after leaving the urologists office.
Wednesday, October 12 - I go to Tulane Medical Center. I meet four doctors, urologists and oncologists, etc. They tell me that the right one has to go. No big deal. Now, the left one had a small spot. They don't do biopsies on testicles, too easy to spread the cancer, if it is cancer. So, we all agree to take the left one out of my body, leave it hooked up, inspect it. If bad, remove it. If good, stick it back in.
Thursday, October 13 - Surgery. They completely remove the right one, and all of its connections. It is packed up, sent to the pathology lab. The left one is taken out, inspected. They see a spot at the top of it, in addition to the spot at the bottom. So, they cut a thin slice out of it, top to the bottom. Inspect the slice in the operating room with a microscope. They determine, to the best of their ability, it is NOT cancer. So, they sew the left one back up, reinstall it. Woke up from surgery, didn't hurt to bad, just nausea from the anesthesia.
Friday, October 14 - Thursday, October 20 -- Recovery. Well, I won't lie, the left one hurt like a mother the next day. Also, instead of stitches or staples, they glued my two 5" cuts back together. Now, they do not cut open your "sack", too high a risk to spread the cancer. So, they cut you open right below your belt line. I have a cut on each side of center, about 5" long, about 1.5" below the belt line. They actually push the testicle up and out. That was pretty sore, too. Took pain pills for two days, quit taking them on Sunday. I still hurt, bad, but did not want to take Oxy any longer then necessary. Next few days, plenty of rest/tv. Went back to work for 1/2 a day on Friday, October 21.
Monday, October 21 - Back to Tulane for inspection and Pathology Report. For me, this was the worst, waiting for this report. Good news, left one is fine. Bad news, right one did have cancer. Best news - it is Stage one, pure classic seminoma. Basically, it did not spread beyond testicle, and this type of cancer is fairly easy to beat, slow spreading.
So, now I wait, some more, which sucks. I go back to Tulane on November 16 to meet with Oncologists. We/they will decide if any more treatment is necessary. I am hoping, with the pathology reports/blood work, that they will just want to "actively monitor" me for the next few years. Basically, just a bunch of blood work/CT scans. Since all my initial tests have come back good, this is what I am hoping for. If not, I might have to get radiation, too. I am not too worried about it, either way. I am just glad to get the tumor out!!!!!!!!!!!! Once I knew it was a tumor, I wanted it out ASAP, kind of like knowing you have a bomb inside you.
Physically, I should be back to normal in a couple of months. Emotionally/mentally, I feel fine. Normally, knowing you were going to have to lose a testicle might seem like the end of the world. Once you know it has cancer, not even a choice. No regrets. Lose the testicle and live, leave it and die. That's the way I have looked at it, and that's how I feel
Feel free to post up, ask any questions, or comment. Like I said, not looking for sympathy. Just explaining where I have been, and maybe this might be helpful for others. But, I pray none of you have to through this
I would also like to say that I am 100% satisfied/happy with the work Tulane Medical Center performed. I can not recommend them enough
I know my threads usually have pictures. I can post a picture of the ultrasound, if anyone wants
No way to ease into this, so here it is - I was diagnosed with testicular cancer a few weeks back. Good news, it is one of the easiest to beat cancers, like 99% survivability rate. I caught mine early, so I should be okie dokie soon.
So, that's why I haven't been working on Jeeps, been healing up, which sucks, want to be wrenching/wheeling
Anyway, not looking for sympathy or anything, just explaining why I haven't been too active. And, maybe to help other people who might, but hopefully not, have to deal with this.
I found it ironic to be diagnosed with Testicular cancer during "Pink October" breast cancer awareness month. I am not being dismissive to that type of cancer at all, just thought it was ironic
I know we concentrate on this cancer a bunch, but don't forget about your boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!1Anyway, quick run down of my story. If you notice anything strange down there, go get it checked out ASAP, it could very well save your life
Chances are, if you do find something strange, IT WILL NOT BE CANCER. I just happened to be one of the "lucky" ones Friday, September 30 - After having a very minor soreness to my right testicle, and it feeling about 10% firmer then normal, I call my regular doctor. He "inspected" me on that Friday. He thought it was just an infection, but scheduled an ultrasound. VERY IMPORTANT - GET AN ULTRASOUND!!!!!
Wednesday, October 5 - I went back to my regular doctor for an ultrasound. Now, the ultrasound technicians aren't supposed to tell you anything. But, I could tell by his face something wan't quite right. My doctor calls me a few days later after talking to the radiologist. He recommends I go see a urologist.
Tuesday, October 11 - I go to the urologist. He inspects me, and says something is not right. I have another ultrasound in his office. Halfway through this ultrasound, he comes in to view the results. He tells me straight up that I most likely have a tumor, this testicle will have to be removed. He goes back to his office, the ultrasound gets finished up. After this ultrasound, I go to his office. He has already contacted Tulane Medical Center to schedule surgery immediately. I go to the hospital next door for a full CT scan and blood work after leaving the urologists office.
Wednesday, October 12 - I go to Tulane Medical Center. I meet four doctors, urologists and oncologists, etc. They tell me that the right one has to go. No big deal. Now, the left one had a small spot. They don't do biopsies on testicles, too easy to spread the cancer, if it is cancer. So, we all agree to take the left one out of my body, leave it hooked up, inspect it. If bad, remove it. If good, stick it back in.
Thursday, October 13 - Surgery. They completely remove the right one, and all of its connections. It is packed up, sent to the pathology lab. The left one is taken out, inspected. They see a spot at the top of it, in addition to the spot at the bottom. So, they cut a thin slice out of it, top to the bottom. Inspect the slice in the operating room with a microscope. They determine, to the best of their ability, it is NOT cancer. So, they sew the left one back up, reinstall it. Woke up from surgery, didn't hurt to bad, just nausea from the anesthesia.
Friday, October 14 - Thursday, October 20 -- Recovery. Well, I won't lie, the left one hurt like a mother the next day. Also, instead of stitches or staples, they glued my two 5" cuts back together. Now, they do not cut open your "sack", too high a risk to spread the cancer. So, they cut you open right below your belt line. I have a cut on each side of center, about 5" long, about 1.5" below the belt line. They actually push the testicle up and out. That was pretty sore, too. Took pain pills for two days, quit taking them on Sunday. I still hurt, bad, but did not want to take Oxy any longer then necessary. Next few days, plenty of rest/tv. Went back to work for 1/2 a day on Friday, October 21.
Monday, October 21 - Back to Tulane for inspection and Pathology Report. For me, this was the worst, waiting for this report. Good news, left one is fine. Bad news, right one did have cancer. Best news - it is Stage one, pure classic seminoma. Basically, it did not spread beyond testicle, and this type of cancer is fairly easy to beat, slow spreading.
So, now I wait, some more, which sucks. I go back to Tulane on November 16 to meet with Oncologists. We/they will decide if any more treatment is necessary. I am hoping, with the pathology reports/blood work, that they will just want to "actively monitor" me for the next few years. Basically, just a bunch of blood work/CT scans. Since all my initial tests have come back good, this is what I am hoping for. If not, I might have to get radiation, too. I am not too worried about it, either way. I am just glad to get the tumor out!!!!!!!!!!!! Once I knew it was a tumor, I wanted it out ASAP, kind of like knowing you have a bomb inside you.
Physically, I should be back to normal in a couple of months. Emotionally/mentally, I feel fine. Normally, knowing you were going to have to lose a testicle might seem like the end of the world. Once you know it has cancer, not even a choice. No regrets. Lose the testicle and live, leave it and die. That's the way I have looked at it, and that's how I feel
Feel free to post up, ask any questions, or comment. Like I said, not looking for sympathy. Just explaining where I have been, and maybe this might be helpful for others. But, I pray none of you have to through this
I would also like to say that I am 100% satisfied/happy with the work Tulane Medical Center performed. I can not recommend them enough
I know my threads usually have pictures. I can post a picture of the ultrasound, if anyone wants
LOL
