Testicular Cancer: what the men in our lives should be doing!!!

[Dscvrlifewith3]

I've had a big wake up call in the past week and so has my husband. We are currently waiting to find out if my husband has testicular cancer. Of course this isnt something you go around talking about to all your friends and family but after this, you really don't care how the word gets out. Just like women need to do breast exams each month, men need to do testicle exams. My husband who has to see a doctor on a regular basis for asthma has never had anyone tell him he should be doing this every month but now its going to be a monthly thing for him.
This is scarey business, and testicular cancer can really impact future fertility and your sex life. Its not something people talk about all that much because it only affects about 7500 men a year it tends to be on the back burner when making people aware. Even though my husband knew about Lance Armstrong and Tom Green, he never thought about the monthly exams until something went wrong.

If your DH or other men in your life aren't taking care of business, please pass on this information. http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html
Testicular Cancer when detected early has over a 90% cure rate.

I figured this would be a good place to post this since it really impacts so many men between the ages of 15 and 40.

Take care, Kim

[Marisa6826]

Oh Kim

I hope everything is OK. Please keep us posted.

-m

[steph2003]

Thanks for this reminder! and I hope everything works out ok for your DH.

[brigmaman]

Thanks for spreading the word. Hoping for all the best this week. Prayers...

[lmariana]

Kim, we were in your shoes a couple of years ago. My hubby had gone to the doctor, and they sent him on to some ultrasounds to check for potential testicular cancer. Fortunately, his test came back negative, and he only had a mild inflammation, but it's enough to scare the pants off you.

His uncle is a testicular cancer survivor, and had to have one testicle removed.

You'll be in our thoughts and prayers dear!

Mariana
www.heinzandmariana.com
Mother of Gabriel, 08/14/2003
Join the Babybags Swap group! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/babybags/join

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030814/1/5/0/-5/.png[/img] ([img)

[jubilee]

Kim I sure hope your DH is fine and healthy! Keep us posted!

[c2lane]

Kim ~

I hope your DH's tests come back negative. I recently read an article about Dan Abrams from MSNBC who was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year and went through treatment. He has kept quiet up until now but felt that he needed to get the word out about monthly exams.

You're all in my thoughts & prayers. Keep us posted.

Carrie & Dillan Rose 01/02/04
http://lilypie.com/baby1/050102/2/16/0/-8/.png
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_amber_9m.gif 9+ months

[wendmatt]

I so hope your dhs test comes back negative. My dh is a testicular cancer survivor, so I agree with you, get your dhs to all do tests each month.
If you have any q's he'd be happy to answer any. It was before we met and he had chemo and radiation I think, but he's been clear for 10 years now.
Good luck, hope it's negative. Let us know

[sugarsnappea]

Kim,

I hope your husband's tests come back negative. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[jd11365]

We too went through this this past year. Dh found a lump in the shower...on a Friday evening when of course he couldn't be seen by the doctor until Monday morning. It was a looooong weekend. Then the test was a week later, with results 2 days later...a loooooong week. Fortunately, it was a cyst which interestingly enough is actually common in men. I certainly hope this is all your Dh has. It went away on its own. I hung on to positive thoughts from the doctor while we waited for the ultrasound and results. He said it mostly strikes men under 25...which was positive because Dh was 30 at the time. Also, the survival rate is one of the highest, so if heaven forbid he did have it, there was some hope.

I am sending major positive vibes your way and thank you for your post. It reminds our friends to remind their husbands to check themselves. Take care yourself and please keep us posted.


Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
May '03

[Momof3Labs]

I do hope that it turns out to be nothing. But even if it is testicular cancer, the odds are in his favor. My DH is a testicular cancer (and leukemia) survivor, and has been cancer-free for over 13 years now.

[jec2]

Kim, hoping all is well. Keep us updated.

[Dscvrlifewith3]

Thanks for all the kind notes, and well wishes & prayers too!

Here is the sad thing to all this. We had to beg for all my husband's tests because the urologist said it was in my husbands head even though the guy admits "it does seem sensitive for you there". My husband doesnt have a lump, he has testicular pain. We had to beg for the blood test and the the testicular ultrasound. I told the doc "Isnt testicular cancer missed 30-40% of the time?" And he had this duh look on his face. My husband then said he wanted an US to rule out anything.

Well his blood test will not be back until Monday and the US is getting sent for a second opinion because of something suspicous. O, the drama. My sister, a RN, and a friend who is a PA strongly advise getting a second opinion.

It will be a long weekend for sure!

Kim

[mudder17]

Thanks for the reminder. I don't think DH has every done the self exam, but seeing as how he goes to the doctor once every few years, I would think that should be a given.

We'll be praying for you this weekend! Hope everything comes back okay!


Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya
http://www.babysfirstsite.org/newtickers/ticker/16994.birthday.png

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_garnet_6m.gif Breastfed 6 months and counting

[pritchettzoo]

Kim, I hope it turns out to be epididymitis. If you want a second opinion in the Atlanta area, I know several good ones (thanks to a case a couple of years ago...I had to talk to about 10 different doctors and a couple of them stood out to me.) Hopefully you'll find a good doctor closer to you, and one that won't be so inconsiderate (to put it mildly).

Please keep us updated!

Anna