I hit up a private urologist first, and he didn't waste any time—he called a specialist over at Mass General right away and had me scheduled for an exam within two days using a referral for the surgeon. That hospital doctor got me booked for full workups the very next day too—lungs, heart, all that good stuff—to prep for the surgery. So, here was my week: saw the private doc on Tuesday, went in for the exam on Thursday, got admitted for testing on Friday, had the surgery on Monday, and I was already headed home by Wednesday!
Steven Lopez5 said:Are you kidding me? What is wrong with you?
I dealt with a lump too. That little bump just kept growing until I ended up losing my balls. I had TESTICULAR CANCER. 😕 Just like that—out of nowhere—young, healthy, and suddenly I'm down my right testicle. An abdominal CT scan showed some lumps (about 12 mm) in the lymph nodes. Now I’m waiting on another surgery (laparoscopy) followed by chemo.
Nobody wants to go to the doctor, especially not a urologist. But deciding whether to go or not can literally be a matter of life and death.
By the way, there was a 14-year-old kid in the room with me (just finished 8th grade). He also lost his right testicle. They told him it was because of some kind of cyst. I don't know if that's the real deal or if the doctor just didn't have the heart to tell him the truth.
It’s interesting how testicular cancer hits younger guys. Usually between the ages of 15 and 35.
One quick question for you! What type of tumor did you have? Seminoma or teratoma (non-seminoma)? And which hospital are you at? I had a seminoma and only needed radiation!
Harold Mendoza3 said:There are female urologists too, if that makes you feel any better.😁
Does it actually have to be erect during the exam? Man, you learn something new every day.😁
I honestly don't get why we even need urologists when any random guy off the street can probably guess the diagnosis.😬
And by the way, prostate cancer is one of the top killers for men in America👎 — which falls right under a urologist's umbrella, if I recall correctly.😬
What do you mean "malignant"? Did you mean cancer? It’s probably a leading cause of death because guys wait way too long to see a doctor due to those exact "reasons" mentioned above!
I show up for my checkups whenever my doctor tells me to. I went back during my eighth and eleventh months, and now I’m heading in again for my third. Honestly, it’s becoming a bit of a nightmare—it feels like I'm showing up for target practice or something. Every little muscle twitch or sharp pang makes me start checking myself to make sure there aren't any lumps. That's why I was asking if this pain and swelling is actually normal when there isn't any ejaculation.
Thanks for all the input! I’m feeling a bit better now. Since I dealt with a testicular tumor about a year ago, I was honestly terrified this was a sign that the damn thing was coming back. But if this is just a normal occurrence, then I can finally breathe easy.😁
Quick question for the guys out there. If I go a few days without ejaculating and then get worked up but don't finish, my testicles swell up and the pain is absolutely brutal. Once I actually ejaculate, the swelling and the ache usually die down within about thirty minutes. Is this actually a thing? If it isn't normal, does anyone know why this happens?
Yeah, I agree on the whole sun thing. My doctors actually told me I can't be out in the sun for two years with any part of my body that’s been irradiated, and on top of that, I shouldn't have a baby for at least 18 months after radiation treatment.
Besides, you won't lose hair from radiation if they aren't targeting your head. Hair loss only happens right where the field hits. As for physical exertion, my doctors told me to avoid heavy lifting or intense workouts for at least two months after treatment. Moderate activity is fine as long as you feel up to it, but it really depends on what was being treated. By "heavy," I mean things like long-distance cycling or running a marathon 3.1 miles!
frozenlynx33 says: I met a woman tonight who managed to drop her tumor markers from 2500 all the way down to 48... in about 5 or 6 months. You really have to hear her talk; she’s absolutely glowing about it.. 🙂
How's your reduction coming along? What kind of experiences are others having with this?
In my case, the markers went negative almost immediately after my first surgery to remove a tumorous testicle. That happened within about 15 days of the procedure. I also know a guy who only dropped from 12.9 to 8 after his first surgery, then had to undergo lymphadenectomy to get it down to 0.8, and didn't see negative markers until he finished chemo. I definitely count myself lucky I didn't have to go through what he did! These numbers vary wildly depending on the person and the specific type of tumor—plus, different tumors usually require monitoring different markers anyway.
So, here I am, getting grief for complaining for once. After dealing with a tumor, I’m stuck with checkups every three or four months—tumor markers, chest X-rays, heart scans, and CT scans of my abdomen and pelvis. And the fun begins with the CT scan; you can’t get an appointment unless you happen to know someone who knows someone... basically, you need a connection just to get seen. Otherwise, you're looking at paying about $333 out of pocket! That might not seem like much until you consider how hospitals occasionally run out of basic supplies, leaving chemo patients to hunt down their own meds at some random pharmacy for $47 per injection (apparently they need them four times a day). If they don't do that, their only choice is to spend the whole day glued to the bathroom, puking their guts out. Then there's the issue with insurance. My wife was telling me about her experience after having breast cancer; now, for preventative care, she has to get an injection every 21 days for the next year. It costs $30,000, and since there are no metastases, the insurance won't touch it—you're on your own. And of course, this all applies to people under 35! For seniors? There probably isn't even a bed left in the hospital for them!!!
dustypilot2 said:I honestly don't get it. Please explain to me how this thread actually belongs in the Health section.
Aside from the stupid topic itself, the question was just asking whether people would laugh or cry... and what they'd do about it.
If you really want to keep this thread going, it belongs in Psychology.
Well, I guess cancer still counts as a health issue, since last I checked, it isn't exactly a mental illness.
And yeah, doctors might crack a smile when they have to amputate someone's junk—especially considering the guy might actually live another few years after.