Cancer can Suck It!

The past few weeks have been rough ones for me and my husband. A month ago he found a lump and when we first went to the doctor they said it was most likely just an abscess but that they wanted to get an Ultrasound ASAP and get an appointment with a Urologist. The ultrasound was done, but due to a mix up the results weren't relayed to us right away. Since my husband is a very healthy man (we gym 5 days a week and eat clean as we can) and had no symptoms other than the lump we felt it was safe to wait til the Urology appointment that was two weeks away. At the office the doctor came in and instantly explained that my husbanded needed an orchiectomy *immediately* and that he was 80% sure that this was cancer. The doctor wanted to do it that very day but my husband had eaten and couldn't go under anesthesia. The doctor worked with the hospital to get him the next day (a Friday). I was so grateful that they were able to work him into a busy day surgery schedule and that we didn't have to wait the weekend!

Surgery went well, but we were informed that the ultrasound had also shown a mass on his kidney (when they ultrasound testicles they do kidneys as well since that's often where the first spread is found). The doctor told us that this was likely just a fatty mass and that we would have to get a full body CT scan and the biospy from the surgery before we could move forward. Since it was a Friday night by the time the surgery was over we had to wait (the *wait* is the hardest part). The CT couldn't be done until Thursday, and his follow up appointment and hopefully the biopsy report was scheduled for Friday.

I can't tell you how long a week it was. Did anyone else notice that it was the longest week the Earth has ever had? No? Just us?

I have to say my husband has been so strong through all of this and other than my own moments of panic we manged to spend a good week together (he was off work due to surgery, I only had to work Tues by pure happenstance). Our 13th wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and we've been together for 17 wonderful years, but I really expect to get another 50-60 years out of my man!

On Friday we got the second best news that we could have hoped to get. His biopsy came back as cancer, however it was Stage One with clean margins and no signs of metastasis (spread). The mass on his kidney turned out to just be an ultrasound artifact (a shadow on the ultrasound that wasn't really there, it happens. Ultrasounds are good not great). With the surgery the cancer was fully removed. We still need to meet with an oncologist because we do have the option of doing one cycle of Chemo to reduce risk of recurrence from approximately 10% down to aprox 3%. We haven't decided, we need to learn more about risk vs reward, the doctor seemed to feel that monitoring with CT scans for a while was better than blasting his body with chemo but the doctor wanted us to speak to the experts and we agree.

In all of this the one thing I have learned is how few people know that testicular cancer is a young man's affliction (usually found in men age 20-50). Awareness is *so* important for this cancer. This is a very treatable form of cancer but your odds of survival sky rocket if you catch it early and act FAST! From the time my husband found the lump to the time he had surgery was three weeks, and if we had been more pushy about getting the ultrasound results it would have been sooner (this slip was a clerical error that was really no one's fault, but does show that you must advocate for yourself).

I know this hobby has a lot of men in it and so I'm sharing our story to hopefully help someone else have as positive an outcome as we have had.

I also drew myself a new tattoo while my husband was getting his CT scan. In a few weeks my friend and talented tattoo artist is going to tattoo this in full color to my outer forearm. The ribbon will be purple (the color for several cancers), the orchids are woven in because they are associated with testicular cancer due to the root word for orchid in Latin meaning testicle (apparently whoever named orchids thought they looked like testicles...and also felt that would make a great flower name).

My hope is that people will ask me the meaning behind this piece and I can spread more awareness.

Hugs to everyone!


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Sorry to hear that. I'm healthy as an ox too, but I've been through my share this year. I have polyps in my gall bladder and also went through a polypectomy to remove a 1" mass in my colon a month ago, and I'm only 34! I guess I'm going to be hitting up a lot of fried chicken this year. Good luck with all of that. We know it can be tough.

So frightening to have to deal with masses and polyps at any age! Good luck and all the love to you as well!

Wishing your hubby a full and speedy recovery. My dad is a survivor too. F CANCER! Now and 4ever!!

Thank you so much! I'm pleased your father is among the survivors! F Cancer indeed! Hugs!

So sorry that you are going through this scare but glad everything is working out. Cancer runs in my mother's side of the family. I think you are right about this being the longest week ever! I noticed it too! Hugs and love to you dear!

There are no words so relieved to hear he caught it early and is in good hands, wishing you both a speedy recovery

G-d bless you on the early catch! You're both in my prayers.
And yes, it was the longest week ever. Seems it was a tough week for several people.

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And that tattoo is going to be beautiful. I hope you post a pic when it's done.

wishing your husband a speedy recovering and peace of mind for both of you
this year has been hard for me as well... i've been in and out of mental hospitals for months. life can be tough but it's all worth it.
best of luck

Wow! What a manifesto pl. Makes me realize how connected we all are as a race....a human race! We are all subject to these ills and infirmities regardless of age....especially c----r. So yeah, best wishes for a full recovery and continued health. ;)

Hugs to everyone for all of your support!! I appreciate it so much! Take care of all your bits, boys and girls!

Life can be tough, but it is well worth the fight!

I finished the color today! The tattoo is set for June 3rd. I will be making prints of this water color and giving them to my husband's and my family.

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My wife just finished five months of chemo. The surgery sucked and chemo sucked just as bad. She had a good outlook and all signs now are positive, but it was the worst six months of our lives. She is scheduled for more sugary in three weeks which she will be happy to put behind her. I am so sick of hospitals.

I hope all goes well and u get good news from the docs. It will be a longer road than you think, but remember as long as he is still here it is worth the ride.

All of my love and positive energy to your wife. I hope her next surgery is the last one she needs.

We have been getting good news from the doctors, and yes, no matter how long the road the journey really does bring us closer. Hugs.

Cancer can definitely suck it. My little brother got diagnosed when he was 1 and spent 2 years in and out of the hospital. Thankfully he's been in remission for 4 years and barely remembers a thing :) It really does suck when someone you love is going through so much.

Best of wishes to you guys!!! :) xxx

Glad everything went well. And hopefully it continues to improve. I know what you are going through. Myself an a 2x lymphoma surviver. Once at 3 and again at 25. You have it right tho finding it early is the key. Now go enjoy the next 50 years (or hopefully more) together 😀

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Originally Posted by chickenooget

Cancer can definitely suck it. My little brother got diagnosed when he was 1 and spent 2 years in and out of the hospital. Thankfully he's been in remission for 4 years and barely remembers a thing :) It really does suck when someone you love is going through so much.

Best of wishes to you guys!!! :) xxx

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I'm so pleased your brother is doing well, I can't imagine how difficult that had to be on the family. The thing that amazes me the most about children is even under such difficult circumstances they are so resilient and joyful. Hugs!!

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Originally Posted by StillBP

Glad everything went well. And hopefully it continues to improve. I know what you are going through. Myself an a 2x lymphoma surviver. Once at 3 and again at 25. You have it right tho finding it early is the key. Now go enjoy the next 50 years (or hopefully more) together 😀

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Congrats on continuing to make lymphoma your B*&*$! Hugs!!

Going to get my tattoo on Sunday, this is the size test. My hubby is doing very well! Back in the gym like the beast he is. :)

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That tattoo is gonna be beautiful and powerful!

Can't wait to see it!

Thank you both! I'm so grateful he's doing so well, which is mainly due to catching it so early. My hope is to spread more awareness with this piece.

can't believe i just saw this thread. i hope you're both doing well and are in good spirits! very happy with the positive outlook. the tat looks beautiful.

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Getting a tat was first thing I wanted to do when my wife got cancer. For some reason it just seemed like something I needed to do. Now it's turning into a full sleeve.


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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

can't believe i just saw this thread. i hope you're both doing well and are in good spirits! very happy with the positive outlook. the tat looks beautiful.

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Hugs! thank you so much!!

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Originally Posted by Bcycling

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Getting a tat was first thing I wanted to do when my wife got cancer. For some reason it just seemed like something I needed to do. Now it's turning into a full sleeve.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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This is beautiful!!!

I love my new ink so much and my husband feels very loved as well. :) When it comes to cancer family never fights alone.

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Just gorgeous

Thank you!!!