It’s April, and with it Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. To recognise this, I thought I’d share with the Community a few positive stories, anecdotes and ‘words of wisdom’ from our Testicular cancer group.
Enjoy, and if you’ve been affected by testicular cancer and wish to share something, go ahead and do so using the comments section below.
“Good luck. Try to deal with one day at a time. This is a very curable cancer. The most important thing is that you must accept help from whoever offers it. Taking care of you in all this is essential as you will be taking care of everyone else.”
'Treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather than the whole thing at once."
“On a less spiritual note, a good friend said treat it like eating an elephant. Eat it in tiny pieces rather than the whole thing at once. Try to live in today as much as your brain will allow. This is tough, but it is temporary.”
“…this is the best testicular cancer place on the web. This forum brought me much needed support, knowledge and experience that continues to help me. I found reading through the posts help me understand what having TC means and involves.”
“…the waiting does cause anxiety, I’ve learned to embrace the waiting. Whilst I don’t know the result all outcomes are still possible. Ignorance is bliss, if you like…when you get results come back to the forum, there will plenty of us who can help you with what it means.”
'If you were to see me naked, I look the same as before.'
“Without meaning to be too graphic, if you were to see me naked, I look the same as before.”
“Take comfort that if it is testicular cancer it is the most treatable. The medical professionals will take care of you. Stay away from Google and read peoples experiences on this forum…Fingers crossed it’s a false alarm, but if it’s not modern medical science does very well vs. testicular cancer; 95% of people are alive 5 years after diagnosis.”
“Some people seem to heal quickly, and some take longer, but it is a tender area, so I wouldn't push yourself too much until you feel up to it. Good idea to speak to your GP just for reassurance and to keep them up to date with your diagnosis.”
'Stay healthy. You will have a future and babies too!'
“Our heads are always filled with questions about our future. But if you do research about this type of cancer, you will find that the percentage of beating is high compared to other cancers. Tell your boyfriend to hang in there and just do everything his oncologist tells him to do. Stay healthy. You will have a future and babies too! There’s a lot of support here and a lot of positive stories you can search. It’s scary, I know. As a wife I worry everyday but all we can do is stay strong for our men.”
“…I was the same as you but coming up to a year clear we have just had a baby boy. My wife fell pregnant the week after my operation.”
'Focus on the things you are going to do once this is all over.'
“Focus on all the things you are going to do once this is all over.”
“For those who (or whose other halves are) going through this, we would both like to share that yes, everything is fine afterwards. Ok it looks a bit weird to start with. One instead of two. A bit saggier than before (but tell me when did you ever see a beautiful scrotum). It sits centrally which was strange to get used to apparently.”
Want to learn more about testicular cancer? Join our Testicular cancer group and get talking to others affected by a diagnosis. You can also find lots of information on testicular cancer here, through the Information and support section our website.
