Testicular cancer , our experience as a family

2011-09-14T12:08:22Z

Hi there , this is my husband ,Stephens story so far .......... At the start of this year my husband started complaining of a pain in his left testicle , at this point he didnt really feel a lump as such , like other people do , it was more that his testicle was the same size as the other but had become rock hard . Like most people , you dont think that it will be anything sinister , so we waited a few weeks , while life takes over and you get on with everyday life and raising three children and running a business. Anyway in the middle of march , as stephens testicle had got larger (probably by this point about the size of a large egg and as I have said before , rock hard ) . Stephen was becoming more uncomfortable and coming out in terrible sweats ( we have since learned , that this was probably caused by a change in stephens hormones), At the end of March Stephen consulted a doctor who thought it was probably an infection , 4 doses of anti biotics later and Stephens testicle even bigger again and we were no further forward . At this point the doctor consulted the urology department at our local hospital , Stephen was sent for an ultra sound , the results came back inconclusive ! ! Inconclusive , I dont know if we were just meant to accept this . Stephen went back to the doctors again , no matter what the problem was Stephens testicle was now the size of an orange and he couldnt carry on like this , he could not stand for long , couldnt wear denims and was in constant discomfort . The doctor once again contacted the urology department and we were given an urgent referral appointment ......8 weeks later . At the start of August after another ultra sound stephen was finally diagnosed with testicular cancer . Even though you know there is a chance you still cant believe it when they say that word . Its all the emotion , telling the kids , telling the family and your friends , and you feel almost apologetic as you tell people ,so that they will not feel so bad , Two days later Stephen went in for surgery to have his testicle removed and a prosthesis put in . He was a bit sore and tired but all in all the surgery was a great success , no infection , stitches healed well . While in hospital Stephen was given a ct scan , the results came back that showed the cancer had spread to Stephens lymph nodes in his abdomen and his lungs . scared at this point , but Stephen so determined and posititve. We attended the Beatson in Glasgow the following week for our first appointment , we were told here that Stephen is good prognosis and would be getting 3 cycles of BEP chemotherapy , each cycle lasting 21 days . Stephen still really positive , hardly shed a tear , unless we talk about the kids, myself , I google everything , so knew all about the side effects etc. . One of my other findings was the affect bleomycin had on your lungs , Stephen has asthma and is a keen football coach and the long term damage to your lungs from bleomycin really concerned us . On the day we were to go to the Beatson we expressed our concerns to Stephens doctor , and after a lung function test , that showed stephens lungs were pretty good , we were given the option to choose between 3 cycles of BEP or 4 cycles of EP , we opted for EP , dont see the point in taking any chances . Stephens time in hospital would be 4 days , 3 night stay . After having a hearing test this has changed again , Stephens hearing wasnt the best so the doctors have decided to dilute the potency of the EP and administer it over 6 days and 5 nights , this will be harder on us all , we are a very close family, but we know its for the best . Stephen has now gone through his first cycle of chemotherapy ,it started on the 1/9/11 , his positivity is what keeps us going everyday , he is a wonderful man .During Stephens first chemo , I would say the worst thing for him was insomnia and so emotional , he cried at everything , He hated being linked up to the machine but knew it was necessary . Stephen came home last sunday , 4/9/11 . During this last week Stephen has been up and down , he tries to be his usual , very funny dad and loving husband , but struggles , he hardly slept and would be up and down all night , he developed a horrendous cough , by thursday night into friday morning Stephen became so unwell , on the friday I contacted Stephens named nurse Nicola ( I am not particularly religious , but , I do actually think god picked her especially to do her job , she is such an amazing nurse and support ) . Stephen had a really mucussy chesty cough and a temperature of 38 , Nicola wanted stephen admitted right away . Friday the 9th of September '11 Stephen is admitted again to the Beatson with a nasty chest infection , the doctors told Stephen if he had waited another 24 hours or opted for the bleomycin then his situation would have been alot more serious . stephen responded really well to the intravenous antibiotics ,and his blood count is on the way up so that is good , hopefully he will be really strong for when the second lot of chemo starts on the 22nd of september .We have a wee check up appointment on tuesday , so hopefully all will be well .

The Beatson , what a remarkable place , I cant speak highly enough . Its full of life experience and its like being part of a club that you would rather not be part of , but what a close knit club it is .... for every person we have met and will meet as we go along this journey , we offer our love , best wishes and thanks for all that we experience with you as we go through this together . To anyone that reads this and it helps them or they can help us , I thankyou and wish you all the very best . I will keep this up dated , love to you and yours .... Heather ( Stephens proud wife )

Testicular cancer experience so far

Testicular cancer , our experience as a family