Hello, New here

Hi, Gary. The name's Merv.

I'm also new here - signed up just a few days ago.

I haven't been diagosed with anything myself just yet - I'm due to have an ultrasound sometime in the next two weeks. Obviously I'm hoping all is well, but my GP was obviously concerned enough to urgently refer me, so I'm trying my best to prepare myself accordingly.

Sorry I can't answer your question about the operation directly, but there seem to be plenty of friendly guys on here that I'm sure can help with that. Having, by complete coincidence, worked in the medical device industry some time ago, I'm familiar with the procedure in theory and it's generally considered to be relatively straight-forward. As yet, though, I've not experienced anything from the receiving end, so to speak - in that respect, I'm also courious to find out more.

I just wanted to say that I hope everything goes well with the operation and wish you a quick recovery - I'm sure everything will go absolutely fine.

Hi Merv

Welcome  to the forum firstly . 

So your waiting for your scan at present? 
I thought I'd let you know how I got on and hope this helps you .

Had a pain in my right testicle 5 years ago and was sent for my first ultra sound scan . The scan showed nothing ? 

I carried on and had two further scans , nerve block injections, pain killers . Still no sign of anything on the scan but still had a pain in the same place . 

By this time I'm thinking that they must think I'm a hypochondriac!

May 21 , I had another Ultra Sound scan and it showed the testicle was 80% tumour ! The last scan I had was 12 months before , so sometime in those 12 months the tumour showed on the scan . 

June 21, I had radical Orchidectomy. 

The tumour I had turned out to be a mixed germ cell type . 

The urologist and oncologist felt that the tumour being removed along with the testicle meant I had a good chance of avoiding chemotherapy as the blood markers went back to normal after the op and also the CT scan showed it hadn't spread .

So now I've been put on observation with regular blood tests and scans . 

I think the moral of my story is I now have to wait for those results , blood tests CT scan and  X-rays like I had to wait for my first scan . Im not good at waiting for these results !! 

To this day I find it hard to deal with the waiting of test results as  im a naturally anxious person , so I know how you must be feeling and I sympathise completely with you . 

Not knowing what results your getting is bad , but when I had my last Ultra Sound in May I was kind of relieved when the radiologist said you have a tumour here so I'm gonna get things moving quick for you , and he did . 

I hope your scan goes ok Merv , it's totally painless and is not a long process . Let's hope your Ok and your definitely not on your own with this .

all the best 

Mark 

Hi, Mark, and thanks for the reply. 

Really odd that nothing was found on the first couple of scans. Glad to hear that the CT scan came back clear, though.

And thanks for understanding how I feel - I don't cope with waiting very well at all. Hopefully my scan will show nothing of concern, but who knows... At least if it does, I can rest assured that I couldn't have been any quicker at finding the lump and going to my GP.

Hi Gary , welcome to the forum . 

So your appointment for the Orchidectomy is in a couple of days . 
I had a Orchidectomy back in May this year and I thought I could help you with your thoughts and feelings regarding the op . 

I had a day surgery and the  staff on duty were lovely . They are caring and professional at the same time .

My procedure took about an hour and after you will feel tired and a bit sore but nothing more . 

Like you I didn't bother to have a prosthetic either . I felt the important thing was to get the op done and not how it all looked afterwards .

The staff make sure you can have a wee ok before you go home . This is easier said than done as that part of your body still has anaesthetic in it so you're usual feelings are not there , but after a few goes I managed to have a wee . 

Before your discharged you are thoroughly checked over and given medication and a few spare dressings to take home with you plus all the relavent paperwork . 

The actual cut they need to do for the procedure is in the groin area just below your belly .It's not big with 2-3" long . You get checked over by the urologist a few days after and I had to wait around two weeks for the result of cancer type etc . Mine was malignant mixed germ cell . 

I also got a dressing change from the nurse at my own doctors about 2-3 weeks after I think  

My kids are older than yours as I'm 62 so I can't really answer the questions about how they would react . I'm sure they will just be delighted that Dads back home and your op went ok . 

Good luck for Wednesday Gary , let us know how you get on . 

All the best 

Mark 

Sorry, Oak13 - if you don't mind me asking, did you have any other symptoms apart from the pain? Enlargement and/or swelling? Firmness? A lump? 

Thanks for the replys guys. Thinks it's sunk in abit now and I've had the chance to process it all. Yeah just looking forward to getting it whipped out now and hopefully having a quick recovery. Thanks for the feedback on the procedure Mark. Definitely put my mind at ease slightly, was abit anxious to be honest. 

Hi Merv , 

I just had a nagging dull heavy pain in the testicle .

No lumps or bumps as the tumour had pretty much taken over the whole testicle so where I could feel my testicle 80% of the testicle was tumour so that's what I could feel . 

Hope that makes sense 

thanks 

Mark 

Your only human Gary it natural to feel anxious

Sounds exactly like what mines been like, that and the fact it's now like 4x the size of my other one 

Thanks, Oak13 It's odd - from everyone I've spoken with so far, the systoms both yourself and Gazbaz have described seem to be more common than the "small painless lump" that most awareness stuff states is the usual thing to watch out for.  It just goes to show that us guys should get ANYTHING that seems different down there checked by an expert.

My symptoms are very different, as you can see from my profile. 

I've decided to use my experience to promote awareness of testicular cancer at work - regardless of my diagnosis. Even though it's promoted much more than it used to be, men just don't talk openly enough about issues they may be having which can lead to mental issues and undue stress or even a delay in life-saving treatment.