Husband has just been diagnosed with testicular cancer but has other worrying symptoms

I am sorry to hear about your husband. The CT scan should identify it has spread and I hope it hasn't. To answer your question (from personal experience) it can spread fast often squeezing on nerves and causing pain. 

You can only really be there for them during the pain. I wish your husband speedy treatment.

Hi ,I was moved by your story and feel for what your all going through . 
i agree with Face of Boe that just being there is so important and it really helps your husband in a way that makes him feel he's not alone in taking on the unknown .Also the Macmillan nurses are brilliant and really understand all your worries and will also be there to support you all the way before and after .

I really hope your husbands wait for the scan and Orchiectomy will come swiftly.
when I went through the same period the waiting was never easy but I used think of it as getting the next  stage behind me . 
Taking it one step at a time and being there for each other will help massively.
take care 

Mark

I’m sorry to hear this.

i recently went through it finding a swelling last summer.

the CT scan will show if anything has spread. Has he been seen by urology yet? Also has he had an ultrasound and have they checked his bloods for markers?

a little about my experience which may help you. Your right to do your own research and question things. 

This is my experience and happy to help or advise where I can. Has your husband been referred to a cancer hospital yet or is he still waiting for cancer to be confirmed?

After listening to a podcast from a Scottish GP, it seems my experience isn’t unusual.

2024 was one of the best and worst years rolled into one. Back in September I found out I had Testicular Cancer. Long story short, I caught it early, had preventative treatment and now I’m cancer free!

The reason for writing is it could save a life of someone who is close to you. I knew something wasn’t right back in July and decided to go to the out of hours GP. They missed it and prescribed an antibiotic for 2 weeks. 5 days later as well as a swelling, I developed severe lower back/kidney pain (both are symptoms) which I didn’t know.

I went to A & E and waited 7 hours to be seen. The next day I was sent for an ultrasound scan. From that the doctors were unsure however after checking my bloods it showed 2 markers for Cancer.

This isn’t to scare anyone but after this I received a letter to see my consultant 6 weeks later. I wasn’t happy waiting that long and neither were my friends who advised I don’t leave it. I then went for a second opinion, by mentioning this to the department I was under they brought it forward by 5 weeks. In between this your seen by Andrology or before any chemotherapy as their is a risk it can affect fertility.  I received surgery 5 weeks earlier than I would have.

3 weeks after surgery I found out it was a cancerous tumour mixed germ cell.

i was then sent for a CT scan that week and then refereed to the christie hospital.

the time scale from A & E to consultation with urology was 12 days.

then 3 weeks to Operation to give time to do pre op and fertility checks.

3 weeks to recover and then receive diagnosis then 4 days to CT scan.

16 days seen at Christie to discuss treatment

10 days to do kidney test, lung and hearing test prior to chemo.

5 days after start chemo.

finish chemo 3 weeks later.

I only had 1 adjuvant round so 3 weeks. From getting the cancer markers in early August to finishing treatment was 15 weeks.

I found out it was successful, and they had all the Cancer. I was then told there is a 50% chance of recurrence anywhere in the body. If it did spread, it is usually to the lungs. My Oncologist told me he could give me preventative Chemotherapy which reduced this to 2%. I finished this mid November.

I’ve since learnt some doctors would refer straight for an ultrasound with just a swelling as a symptom. However many don’t. I could have easily ignored my symptoms which would have meant my treatment be delayed.

What I’m saying is don’t accept what your told, do your research and get another opinion if your unsure. People can make mistakes, but you can’t leave Cancer.

The NHS were brilliant all the staff at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust & the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. I don’t know how they do their jobs but they’re all stars. They saved my life! Don’t ever complain about a wait in A & E it might be the best thing I did. 

I just hope I can help anyone going through the same.

This is the beginning of the journey for our son, thank goodness you fought for earlier intervention.  Reading all these posts is personally helping me cope with all this. Pippa Peppa

Bless you both. This is so difficult and with young kids too. We are unfortunately starting this journey with our son. Finding this out felt like being hit by a freight train.  I care for my grandchildren and I know it is really hard trying to be normal with children . I hope you have much family and friends support. I am a natural worrier and I am desperately hanging on to the positives we have so far. Not even had urologist yet. I hope all these stories help you as they are me. I think as a much older person than you, just being there for your husband, offering him support when he needs it, space sometimes to feel he can just be and to know you are getting support will help him. My guess is, many men maybe feel they have to be strong for their partners and children. I have read so so many of these posts and I really hope they help you as much as the have me. Hopefully your husband is reading these too. My overriding feeling when I read these is that the many extremes of the situation of testicular cancer is that these men are working through their treatments and living their lives. Very best.Pipper Pepper