Testicular Cancer

[Desprate Dan]

Hi This is one for the men really but if women have any help it would be good to hear your thoughts..

Its a man thing..

Why are we so embarrased at going to the doctors??

Can you help me??

I am 26 and since when i first checked my testicles at i think 14, i found my right testicle was slightly diffrent than my left it had a small hard lump at the end which my left one didn't... This scared the hell out of me, i have thought about it everyday for the last 12 years but to embarrased to go to the docs..

Nothings changed regarding the small lump it hasn't got bigger or changed at all..

Surely after 12 years if it was cancer i would of knew about it by now or would i ????

The reason i brought this up is i have started CBT therapy and my therapist is an attractive young women and she asked me to look into my past and think of things that could of contributed to my anxiety, which that certainly has done but i am to emabarrased to say it to her..:blush:

I have an appointment with my doctor soon, and i have developed a good relationship with him, i think i could write it down and give him it to read as i would be to embarrased to talk about it out loud, but at least its a start..

Do you think because i have had it for 12 years its nothing to worrie about???:wacko:

Look forward to your reply's

Cheers

Desprate Dan

[Jaco45er]

Dan chap

When I was 30, I found a lump on one testicle, at the time I was already anxious about other stuff and this didn't help.

I eventually went to the docs, and it ended up being a very common cyst, totally benign and harmless.

Now that's the short version. In more detail, I went to the docs, he fumbled around a bit and said "hmmm, pretty sure it's nothing but we will get you checked out at the hospital".

4 long damn weeks I waited, then went for my appointment. I was asked initially by the consultant if I "didn't mind" if student doctors sat in on the examination before the ultrasound thingy. I was so stressed I just said "yer whatever doc" all I wanted was to get the hell out of there.

Well there I was, laying on the bed in this room, naked from the waist down, and the consultant walked in, then 2 young guys. No worry's I thought, just see it as three opinions, but then, another 5 walked in, all young female trainee's.

All I could say was, "hey, I hope you lot don't drink in my (home town)".

Anyway, I survived (the embarresment) but the moral of the story is, most lumps are harmless ;)

12 years ? I am sure you are fine, but wouldn't hurt to go to the GP for a check to rest your mind.

And if he asks if student doctors can sit in? well that's up to you ;)

TC

Jaco

[Shiloh]

Dan

Reckon you'd have had more symptoms by now. 12 years is a long enough time for something like cancer to have had much more effect. Get it off your chest at the doc's and he'll put your mind at rest. There's all sorts of reasons for lumps and stuff down there and most of 'em are harmless.

Let us know how it goes:)

[Desprate Dan]

Cheers lads..
Jaco45er bloomin eck i would of been so embarrased and probably died there and then just imagine what if the little man wanted to show himself off to the female's...ooohhh my god the thought of it..:roflmao: :blush: :yahoo: :doh:

Yes i have had it for 12 years at least so hoping its nothing serious, but i finally think i need peace of mind to move on and get over this anxiety and believe getting things off my chest will help me recover..

Thanks Lads:shades:

Danny

[Desprate Dan]

I have made my mind up i am going to mention the lump to the doctor at my appointment on monday..:blush:

Tried googling it (i know i shouldn't have) but couldn't find anything about length of time before you would feel seriously ill..

Did find one site that wanted to charge me £28 to tell me what they thought...:roflmao:

There must be someone out there who knows a thing or two about this and if after having it for 12 years without change... would or should i still be here??? :unsure: :unsure:

Sorry i guess i am just looking for a bit of reasurance to get me through the weekend before i speak to my Doc, which i am not looking forward to him feeling my undercarridge...:scared15:

But hey if it helps me progress and take away the daily thoughts that i have carried on my shoulders for so many years i think it needs to be addressed..

Thanks

Dan

[Jaco45er]

£28 ? What a rip off I only charge £20.

Do it mate, ask the doc, just think of all that relief off your shoulders when he tells you you are fine :)

GL

Jaco

[barbn]

Girls point of view here - as embarrassing as it may seem, your Dr has heard it all and WILL put you mind at ease when talking about it. They are trained to do so! And once you speak up it will NOT be that bad. The worst part is thinking about it before hand. As for the lump, I doubt it is anything serious....even us girls get lumps and bumps down in that area - usually just a cyst. Or a fatty deposit that you were born with. Totally normal!

[AntiLove_SuperStar]

When I did work experience at a hospital, I shadowed a nurse - followed her round and helped a bit. She had to dress etc a couple of men. One got an erection (and he wasn't even fully conscious)..and it was no big deal at all, either to me (the sixteen year old) or to her (fortysomething experienced nurse).

This may just be me though..I have no issues RE bodies, I've done nude modelling for an art class and loved it.

They've seen it all!

[AntiLove_SuperStar]

Oh and therapists...they are trained to deal with everything from hearing confessions of murder to their clients falling in love with them, stalking them, etc. They are essentially unshockable, and will also have a supervisor they see weekly/fortnightly to discuss any issues with...testicles will be nothing to her!

[widge]

Hi Dan....
I have had a few scares about this believe me!

I decided to be completely up-front about it and let the NHS do thier thing.....which they did.....probes , ultrasound and fingers everywhere!!!

Testicular cancer is relatively rare and (apparently) easy to spot if that is any consolation?

I turned out to have epydydimylitis (inflamation of the little little tubes that surround the testes)..............incururable but not life-threatening.


Bottom line being.......I trusted the NHS to do their job-and they did the bizz.

hope this helps?

f

[widge]

PS ...the current 3-time world champion cyclist was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer years ago and has made an obvious recovery...so....take heart

ATB


widge

[Shiloh]

I knew a fella at work who discovered one morning (don't know how, didn't say!) one bollock was twice the size of the other! I mean .... Jeez!

It did turn out to be testicular cancer but after a short course of treatment, all gone, no problems since, doesn't even mention it. It was like he had a cold or something. He did fess up that it shook him up good at one point but these days cancer isn't a death sentence as it used to be.

Get it checked out guys, soonest found soonest sorted.

BTW it wasn't me, I'd have dropped down dead with a heart attack given that news!!:scared15:

Not for one minute am I suggesting that the original poster has any thing to worry about. That length of time can't possibly suggest a cancer problem. But it is best to bite the bullet and get stuff checked out, if only to put ones mind at ease and if on the outside chance anyone has a real issue, get it sorted quick. Statistics show that found early, cancer can be cured.

[Welsh.Baz]

Let's be honest here now, with the amount of info available about testicular cancer these days, you'd be well aware of the symptoms, so i'd be more worried if you had more than a 'lump'.

However getting checked out is the best thing to do, a few years ago I was in agony with pain in that region, turned out I had a combination of epididymitis along side small kidney stones, which apparently can cause pain in that area too.

[luke1982]

I had a similar thing my lump was near the top got it checked by various doctors because i couldnt believe i was fit and healthy there turned out to be nothing more than a small cyst which i still have and inflammation of the epididymis which still plays up every now and then and that was about 7 years ago id still go to the docs and get it checked out tho if i were you other wise your just end up worrying for ever.

[Desprate Dan]

SO SO HAPPY...:D :D :D

Well i went to the doctors about the lump on my right testicle, and it turns out its an Epiddymal Cyst and totally harmless.....Phew!!

I was so anxious leading upto it i written down what i was going to say and i went in and i couldn't speak i just looked at him and froze...:scared15: I passed him the letter and as he read it i started to fill up, the more i told myself to stop it the worse i got and a few tears ran down my cheek "I felt like a right wuss" big boys do cry..:weep: I dont know wether it was because i had finally achieved something by going to the doctor with this problem after carrying it on my shoulders for 12 years i thought of all the times its plagued my thoughts and fested in my mind wether i would see my next birthday.. Or was it because of the news i thought he might give me, or because i had been so so stupid and i let my embarrasment get in the way of what could of been a serious illness and i just thought through my own stupidity i could of been six feet under, so many thoughts and emotions came together i guess it just overwelmed me...

My doctor was great, at first he talked about testicular cancer and couldn't believe i had kept this to myself for 12 years he said he assured me that if it was cancer that i wouldn't have been here now, but he said lets take a look anyway, he had a feel around and he said what you have is a Epididymal cyst common and harmless, there wasn't a single bit of doubt in his voice and i trusted him 100% i suddenly felt so calm and wondered why i had got myself into such a state in the first place, he said if i wanted he would send for me for my own peice of mind for an ultra sound, i thought of what Jaco45 went through..:roflmao: And said no thanks your words will do for me Doc...:)

He wants to see me again in a month just to check on my anxiety and blood pressure, but boy do i feel like i am on top of the world today (I hope i can feel this way forever)......:D :D :D :D :D It great to feel alive again..:yahoo: :yahoo:

I cant believe i let my self down so badly and kept it to myself for so long but now i had done it i think i could achieve anything.. I am so so happy.

Please if anyone is reading this topic and has a lump in there down below's dont leave it like i did it will just burden your life get it checked, and it will probably nothing more than a harmless cyst, but hey if it is the worst case scenario, my doctor said its one of the most treatable of cancers and has around a 90% success rate..

Thanks again to all for your great advice....:)

DANNY

[luke1982]

Hey Danny congrats on getting it checked so glad you feel better now just outta interest how long has your cyst been there iv had a tiny one for about six to seven years now, i too got checked. I still occasionally check guess its important to.

[LisaLisa]

Clearly not really in a position to advise you about this but would like to say that having that on the back of you rmind for twelve years would not have helped your anxiety one little bit!!

I had a similar kind of health worry for years too and thinking about it now it really must have played a part in where I am now with HA!!

lISA
XXX

[Desprate Dan]

Hey Danny congrats on getting it checked so glad you feel better now just outta interest how long has your cyst been there iv had a tiny one for about six to seven years now, i too got checked. I still occasionally check guess its important to.


12 years Luke, 12 years of it festering in my mind not nice at all... Wow do i feel like someone has lifted a great big weight off my shoulders.. I cant believe my own embarasment stopped me seeking help for so long, but if you asked me a year ago to go see the doctor about this problem i would of rather walked a mile bare foot over broken glass..:blush:

Thanks again to you all, this hopefully could be the turning point for me... Fingers crossed.:D :D :yahoo:



Danny

[cricketjar]

Hi Dan

I have been told that i have an epididymal cyst down there and i have been told by the doc that it is harmless but for my own piece of mind he has sent me for an ultrasound.

Anyways im happy for you dan that you finally sorted it.:yesyes:

James

[luke1982]

Epididymal cysts seem quite common mine is tiny never changed in size it still occasionally freaked me out even after seeing seven doctors about it lol pracitcally all the doctors in my local surgery have coped a feel of me
I suffer from chronic epididymitis although its been fine this last week or two constant prodding doesnt help and doctors have no cure for it its basically swelling in the epididymis/inflammation there had it for about 6 years aswell started after i started prodding around convinced i had testical cancer.

[Desprate Dan]

I have a bit of an ache in it today like Luke, but i guess its all the feeling i have done of it the last few days..:) Does yours ache from time to time?? i have had an ache there in the past it comes and goes occaisonally but doesnt cause me to much distress, i can live with that..

Its amazing that a few words of reasurance can make you feel so good, but i also think i feel that because i actually achieved my aim and went through with what to me seemed the most embarrasing thing on earth to do..

Dan

[luke1982]

Yeah it aches from time to time its not really bad pain just annoying its worse after prodding around i think im a little heavy handed. But yeah its not too bad when i first had it years ago it was so bad i couldnt walk without being in agony now its the occasional twinge or dull ache sex seems to help lol as does anti inflammatorys

[Jaco45er]

Danny chap

Great feeling eh, the relief ;)

Well done mate, but next time you have a wee complaint, don't pop along to the doc, don't suffer for years.

Well done

Jaco