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The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 9,000 American men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer by the end of 2023, and nearly 500 of them will die from the disease.
It’s easy to think that these numbers are just statistics that have no personal impact on you or your loved ones. To be honest, I am a doctor and I thought so. But then when I became part of the stats, my perspective changed a lot.
I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in June 2023. We are taught the “ends and ends” of science and medicine in medical school and training, but we are never able to truly understand what it is like to actually be a cancer patient.
Shock, fear, confusion, anger. I recall being on an emotional roller coaster when faced with the uncertainty and unknown associated with a new diagnosis.
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why me? what happens next? What will my prognosis be? Will we be able to have sex again? Can my wife and I still have children? I went from being a healthy 32-year-old orthopedic resident to a cancer patient in an instant. I felt alone on an island with no answers to my most important questions.
When I met a relevant medical professional, had my questions answered, and started developing a treatment plan, I realized something else. I know many people who have been diagnosed with cancer, but not a single one has had testicular cancer. But as word of my diagnosis spread, many men in my personal and professional circles reached out to share their testicular cancer stories.
I wasn’t alone, but I had a feeling others were keeping secrets about their condition.
A person diagnosed with testicular cancer may feel embarrassed or embarrassed. I suspect this is probably related to where the cancer originated, the private, sensual area of the body that many men associate with their masculinity. It makes sense. Understood.
But without talking about testicular cancer, fear and loneliness creep into the minds of newly diagnosed testicular cancers, allowing the myth to take precedence over fact. That’s why I decided to speak up.
Overall, testicular cancer is rare (1 in 250 men), but when it does occur, it is not a disease of older men. In fact, it’s most common in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Symptoms include heaviness, swelling, and pain in the scrotum, but often there are no symptoms or only a hard, painless, pea-sized lump in the testicle that can be felt only when touched . For this reason, self-examination is so important that many doctors recommend monthly testicular self-examinations for men, although this is still controversial. All men should talk to their doctor about performing a testicular self-examination.
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At 32, I’m a “typical” patient for my age, and sure enough cancer was discovered during a self-examination in the shower. It wasn’t painful, but the small, hard lump felt “uncomfortable” and made a hole in my stomach every time I touched it. I knew something was wrong.
The most well-known risk factor for developing testicular cancer is having an undescended testis at birth. A family history is also associated with testicular cancer, but to a much lesser extent. To this day, the exact cause of testicular cancer is still unknown. I “won” this negative lottery despite having no specific risk factors.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of testicular cancer, based on the types of cells that mutate to form the tumor. The two types are seminoma or nonseminoma. Like other cancers, both types of cancer can spread or metastasize throughout the body and cause serious problems.
Each type has its own medical nuances, but the most important thing to remember is that both can be treated, or often cured, if detected early. In fact, up to 95% of all patients are successfully treated, and cure rates of up to 50%, even with severe or advanced disease. I was diagnosed with a seminoma. Seminomas are usually the less aggressive of the two types.
Treatment depends largely on the type of cancer and how advanced it was when it was first discovered. Surgery to remove the rogue clan jewels is the cornerstone of treatment, but frequent monitoring imaging and blood tests and/or chemotherapy may also be recommended. Everyone’s risk tolerance is different, so it’s important to discuss treatment options with your doctor.
Luckily, not only was my cancer a seminoma, but it was caught early, before it spread to other parts of my body. I ended up having surgery and frequent imaging and tests.
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Quantity of life is important to me, but quality of life was also very important after diagnosis. In fact, this was a similar sentiment from people I contacted personally to share their testicular cancer history.
Fortunately, many men with testicular cancer return to a healthy lifestyle with unaffected sexual function and the ability to have children. However, this is not guaranteed for everyone diagnosed with testicular cancer and may vary depending on the treatment needed and the psychological effects of the disease.
We need to normalize the men’s health debate. Men, if you feel any discomfort or “discomfort” in your testicles, it’s okay to talk to your doctor. In fact, expecting it to just “disappear” as it should is dangerous and can even lead to death.
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And even if you are diagnosed with testicular cancer and need to have your testicles removed, your masculinity will not be threatened. It’s just bad luck. Taking care of your health is the only thing you can do, so do it. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
In my case, my wife has learned to tell others, “He’s crazy,” instead of “He’s crazy,” when I behave. It always makes me laugh – I am lucky for her and my life ahead!
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