Testicular Cancer

[WigWamBam]

I have just found out that my dad has been diagnosed with testicular cancer, he's having surgery on Monday but the oncologist hasn't told him much about the cancer, or even what the prognosis is. They've told him that it's not the aggressive form of testicular cancer that younger men get (he's 66), but haven't really given him any more information than that. I've tried Google, but most of the information there is aimed at younger men, and therefore not the particular type of cancer that my dad has.

Does anyone know anyone with any experience of this? What can we expect, and is there anything that my dad can be doing to increase his chances of beating this?

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[WigWamBam]

Thanks secur. It's all just been a bit of a shock, my dad's kept it to himself for a while so he's used to the idea and is coping well, while the rest of us are still in a bit of a daze. It's just a worry that no-one's really given him any information, we don't know whether he'll have to have chemo or radiotherapy, or even what the prognosis is, so just wondered if anyone could help shed any light on this.

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[WigWamBam]

Fingers crossed, yes. Although if the prognosis is good, you'd think somebody would have told him that too, wouldn't you! It's at least been caught early, which has to be a good thing, but I'm the sort who likes to know what I'm dealing with.

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[babbler]

I worked in oncology for 3 years with many men (mostly young) who had testicular cancer, but as you have just found out there are a small percentage of older men who get diagnosed.The best advice to give to you and your dad is to keep a positive attitude. Accept all treatment offered. Depending on the type of testicular cancer he is likely to recieve chemotherapy,plus/minus radiotherapy, and maybe surgery. However the dr will not decide until they have all scans/blood tests results. I know it's difficult waiting.Have you tried looking on cancer research site - fantastic site with tons of info. Testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers so nhang in there!!!, all the best to your dad and your family, it'll be a hard journey. Hope iv'e been of some use to you. Take care

[WigWamBam]

Thanks Babbler. He is due to have the testicle removed on Monday, he had his scans yesterday, although he's still got some more blood test results to come.

I'll check out the CR site, thanks for your help.

[WigWamBam]

Bump?

[winnie1]

WigWamBam my dh has had testicular cancer and had surgery and chemo. I can't really add anything to that which babbler has written but dh has been clear for over ten years. My mother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year so I do understand some of what you are going through. It is a horrible (& helpless) feeling. DH's advice is always to endeavour to keep as positive as one can.

I will ask dh later if he can think of any advice he'd wished he'd had.

Best wishes to your Dad and take care yourself.
If you'd like to CAT me please do.
Winniex

[WigWamBam]

Thank you Winnie, and sorry to hear about your mum. My dad's pretty upbeat at the moment, which has to be a good thing, but how he'll be later remains to be seen.

[winnie1]

WigWamBam, I read your other message about feeling down and I just wanted to reiterate what babbler has said that testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers.

The best way you can support your Dad is by being there for him and remaining strong. Try not to fall apart in front of him (easier said than done and despite my best intentions I did fall apart in front of my Mum once). Let it all out wherever and however you can (here) as you do need to get through this too.

Forgive me if I am wrong but it sounds as if your Dad has only recently been diagnosed and that you have only just learnt of it to. Coming to terms with a diagnosis and very quickly having to deal with surgery sends one into a whirl wind of emotions. For me it was almost as if I didn't have time for the facts to sink in (diagnosis to surgery took about 4 days)... and before we knew it we were dealing with a very poorly (and seemingly aged Mum - she's only in her early fifties) and I was thankful that I'd prepared myself for the worse. The surgery for testicular cancer is not the same for lung cancer obviously but try to prepare yourself for suddenly having a parent who, I assume -sorry- has seemingly been fit and well suddenly not looking or acting fit and well. Chemo, if your Dad has it, and as I am sure you are aware can cause all manner of unpleasant side effects too.

As I said take care of yourself (you will be no help to your Dad if you don't).

Winniex

[Skara]

Hi WWB, sorry to hear about your dad . It sounds like he has a seminoma which is the less aggressive form, rather than a teratoma which tends to affect men between the ages of 16 and 30.

Macmillan are really great as are Bacup (think they might be called cancerBacup nowadays?). I think off the top of my head that radiotherapy tends to be used for seminoma.

Bit close to home this so I can really sympathise with how you're all feeling. Take care and look after yourself.

[whimsy]

Sorry no advice but thinking of you all

[marthamoo]

WWB, I'm sorry to hear your bad news and really hope your dad will be OK. I don't have a lot of knowledge in this area (other than as people have said it's one of the more treatable forms of cancer) but a friend of my brother had one of his testicles removed about 5 years ago and is still all clear. He was only 24 so I guess it was the aggressive type and he is fine - so I hope that is a bit reassuring.

[WigWamBam]

Thank you all. Winnie, you're right that it's all been very fast; my dad found his lump only three weeks ago, but men being men decided not to tell anyone except my mum until he'd seen the doctor, as he didn't want to worry anyone unnecessarily. He was due to have knee surgery next week, and had hoped to have the two done together, and thereby not tell anyone at all. I know this was to stop us all from worrying, but I've found it hard to accept that he wouldn't have told us about something so serious, and this has only added to the whirlwind of emotions.

The fact that he doesn't seem to have been given any information about his cancer is worrying too, although having seen these messages and looked on the Cancer Research site I'm reassured that it's one of the easier forms of cancer to treat and that the prognosis is good. I think maybe if we had been given some firm information about what it was, the prognosis and the treatment that my dad could expect, I wouldn't be feeling quite so helpless.

Thank you all for your messages of support, they have meant a lot and have led me to some very informative websites.

[Loobz]

Hi Wigwambam,
my dh had testicualr cancer diagnosed 3 years ago and like your Dad didn't tell anyone about the swelling for three weeks as we were due to go on hols so he decided to wait till we came back. He had a teticle removed and didn't require any further treatment as there was no spread. The cancer however did come back a year later but because of teh excellent monitoring and checking it was picked up very quickly when it was still in the lymph system and hadn't had a chance to attach to any organs. He then had four sessions of chemotherapy and has been clear now for almost two years. I can't fault the medical profession for their handling but the test seem to take forever and it's the not knowing and all the ifs and buts before they find out that got to us.
We were told the earlier its caught the better teh prognosis and testicular cancer has one of the best rates for prognosis if caught and treated early. Be strong - my thoughts are with you.

[hmb]

First of all don't panic. I know that this is hard. My dh was diagnosed with a seminoma 11 years ago. He had it removed and was then given 3 doses of chaemo that were nasty but he was never sick and didn't even lose his hair. 11 years down the line he is clear of the seminoma (has a form of leukemia but that is unrelated IYSWIM). He is 100% fine, never lost function and we concieved both of our children naturaly.

Seminoma has one of the highest (if not the highest) survival rate of any cancer. If you have to get cancer it is the one to get. He needs to stay positive and get the treatment he needs. Dh was fine, went back to work after 2 weeks and went back to flying a fighter jet! (they grounded him for a while, that hacked him off more than the cancer)
Bacup are excelent for info. Hugs to you all. I know how it is.

[WigWamBam]

Loobs and hmb, it's good to know that both of your dhs received such excellent monitoring and medical care and that both are now well. You're right about all the uncertainty, Loobs, not knowing what it's all about and what's going on is really hard but hopefully once he's had the testicle removed tomorrow, there will be more information available to us.

Thank you to everyone who has been so kind and left such supportive and inspiring messages for me and my dad. You'll never know how much help they have been over the last few days. xx

[hmb]

Not knowing is the hardest thing to cope with. Once you have all the etails you can begin to get used to things. Honestly, it is the most treatble for of cancer. Good luck .

[winnie1]

wigwambam, thinking of your dad, you and your family today x

[WigWamBam]

Oh, Winnie, thank you. Today's going to be a tough one.

[babbler]

Yes, hope it goes well, all the best to all of you. And if i can help in any way don't hesitate.x

[WigWamBam]

Thanks babbler, still waiting for news xx

[MummyToSteven]

best of luck to you and your family WWB.