DH has a 5cm tumour on his epididymis, PLEASE if you have experience come and tell me about it

[petrifiedperson]

Ultrasound today - it's a total shock as his gp said it was definitely a hydrocele and nothing to worry about

we are terrified and of course I have been googling and found out all about metastasis etc

please, if you have any experience of this come and talk to me

I am an oldie but have namechanged for dh's privacy

[petrifiedperson]

.

[petrifiedperson]

please come and hold my hand someone

[Bladderama]

I have no experience of this but am here to hold your hand

[Sparklingbrook]

Hi petrified, I have no experience to share, but am here to hold your hand.

[Sparklingbrook]

petrified what have you been told so far?

[Bladderama]

Does your DH have an appointment to see a specialist?

I hope that he has one soon to give you answers and re-assurance x

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

No experience but lots of good vibes your way.

[petrifiedperson]

he had the ultrasound today, all the sonographer could tell him that it was definitely a tumour and on the epididymis not the testicle. He said it was about 5cm. Tumours there are very rare. That's all.

some of the sources I found on the internet said that tumours there are often metastases spread from other cancers in the body, which has sent me into a complete tailspin

but others say tumours there aren't usually malignant, but they aren't usually that big either

I am stuck at home with poorly child, so I have to present cheerful face, and dh has had to go back to work so we can't talk about it any more, so MN is the only place I can go WAAAAAAHH

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Right.

STAY AWAY FROM GOOGLE. Doctors spend years specializing then more years being doctors just so we don't have to torture ourselves with the Internet School of Medicine.

Do you have a cup of tea?
Do you have any doctor or nurse friends?

[Sparklingbrook]

Don't do any more googling. (But you know that)

One step at a time. I presume your DH will now get a consultant appointment where you can ask all the questions. Write them down as they cross your mind.

You are understandably shocked and experiencing every emotion under the sun. x

[petrifiedperson]

I don't have any doc or nurse friends but I can go get a cup of tea, that's a good idea!

I can't stop thinking about telling the kids the worst, I know it's ridiculous to jump the gun but my brain is doing it anyway

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Have know experience, but am here to hold your hand xx

[Bladderama]

We are here for you petrified.

Agree that a cup of tea and step away from google is the best thing right now.

[recall]

I have just read that tumours in this area are usually benign, not much help, but a possibility ??

[CMOTDibbler]

Def step away from Google, sit down, have a cup of tea, and try not to think beyond his next appointment. Things are going to happen fast for the next few weeks, so you'll want to get your friends and family on board to look after the dc so you can get to every appointment. If anyone asks what they can do, take them up on it - a dish for the freezer, a load of ironing, pick up the kids from x.
Get yourself a notebook so you can write down what the consultants say and any questions you come up with.
Its so tempting to try and find out what you can, thinking that will prepare you, but what is going to happen will be unique to your dh and what is going on in his body. In a few weeks the Drs will have more answers for you both, so just hang in there and wait for all the results.

[nilbyname]

Have you been referred to an oncologist?
Have you spoken to your GP?

Call your GP, tell them you need to talk to them TODAY. Go over what you have been told so far with them.

Stop googling.

My dad had a tumor cut out from his abdomen last year. It was called a sarcoma. Has anyone called it a sarcoma?

Sarcomas are very rare and very treatable with surgery. My dad was in hospital for a week, then out and fine.

My brother has testicular cancer and had a teste removed, then chemo and now he does 120mile bike rides at the weekend.

Try not to worry. Look at the facts you have.

If you MUST google, then go on the Macmillan Cancer care site, and they have a number you cam call and talk to some one now.

Go out to the park with your kids, it is great kite flying weather here.

Un MN hugs to you.

[petrifiedperson]

thanks so much everyone for the support xx

dh is at home now for the afternoon, I am trying to follow his lead in handling it with calm optimism, but it's not how I feel at all

He has spoken to his gp now who has looked at the notes, apparently it is 7cm not 5

and dh first reported it in 1998 and was told it was a cyst, which is what our gp here has said several times - so we are pretty shocked to be told it is a tumour after all

can't go out to park as little one has scarlet fever but we are watching a harry potter movie, he hasn't noticed anything is wrong. It will be trickier hiding it from the older one when he gets home from school but we will just have to - we can't tell them anything now. dh has to go to his brother's wedding at the weekend and pretend everything's fine in front of his mum etc, I don't know how he is going to manage

[Badvoc]

Oh your poor things!
It must be so hard trying to keep it together...
Do stay away from google though...seriously...last year according to google I had dengue fever (I was in fact badly anaemic!)
Thinking of you x

[RandallPinkFloyd]

No medical knowledge here I'm afraid but can certainly hand-hold.

It's easy to say stay positive but I understand how hard that is to do in reality.

You must both be terrified but yes, practicality is what you need to keep you sane.

Agree with Sparkling that it's a good idea to write down any question you will want to ask but, instead of sitting down and thinking of them all at once (which can make it all seem a bit too overwhelming) maybe just keep a pen & paper handy so you can write them down as they come to you.

That way you don't have to sit and dwell on it but you can get all your fears written down. It can also help with stress as once a thought is written down it doesn't seem to weigh on your mind so much.

Just an idea anyway.

I know they're pointless but I don't give a crap whether it's MN'y or not, have a huge ((((hug))))). I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you both x

(And Stay Away from Dr Google, he is NOT your friend.)

[MrsMiniversCharlady]

Given that he's had it for 14 years and is still fit and well I would imagine that it's unlikely to be anything too sinister.

A tumour just means an abnormal growth of tissue. It doesn't mean it's cancer. Try not to Google and put it to the back of your mind (easier said than done, I know).

[LadyInDisguise]

Agree with MrsMiniversCharlady.
If it has been there for so long, then it is likely that either it is not cancer or it is a type of very slow growing cancer than will not cause too much trouble.

Take it easy and STAY AWAY FROM GOOGLE! (But I am sure we have already told you that lol)

[EnjoyGOLDResponsibly]

OP that must be very, very scary.

From a practical perspective, now they know it's a tumour (and MrsMiniver makes a v good point ^^) what are the next steps.

Does he have an appointment with the consultant?

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes, I think MrsMiniver does make a good point.

So sorry you have to go the wedding, that will be hard.

[petrifiedperson]

I can't go to the wedding, it's overseas and we can't afford the air fare for all of us, so poor dh has to go on his own

no appt date yet as the ultrasound was only today, but dh has arranged to see our gp on thursday morning, maybe he will be able to shed some more light

I don't know what to say or do, it's like being in a vacuum

[Sparklingbrook]

You are in shock petrified, it's the unknown and so many questions. I am sure the GP will be able to answer most of them.