OH has large lump in scrotum

[Flymetothemoon18]

Hi, I’m posting today because tbh I am freaking out. My partner of 11 years, went to the docs yesterday due to a large solid lump in his scrotum between the testicles. It’s so big he or I or the the doctor can’t tell if it’s actually attached to a testicle or not, it’s like he’s got 3 testicles, it’s between them.

The doctor said she was going to request an emergency scan and that OH would get a letter within 2 weeks with an appointment. First thing this morning he received a message from the doctor saying she had referred him to the urology department at our local hospital instead and had requested he is seen within the next week. The hospital called about an hour later with an appointment for Monday.

He hasn’t complained of a lump until recently but is now saying it has been there for at least a year or so. I’ve asked him why he hasn’t mentioned it and he just thought it was one of those things, he’s a typical man like that will never just go to the doctors until he’s not coping with whatever he’s got wrong at the time. He has had fordyce spots for a few years now which he has complained were sore so I’ve not interfered with his ‘balls’ for a while to of even noticed anything myself.

The doctor shined a torch through his scrotum where the lump is and the light didn’t shine through it which apparently means it’s not a cyst or a lump of fluid, it’s a solid mass.

I’ve googled a lot and what I’m reading is just scaring the hell out of me that this could actually be cancer. Is there anyone out there who perhaps has any experience in this that could advise me on what to even do?!

He’s normally the one with a strong head and the right things to say but he broke down crying earlier saying how scared he is and I just didn’t have the words to really say I’m just trying not to over evaluate it right now in front of him but I’d be lieing if I said I wasn’t crapping myself.

The hospital didn’t tell him what would be happening or what to expect at his appointment on Monday, it’s just left us wondering what is going on really, it’s definitely being taken seriously and being rushed through. If anyone can tell me what to expect it would be really reassuring?!

We have 3 little boys 7,6 and 4. We are a team and they love their daddy to pieces, it would crush our whole family is something is seriously wrong. Even if it’s not life threatening it’s just awful to think there is anything wrong that could mean he is poorly.

I know most people will probably just say wait and see what happens on Monday, which is all I can find to say to him myself. But, if anyone can advise me or give me anything to make this a bit clearer In my head I would honestly appreciate it. I don’t really know what else to say.

Thank you from a frightened partner and mum!

No advice sorry but just wanted to say I hope everything is ok for him, bloody hell at waiting so long though! Good that investigations will soon be under way. Take care of yourself too now as you'll be under a lot of stress

Thank you, it’s really difficult not jumping to the worst conclusion right now. It’s going to be a long few days, I think I’m just trying to keep a poker face on it atm so as not to worry the children or let them realise something isn’t quite right. I hope it turns out to be something simple, and not something which is likely to turn our little world upside down. Thank you so much for your response it means a lot!

Not a medical professional but I do know this:
even if it IS cancer, that doesn't mean he is going to die from it. They'd cut it out and he'd have treatment.
Things might be a little different but try to not panic until there is a diagnosis of what it might be.
It could be a non-cancerous tumour or anything.

Hard not to panic I know, but try to have a family-led weekend and enjoy your time together.

Hope Monday comes quickly and is good news. x

I really hope it's nothing too, try not to google ( I know how hard that is! ) as you'll just get scary stuff and it might not be anything bad. Keep busy till Monday and chat on here if it helps x

So sorry you are going through this. The wait for the first appointment is truly awful. In all honesty there is nothing you can do at the minute except somehow hold it together until next week and remember that it's likely to be nothing but IF this is a sinister lump the prognosis for TC is very good. I know this is very much easier said than done!

In terms of what to expect...It's likely they will do an ultrasound scan to begin with together with blood tests on a Monday. There might be a wait for results. If there is concern that the lump is a tumour rather than cyst/fluid/other general swelling it's likely they would schedule an operation to remove. If that's the case they tend to move pretty quickly, within a couple of weeks. They generally don't diagnose TC by biopsy but would diagnose (or not) after removal. Afterwards there may or may not be further treatment, it just depends. But this is all worse case scenario.

Just take a day (or hour) at at time and go easy on yourselves for the next few days.
Have an unmumsnetty hug x

I hope everything is okay and it's great he's seen the doctor. Hopefully he'll get some reassurance next week.

The survival rate for testicular cancer is 98% so that's quite high.
I know several men who have had this and with treatment have made a full recovery.
Please try not to panic and worry too much, much easier said than done I know.
I hope it's good news too
Best wishes

Thank you. We have already said that we are going to have a games night tomorrow with the kids and try to distract ourselves from it, just need to keep busy and make the effort to just be together.

I have read that it’s rare men die from testicular cancer which is reassuring but I know from previous experience with a relative just how evil it can be and what recovery can sometimes involve. I’m hoping it will just be something straight forward that can be removed, I can play nurse for a few days while he puts his feet up and we can just carry on like normal.

Thank you for your response, I will definitely try to keep this in mind!

My brother in law had a lump sounding very similar to this, he had it removed and it was totally benign. I’ve spoke to him about it and he always says that even if it was bad testicular cancer has something crazy like a 99% survival rate it’s insanely treatable. Google is definately not your friend so try not to scare yourself, it always gives out worst case scenarios! He will be fine xx

TitchyP Thank you! We we’re unsure if it would still be a scan when the doctor redirected the appointment so this is reassuring to know. I think OH was worrying they would want to do a biopsy or operate there and then bless him so this is really helpful to relay to him thank you. It sounds like if it was to come to that then it would be straightforward.

I’m such a worrier as it is and he’s normally the one keeping me focused but obviously he’s just as worried himself this time. I will definitely try and just carry on as normal and encourage him to do the same. This could all be for nothing although the size of the lump whether it is cancerous or not I imagine he will have to have removed as it is massive and causing him a lot of discomfort.

Thank you all for your replies, I will try and be as calm as I can for now!

I will definitely not be looking on google anymore, that’s why i thought i would ask you lovely mumsnetters and see if there was any real life advice you could give me xx

A friend of mine recently keeled over in pain at work (totally out of the blue), turns out there was a huge lump in his scrotum developing. It took a couple of appointments to get it diagnosed but it did turn out to be cancer.
He very quickly had the lump removed, a false testicle fitted and a round of chemo. He's doing really well and has just come to the end of treatment.
Fingers crossed for you that your OH just has something simple to deal with, but if it is cancer, it's the most successfully treatable cancer and has a very high success rate

Thank you! I’m sorry for your friend but glad to hear he is recovering well. This is reassuring to hear if it does turn out to be worst case scenario. It’s also interesting that they fitted the false testicle as my OH mentioned losing one and how that would make him feel inadequate. Not that It would put me off of course.

I’m starting to feel a little less freaked out, we are a strong couple/family and will just deal with what comes our way. I just hate seeing him so frightened and unsure. I will relay these to him in the morning.

Thank you very much!

I'm so sorry op, what an awful scary time for you all..
Be strong for all your boys and I pray you get good news

Please don't Google, it's always the worst case scenario on Google.
It's awful waiting for appointments under these circumstances, try keeping busy and your minds occupied til Monday, when you'll hopefully both be reassured with positive news.

There are several things it could be, I've known people who have had similar. Various things that can become twisted, blocked and swell down there. I'm glad your husband is going to see a specialist and hopefully he will be reassured.

When I worked at a well known cancer clinic 12-15 years ago they already said that more people (I forgot the percentages) survive a maligne cancer than die from it. The treatments have only got better in the last years so the statistics are even more on the side of the patient. I do realise that per type cancer the statistics are different but more and more people go on to live a healthy life after treatment. This is very hopeful and you're not even sure yet if it is cancer and if it is benign or maligne. Please try not to worry too much until you really need to. It is very natural to worry but the chances are that he will be fine in future.

Also, Google always says that it's worst case scenario cancer. People don't tend to start websites about having a lump but oh my god it was nothing! People start websites for bad cases. Googling isn't realistic in diagnosing something.

My DH went through this and it was really scary so I really feel for you but if it makes you feel any better, the lump was just a ball of scar tissue from an old rugby groin injury that had just moved or dropped into a different position for some reason. Completely harmless!
He was offered surgery but as it doesn't bother him he left it in there!

Hope everything went ok today x

Hi OP, just popping in to see how DH is, hope everything is ok, we're here if you need us x

Hiya. Thanks for checking back in with me it’s really thoughtful of you.

So... thankfully it doesn’t appear to be cancerous!! The doctor was very shocked by what the scan showed though and was unsure exactly what to do. He basically said it’s like OH has grown a 3rd testicle. It has a blood supply and looks like a testicle. He said he had never seen anything like it before, he couldn’t commit to how to treat it.

He is going to send OH another appointment so he can go back to the hospital and have another scan with consultants and surgeons present so he can get a second opinion and find out the best way to deal with it. He said it would most likely need to be removed but seemed concerned that with it having a blood supply it could cause an aneurism!

OH is in a lot of pain and his whole scrotum is swelled at least twice the size so I’m hoping the can see him soon and come up with a way of relieving his discomfort, I really feel for him.

We are obviously quite relieved it’s not life threatening and have on a couple of occasions made a joke out of it, but it’s still concerning cause we have no idea how it’s even possible to grow a 3rd testicle??!!

On the plus side we found out yesterday that we are expecting baby number 4 so at least we know it’s not effected that side of things haha.

Oh blimey poor DH! Very glad to hear it's nothing too serious though, although the poor chap must be so uncomfortable.

Congratulations on your baby news too!

It’s just shocking really, we’ve never heard of such a thing before! Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it soon enough and he will be back to normal poor sod. Thank you very much.