Cancer? Kind of a unique situation

[dan_anderson1]

Hi All,

I made a simliar post about a week ago, but this post contains more information.

Okay, I'm 24 years old, and 12 years ago (1994) I noticed lumps on my left testicle. I remember when I first noticed, there were multiple lumps - it wasn't just one. I have made a horrible decision by not visiting a doctor right away, but it's now 2006 and up until three weeks ago I have not had any type of symptoms which would really worry me.

Okay, present day, 2006: I still have the lumps, on the left side of my left testicle. My left testicle is bigger than my right testicle. About 3 weeks ago, I started to feel a little pain in my left abdominal area on a Tuesday. I really started noticing pain that Thursday. The following Sunday (Easter) was the worst. The pain wasn't unbearable, but I felt strange (fatigue, a little pain) - just overall different. About 3 or 4 days after that, the pain pretty much went away. I can still feel it once in a while, and it's not nearly as strong. Sometimes I even forget about it, whereas a few weeks ago it was constant.

As far as my groin area, I will feel small pain every once in a while, but sometimes I will go months without feeling anything. It doesn't hurt when I pee or when I ejaculate. If I didn't have lumps on my testicles, I wouldn't pay any mind to this pain, because it's not really even "pain".

What really worried me was last Thursday, I kind of felt like it was harder to breathe. Not to the point where I felt like passing out, but I would get this shortness of breath a few times a day. I would wake up about every hour at night (not sure if it was from that) - I wouldn't be gasping, but for me to wake up in the night is strange because I am a really deep sleeper. This past Saturday was the past the last day I have experienced shortness of breath. Every day since then has been fine.

Growing up (from 1994 until now) I have been able to play sports with no side effects of "symptoms" of cancer.

Since three weeks ago when I first started feeling weird, it hasnt' necessarily gone away. Once in a while I'll get these random adrenaline rushes, I guess I just have an over "weird" feeling. Sometimes I feel great, sometimes I'm like "what the heck is wrong with me?"

Okay, so I am going to make a doctors appointment really soon. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion first. These weird feelings I am getting could be something else, but my first thought is cancer because of the lumps on my testicles. Still, they have been there for 12 years, so I am really confused. I guess cancer could have developed since then - I don't know.

Anyways, some input or advice would be great. I'm really sorry that this post is so long. Thank you all.

[nzsteve]

Hi,

If the lumps you found 12 years ago were cancer I would have expected it to progress and cause you problems much sooner. That said, Im not a doctor, so don't know for sure if a 12 year 'dormant' tumour is possible or not. Its not something Ive heard of before though.

Your best bet is to get an appointment with a doctor as soon as you can. Even if there is something wrong (which they may not be) its better to know what is going on so you can make a start on fixing it.

Steve

[dan_anderson1]

Thanks for the reply. Any other opinions?

[Karen]

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Okay, so I am going to make a doctors appointment really soon. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion first. These weird feelings I am getting could be something else, but my first thought is cancer because of the lumps on my testicles. Still, they have been there for 12 years, so I am really confused. I guess cancer could have developed since then - I don't know.

Anyways, some input or advice would be great. I'm really sorry that this post is so long. Thank you all.

Dan,
If it was TC 12 years ago you would not be here now. Don't have regrets about that but try not to mess up going forward. So, you have an enlarged testicle, pain in your testicle, groin, abdomen, shortness of breath and a general feeling of malaise and "something not right". What additional symptoms are you waiting for before you pick up the phone? Nobody on this site can diagnose you. Nobody will tell you "it's nothing, don't worry about it". Could be nothing, could be TC, could be something else. The lumps could be cysts, which still need to be checked out. The other symptoms could be real or perceived because you are thinking about cancer symptoms. Bottom line is even without the lumps if you are 24 years old, have shortness of breath, fatigue, and abdominal pain you need to get to a doctor. Now. There are things worse than TC that can cause such symptoms and please don't poke around the internet trying to diagnose yourself. My new motto is "there are many things in life we have no control over, but making a medical appointment isn't one of them." Sorry to be a hard as* on this but getting an answer is in your court. All we can do is advise and support once you know what you have....or when yoyu get a clean bill of helath then we'll all have a beer. Good luck and please just make that phone call.

[dan_anderson1]

Thanks Karen, I know making the appointment is the right thing to do and I just have to do it. Thanks again.

[dan_anderson1]

Hi All,

Well, I'm finally going to the doctor today at 2:45 PM CST. I will let you know how it goes. Pray for me!

[dan_anderson1]

Hey all,

GREAT news, sorta. I went to the doc and he checked it out, and he said that its a varicocele. He said that its separate from the testicle. He said TC would be one lump inside the testicle. He listened to my heart and lungs and said everything sounded fine. He didn't schedule an ultrasound or anything... should I be worried? Even if he's been practicing for 45+ years?

[Don]

good news Dan!!!! Next time see the doctor a bit quicker... had this been cancer the results would have bee catastophic being it was left so long to grow.. You really dodged a bullet this time.. best of luck to you !!!!!