growth for 3 years

[Michael112]

Hi all, about 3 years ago I discovered a small solid lump at the bottom of my left testicle near where the tubes connect to it, I saw a doctor about it last year and he examined it by squeezing it heaps hard until I let out a small ouch, and pushing against my pelvic bone and asking me to cough, there wasnt much pain at all. As for its growth rate, it about doubles every year(I give it about another 4 years until it reaches the actual size of my testicle)
There is no pain, but rarely(every few months) at days at a time I can feel it, the pain would be like 0.25 on a scale of 1-10, I couldnt really call it pain.
I saw my doctor last week and I mentioned that its still growing and I can feel it there, he did another examination wich just involved pushing against my pelvis and asking me to cough, again no pain or anything.
I just read that it is ment to be detected via ultrasound. So I am wondering if his brief examination was trustworthy?
When he 1st examined it, he said it wasnt cancer and to see a surgen if I wanted it removed.
Also, asuming its not cancer is there any reason I should get it removed asap? at the moment it is about a quarter the size of my testicle.

[Kev332]

Michael,

Welcome to the forums. Sorry to hear about your situation. I would definitely get an ultrasound and see a urologist about this. The ultrasound will tell you if its a solid mass or not.. If it is, it will have to come out. I'm surprised your doctor hasn't sent you for an ultrasound already, or blood work or something. Does it seem like the growth is attached to the testicle?

-Kevin

[Michael112]

looking at this image

http://www.homefertility.com/testicle.jpg

It defenetly seems to be growing off the lower epididymas.
Its defenetly attached to the testicle, my doctor did say I would need surgery to remove it so I would haveto say its a solid mass and it feels more solid then the testicle itself.

Why do you say "have to" come out, if it gets too big would I lose one of my testicles or just because it would eventually start dragging on the floor?

[dadmo]

Michael:
You need to see a urologist. You need blood work scans and an ultra sound and I wouldn't wait. Your doctor isn't doing the right thing by assuming it's not cancer.

[Michael112]

OK I will make an apointment tommorow morning, thanks.

[dadmo]

In younger men (15-30) they tend to have non-seminoma which grows fast in older guys it tends to be the slower growing seminoma. How old are you?

[IowaBrian]

You are doing the right thing go in and get it checked again there is no way to tell what it is by feeling it. If it is on the testicle then you need a ultrasound to make sure it isn't solid mass.
Brian

[Kev332]

Thats good Michael, make that appointment and tell them the sooner the better..

Basically, IF the ultrasound shows that the "growth" IS a solid mass and is attached to the testicle, the whole testicle along with the growth will have to come out. Seems harsh, but thats the norm. Not trying to scare you, but thats pretty much how it works... From there they can test it to see if it actually is cancerous. Check out this website if you haven't done so already.

http://www.tcrc.acor.org

But lets just take it one step at a time and see what happens. Let us know what happens and we'll be here to help in any way.

[Michael112]

OK thanks, I couldnt make an apointment today so I will on monday, well I am most likely going to be starting TRT anyway because I have below range Free Testosterone, I am 23.

What if the growth is solid and is attached to the Epididymis?

[Michael112]

I went ER last night and got told I couldnt get an ultra sound, my mate said I should go back and pretend I was in unbearable pain, I also read in another thread that its a good idea too, so I went back in 30 mins and tried to win an oscar, I think my unbearable pain got interpreted as embarasment but they asked for pain on a scale of 1-10, I said 5, the medical officer was a pretty nice guy and said he would get an ultra sound ready for this morning. I waited 5 1/2 hours in bed, eventually falling asleep he woke me up this morning and gave me papers 1 for a blood test, 1 for a ultra sound wich will be conducted on wednesday, the papers say I have a "1.5cm by 1.5cm firm mass on the lower pole" and another says "1.5cm x 1.5cm craggy solid mass" although he told me it is most likely a cyst and that if it is a tumor, because I have had it for so long that it is most likely benign, also if it is a solid mass I would only need a biopsy for it to be examined.

[Michael112]

Bad news, just came back from the ultrasound, the guy said it doesnt look like a cyst, he seemed heaps worried about the whole thing, after about 20 mins down there, he spent about 5 mins looking at my kidneys, later on when I was speaking to the radiologist he said theres no signs its spread yet, he did say a cat scan or mri would be the next step along with getting rid of the whole thing, although he used to word "its a tumor until proven otherwise".
I dont know how I feel right now, I was stressing out so hard in the ultrasound room cause he didnt want me to come out but i got dressed and did, I spoke to the radiologist before they could finish the report, the guy who did the scan looked abit shocked, thats whats worrying me, although the radiologist was an older guy and seemed light hearted, its true, when you get told you got a tumor, your view on the surgery changes.
He did say cause its been there for 3 years theres no rush, afew days wont make a difrence, but he did say that most this stuff I gotta discuss with a neurologist.

[Scott]

I hope he said "urologist." It will be OK, but do get surgery scheduled soon.

[Michael112]

I have an apointment with a urologist tommorow they are gonna confirm everything, I am starting to feel worried because I have been feeling really weak lately because of low free testosterone and I dont want to go under surgery feeling like this, I want to know what surgery is like, the actual anesthesia, conking out, waking up, because I get panic attacks so I am afraid I am going to wake up feeling really bad, I have had bad experiences with drugs like pot and ecstacy wich are a nightmare.
I want to try get some TRT before going under the knife.
I am baffled because I have no symptoms except hot flushes and slight shaking(symptoms of testosterone deficiency), and about every 2 months I will pass blood through my feces, bright blood feels like its comming from the upper colon.

Do you have dreams when you are under?
How do you feel when you wake up, dizzy? stoned? drunk? normal? anxious?

The reason for my anxiety seems to be linked to low testosterone so you could see why I want to get that sorted out before the surgery, the radiologist said that because I have had the lump for so long that afew days wont make much diffrence, I know my symptoms are from low testosterone, except for the bleeding when doing a number 2.

[Michael112]

TC Spreading to colon?

What are the chances of it spreading to the colon?
Colon cancer runs in my family and I have had symptoms for about 6 months now on and off, keep in mind I have had the lump for 3 years.

[dadmo]

The operation to remove the testicle is a simple one. The will make an incesion just below the belt line on the side where the testicle needs to come out. The whole operation is basicly the same as they would do for a hernia, when you wake up you will simply feel tired (and relieved).