Hey all

[jds22]

I just found this forum, joined, and thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Jerry, I'll be 40 at the end of this month. I've been married for 19yrs and have 2 boys, 14 & 15.

About 2 weeks ago I found a lump on the bottom of my left testicle. I immediately made an appointment with a urologist. I go in for my first appt this Thursday 8/9. Needless to say it's been a long few weeks.

During this time, I've been learning as much as I can and reading thru this forum. What I've come to realize is that no matter how much I read about symptoms and self exams, the only course of action is to get to a Dr asap.

I've actually been fairly calm about this although I feel some extra anxiety building as my appt is getting closer. I'll probably be a wreck this Thursday.

Anyways that my situation at the moment. I'll post updates as I get them.

Thanks,
Jerry

[Karen]

Jerry,
Welcome to the forum. Hopefully you will just be passing through and what you feel will not be TC....but if it is we are all here to help you. So glad you 're sssing a urologist. You should get an ultrasound and if it is a suspicious mass then bloodwork for tumor markers a CT scan and chest X-ray...and a quick surgery. TC is relatively rare, so hold onto the thought it's something benign.
Hang in there and keep us posted!

[jds22]

Thanks.

As far as benign tumors go, is that very common?

[Fed]

Hey Jerry,
Welcome to the Forum. To address your question, benign testicular tumors do exist; however, once a mass is found inside a testis by ultrasound, 95% of the times it is malignant. The other 5% comprises Leydig or Sertoli cell tumors, which are benign.
It's great that you are being diligent about this, though. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will just be nothing of concern.

[fuse929]

Scheduling an appointment ASAP, along with coming to the realization that no amount of research can allow you to successfully diagnosis yourself, are two of the biggest obstacles for people facing TC symptoms. You are on the perfect path so far. Let us know how things turn out!

Bobby

[jds22]

Thanks again everyone. I'll be sure and post updates, most likely with questions too.

Jerry

[Karen]

Jerry,
As Fed stated, testicular solid masses are most always cancer. When I said "benign" I was thinging cyst or hydrocele. If you haven't found it yet, http://tcrc.acor.org is a good source of information with link to more.

[Scott]

I'll probably be a wreck this Thursday.

We'll hope that by Friday, you have cause to celebrate. Good luck, and let us know what you hear tomorrow.

[jds22]

Well based on the physical exam the Dr. thinks it's an epididymal cyst. I go in for an ultrasound this morning to find out for sure. Hopefully he's right.

I'll post updates as I get them.

Thanks again
Jerry

[Fed]

Good thing about the ultrasound. That should clear things up.

[jds22]

Well of course I won't get the official word until I meet with the Dr. but here is what the lab tech said, maybe somebody could shed some light.

She said it looks like swollen or engorged blood vessels. What could that indicate?

She also said she saw something on the right testicle which surprised me as the lump I found was on the lower left.

[Karen]

sSigh....I hate when this stuff happens. That's why the techs aren't supposed to say ANYTHING. Of course many can read the images just as well as the radiologists, but saying stuff like this only adds to your anxiety. You need the radiologists report to know what any of this is. An enlarged vein or varicocele is not a concern. The unknown thing on the right testicle is just that, unknown. Try not to worry until you know you have something to worry about...easy to say I know....but hang in there!!

[jds22]

Surprisingly, I've been fairly calm about all of this. For those that know me, this is unusual.

The waiting continues.