Howdy All

[daniel.s]

Hi everyone.

My name's Daniel, i'm 25, and live in Sydney, Australia.

Around a month I started noticing some discomfort when my testicles rubbed on my clothing. I left it for around 2 weeks, thinking I might have just bumped it. Then, on a Sunday morning I noticed quite a large lump inside my left testicle.

I went to see my GP the same day, and had some blood tests done. I then went for an ultrasound a few days later, and armed with the results, went back to my GP.

The blood tests didn't show any markers, but the growth was 1.5CM in diameter. I made an appointment with a Urologist. He checked it out, and said that it's 99% certain to be TC, but he said it's probably a Seminoma. Based on what i've read, I won't count on that.

He then referred me to go for a CT scan, which I had the same day. That came back clear.

Here's the rub. He's booked me into hospital (public system here), and I'm in the waiting list. Apparently i'll have an Oriechtomy on the 11th of September.

What i'm wondering is how quick does TC spread? Should I push to get it done earlier?

I'm going to go back to my GP tomorrow and ask his opinion. What do you guys think?

Thanks,

Daniel

[dadmo]

I'm sorry you had to look for us but welcome. Some forms of testicular cancer can spred with amazing speed. I would call the doctor and ask to have that date moved up. It's a confirmed solid mass which makes it very suspecious for cancer. All indications are that the disease may not have spread if you get that tumor out now maybe it will stay that way.
Keep in touch and let us know how you make out on the follow up.

[Mom]

Daniel, Please see if you can get the date moved up. The quicker it is out the better. Your tumor is a lot smaller than my son's so you have a great chance of catching it early. BTW, he is doing fine, you will too. Dianne

[daniel.s]

Thanks for the replies, dadmo and Dianne. I'm going to the doctor in 1/2 an hour, so i'll keep you updated.

The ultrasound was done 1 1/2 weeks ago, and I can feel that the tumour is growing in size. Before it was more rounded. Now it's becoming egg-shaped.

[daniel.s]

No luck. The 11th of Sep is the first opportunity I have to have the operation with this Urologist. That said, he must know his stuff as he's the president of the Urological society of Australia & New Zealand.

I'm not happy about having to wait, but i'll just have to sit it out.

[dadmo]

I don't know how your medical system works but can you go to the emergency room complaining about pain?

[daniel.s]

I don't know how your medical system works but can you go to the emergency room complaining about pain?

Yes you can, but Urologists are pretty thin on the ground here. I doubt they'd do anything on the spot if you tried that.

[daniel.s]

Just an update. My wife's a nurse, so she went and talked to one of the Urologists at her hospital (different hospital than the one i'm on the waiting list for), who happens to work under the Urologist i'm going to see.
She told him that the lump is getting bigger, and that it's getting more painful. He has recommended us to get my local docter to either ring the Urologist himself, or refer me to his office again.

I feel like i'm butting my head against a wall with the people at my Urologist's office, as they don't seem to want to let me get in direct contact with him.

My wife also talked to one of the nurses on the Urology ward, and she said that her husband had had TC, and had started to deteriorate while on the waiting list. They got a referral from their doctor and went to Emergency with it.

Just noting this all down in case any other Aussies drop by, and don't have private health insurance. I don't have it as I couldn't get family health insurance until my wife got permanent residency here (she's Norwegian).

[Mom]

Gosh, Daniel, what does it take to get to the top of the list?? Usually urologists are sensitive to this issue because they have them too. Any way you can pay for the surgery yourself and have it done privately?

[fuse929]

It is hard for me to believe that you have to wait so long when all the symptoms are pointing at TC. I would be causing a huge ruckus trying everything i could to get the surgery moved up as soon as possible. Even if you have to go to the ER screaming in pain, do it. It may save you a lot of suffering in the future. Good luck man.

Bobby