A little worried.....

[cts]

well... kind of a lot worried.

New member here.

To start, I'm 32. About 10 months ago I found a hard lump on my testical. I did regular self-tests and 1 day it wasn't there and the next it was (maybe a week apart) It doesn't feel like its in the testical but on it, kind of like the epididymis.

This week I went to my regular doctor to be checked out because I was sick of worrying about it. The lump hasn’t changed at all from when I 1st noticed it 10 months ago.

He checked it and said he didn't think it was anything. He has been a doc for 30 yrs and treats my entire family so I trust his judgement. He said he has diagnosed TC quite a few times and it mine feels nothing like TC but he scheduled an ultra-sound to be safe. I had the ultra-sound and they came back with that there is a hard surface on the lump. So now I have to go to an urologist to be checked out and have a possible biopsy.

My doc still thinks it’s nothing to worry about. He checked me again after the ultra-sound and he doesn't seem too concerned and said not to get too worried. He thinks it may just be scar tissue.

Does anybody have any ideas what it could be? I did have a Hydrocele when I was a baby. Could this just be scar tissue?

Sorry for being so long. Appreciate the replies.

Thanks.

[nzsteve]

Hi,

Youve done the right thing by getting it checked out, but try not to be too scared about having TC until youve seen the Urologist. As far as I know, a lump on the epididymis is more likly to be something else. I had a hydrocele as a baby as well, and neither my urologist or oncologist know of any connection between that and an increased risk of TC later in life, so I wouldnt worry too much at this stage.

If you have to wait a while before your urology appointment and are concerned you might want to get your doctor to run some blood tests - elevated bHCG or AFP would an indicator that it is TC.

Good luck,

Steve

[cts]

Well, I just received the news from the Urologist that I have to have my testical removed tomorrow. He doesn't know yet if its cancer but he said usually there is a 98% of a tumor being cancer. I hope I'm in that 2%.

Thanks for the reply.

[dadmo]

cts:
I'm so sorry to hear that, all we can do is hope along with you. Remember even if it is tc it is very curable. This forum is a testament to that. The two best things you can do now are gather information and take action. Keep us up to date on your situation and ask lots of questions. Have you ckecked out the tcrc site yet? If not heres the link http://tcrc.acor.org/

[Scott]

Have you had blood drawn to test for tumor markers yet? Best wishes for good news, cts. Keep us posted.

[cts]

I actually had a standard physical scheduled for tomorrow so they took a blood and urine test on the 13th. I told the Urologist that today but he hadn't seen any of the blood work yet. He just told me that it had to be removed and then they would do a biopsy on it to determine if its TC.

I'm just really worried that I waited to long to have this all done and that if it is TC I screwed myself.

Thanks for the kind words.

[cts]

Just thought I would give an update.

I had the surgery today and the doctor said it went really well. He said he has a feeling that the tumor is contained and it may not have spread. That is, if it is indeed cancer.

I'm not really in too much pain. Just a little sore where my incesion is. I'm pretty lucky in that I have a very supportive family and fantastic girlfriend that is helping me out thru this.

I guess now its a waiting game until they do the biopsy and determine what it is.

Thanks for the replies.

[Scott]

I'm glad to hear you're doing well after surgery! Any blood test results yet? If it is cancer, you should also have an abdominal CT scan and chest x-ray soon.

[cts]

No blood test results yet. They took more blood today so I'm sure I'll know sometime next week.

Thanks for the kind words.

[cts]

Update:

Received a call today from my doctor. Tests came back that I have Seminoma. He did say that of all the procedures he has done that mine seemed to be the best and the most contained.

Now I'm getting scheduled to have some x-rays done and he said probably go thru some radiation.

Can anybody that has had similar results explain to me what I'm going to be going thru now?

Thanks!

[Scott]

Sounds like very good news! So, how about those blood test results? Any elevated markers (AFP, hCG, LDH)? CT scan? Have all your treatment options been presented?

[cts]

He hasn't told me and I forgot to ask. I was more worried of the fact that I have cancer than asking him about the blood work.

I have to go in the beginning of next week to have my staples removed so I'm sure I'll get all the info. by then.

Thanks.

[Scott]

The reason I asked again about the blood test results is that they are important to confirm the pure seminoma diagnosis. If your AFP level was elevated, you'd need to be treated for non-seminoma; radiation therapy wouldn't be a good option.

[cts]

Well, had mt CT scan last Friday. Today I had my appointment for my staple removal and for the doc to check the scans. I came back clean! It didn't spread at all! He also said my blood work came back good.

I have an appt. mid next month with a Oncologist to determine if I need radiation treatment or not.

So finally some good news!

[Scott]

That is good news! You should be hearing about at least radiation therapy and surveillance options.