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Hey gang!
This forum is GREAT! I wish I had something like this when I went through TC back in 1985. What great support, encouragement and sharing of information.
So I guess in the spirit of sharing I'll share a little bit of my story...
I was diagnosed in April of 1985 (25 years old). I went for the full ride; I/O (Left), Chemo and Radiation. I was on some experimental drug that, when doctors now look at what was used, they get this "WOW, you survived that drug" look on their face. It's so funny! I'm sure the treatments used today are so superior to those used 20 years ago. Looking back, I feel like I was out there blazing a treatment trail for those getting treatment today. The whole experience really revealed how strong I was in my faith, body, mind and spirit.
So I was down to just one, but that's still enough to start a family and in 1997 my wife and I had a girl and in 1999 we had another girl. Thank you.
Then in March of 2002 I started getting the feeling like I was kicked in the groin. I thought maybe I was kicked because my girls were at just the right height when I picked them up, that their feet would be perfectly aligned to... but I couldn't think of a time when that happened and I'm sure I would have remembered.
So I went to the doctors and yep, you guessed it, I had TC again! I caught it real early. It was undetectable by the oncologist upon physical exam even though he had the films and knew exactly where to look. Additionally all my markers were normal. (My markers were always normal.) Eventually, pathology confirmed what the ultra sound showed.
We consulted with Lawrence Einhorn and he suggested that we just do the I/O since I had already undergone an aggressive course of chemo and radiation. It turned out to be the right decision. I got my second 5 year all clear last February. The two incidents were 18 years apart and not related.
The good news is that I've gone through so many tests in the last 25 years that I'm cleared to operate numerous C/T machines and am very familiar with MRI operations!
Also, my chance of developing any testicular problems in the future have decreased significantly.
I now use Androgel, a testosterone replacement medication, but besdies that, everything else is perfectly normal. As a matter of fact, my sex life is great and I'm in better physical shape at 47 years old than I was in my 20's.
For you new guys; relax; have faith and believe.
You'll be just fine.
God Bless,
Michael
This forum is GREAT! I wish I had something like this when I went through TC back in 1985. What great support, encouragement and sharing of information.
So I guess in the spirit of sharing I'll share a little bit of my story...
I was diagnosed in April of 1985 (25 years old). I went for the full ride; I/O (Left), Chemo and Radiation. I was on some experimental drug that, when doctors now look at what was used, they get this "WOW, you survived that drug" look on their face. It's so funny! I'm sure the treatments used today are so superior to those used 20 years ago. Looking back, I feel like I was out there blazing a treatment trail for those getting treatment today. The whole experience really revealed how strong I was in my faith, body, mind and spirit.
So I was down to just one, but that's still enough to start a family and in 1997 my wife and I had a girl and in 1999 we had another girl. Thank you.
Then in March of 2002 I started getting the feeling like I was kicked in the groin. I thought maybe I was kicked because my girls were at just the right height when I picked them up, that their feet would be perfectly aligned to... but I couldn't think of a time when that happened and I'm sure I would have remembered.
So I went to the doctors and yep, you guessed it, I had TC again! I caught it real early. It was undetectable by the oncologist upon physical exam even though he had the films and knew exactly where to look. Additionally all my markers were normal. (My markers were always normal.) Eventually, pathology confirmed what the ultra sound showed.
We consulted with Lawrence Einhorn and he suggested that we just do the I/O since I had already undergone an aggressive course of chemo and radiation. It turned out to be the right decision. I got my second 5 year all clear last February. The two incidents were 18 years apart and not related.
The good news is that I've gone through so many tests in the last 25 years that I'm cleared to operate numerous C/T machines and am very familiar with MRI operations!
Also, my chance of developing any testicular problems in the future have decreased significantly.I now use Androgel, a testosterone replacement medication, but besdies that, everything else is perfectly normal. As a matter of fact, my sex life is great and I'm in better physical shape at 47 years old than I was in my 20's.
For you new guys; relax; have faith and believe.
You'll be just fine.
God Bless,
Michael
Margaret
Wow... they really brought in the heavy artillery. Good thing the treatments now have come a long way! Many here will be grateful for having blazed the trail.
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