boyfriend diagnosed last week

[HZence]

..........................................

[huckchef]

any updates!!! hope all is going well!!!

[Individuation]

Hi Mitch,
My AIM id is Individuat If you have an account please feel free to contact me.

Eileen

Hi Eileen--

I wanted to post to let you know that I had most of my treatment done at U of C hospitals while I was a law student there (graduated in 03). My story is posted on this site in the story section. The school was very helpful and understanding. If your boyfriend is still a student there, he should certainly speak to the dean of students and registrar, as well as all of his profs. Please let him know that if he needs anything--wants to chat about being in law school and going through chemo, etc -- I am more than willing to chat via email or phone.

He is in good hands at U of C, and if he does his chemo there, the nurses are wonderful.

All my best,
Mitch

[Havok]

Its good to hear that all went well. The most important thing is that you and his friends are there for him. Taking care of him is what happens in a relationship, That is what it is about. I often appoligized to my wife during both of my surgurys and dr.s visits and all the other stuff. She just looked at me and said "For better or worse" and smiled. I can honestly say that i would not have delt with having TC twice, as well as i did if it was not for her. Its Wifes, Girlfriends, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers, Dads and Friends just like you that help us get through this. Im sure that he is greatfull that you are there for him.

[huckchef]

its great that he has your support!! he as well as you will need a shoulder to lean on and dont hesitate to cry. it helps!! it will take some time and there will be good and bad days and just remember that it will all be back to "normal" soon. stay positive and give faith a chance and something positive will come from this! best of luck and continued success. god bless, brian.

[Mitch]

U of C

Hi Eileen--

I wanted to post to let you know that I had most of my treatment done at U of C hospitals while I was a law student there (graduated in 03). My story is posted on this site in the story section. The school was very helpful and understanding. If your boyfriend is still a student there, he should certainly speak to the dean of students and registrar, as well as all of his profs. Please let him know that if he needs anything--wants to chat about being in law school and going through chemo, etc -- I am more than willing to chat via email or phone.

He is in good hands at U of C, and if he does his chemo there, the nurses are wonderful.

All my best,
Mitch

[dadmo]

I think the greatest damage is psychological and emotional - he's said he feels disfigured.

It's an awful thing to say but he is disfigured in the same way a woman would be if she had to have a breast removed. To the loved ones it is meaningless but to the patient it is life altering. It will take some time but this too shall pass. Stay strong for him and visit us often.

[Individuation]

Hey Eileen: I guess by now the surgery has been done. Hope everything went well and everybody is home now. There should be a pathology report after surgery and it usually includes the make up of the cancer and the staging. It will tell what kind(s) of tc are there and how advanced it is. If you have that information you will be able to go in a find others with the same results and read what their treatment plans were and follow along with how they did through treatment. I was just thinking about both of you and hoping everything went well. April

Thanks April, it feels good to know so many people are sending positive energy our way. We were told we'd get the pathology report back on Monday.

E

[Individuation]

Eileen,

1st and fore-mostly important. Have yourself and partner educated as much as possible about treatment options, and recommendations. There are few specialists in this field, and having one of them in the mix is so important. Many will give second opinions over e-mails or phone call. I got mine from Indiana University. As for the surgery, It is nothing (at least it was not for me). I was diagnosed last July, and I am sitting here after Surgery and Chemo treatments feeling like my old self. I know this sounds a little meaningless, but if your partner is to get cancer, this is the one to get. I am pretty sure that it has the best cure rate of any out there. Keep a positive attitude, and stay informed. Please keep us informed also. Keep your head up, and don’t fret over feeling weird taking care of him. It is what makes us all human after all. Best wishes.

Dear Larry,
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. He's getting his treatments at the University of Chicago hospitals, as he is/was a law student there. It's so good to hear that from July to today you're feeling like your old self. That's what I WANT to hear. He and I actually met last July, and it doesn't seem like it was that long ago - so I really think we're gonna make it through this okay. I'm feeling better about taking care of him because I've been really honest and open with him about how I feel and he's been really supportive and wonderful. He's very appreciative and very sweet - and his family and friends are also being very supportive and appreciative. Sometimes I'm embarrassed at how much I'm being thanked, but seeing my love healthy will be the best reward ever.
take care,
Eileen

[Individuation]

Individuation:
I don't want you to worry anymore then you need to, this operation is very simple. It's basicly the same one they would do for a hernia. The incesion will be in his lower stomach, just below the belt line, on the side that the testicle will be removed from. It's usually a one night stay and if done early he may come home the same day. To make him comfortable bring a pair of losse fitting pants for him to wear home. He will not want to wear anything tight. Check back in after to operation and we can try and guide you thru the rest of his treatment.

Thank you! His procedure was out patient, and really relatively quick. Coming out of the anesthesia took longer than the operation itself. I bought him some soft pj pants - and we're keeping him on vicodin and ice packs to ease the pain. He's got a strong support system in his friends. I'll certainly check in with any questions.

[Individuation]

Let him know we're out here wishing him the best tomorrow!

Thanks Scott. I told him about this forum, but he's not really ready to share and he's not as much of as a net geek as I am - so this is a little strange for him. I didn't tell him that I'd already posted, but told him that if he had questions I could post them here and get answers from people who have lived through it.

His surgery went as well as can be expected. He's sore, but his mother and I are taking care of him. I think the greatest damage is psychological and emotional - he's said he feels disfigured. I've told him that I think he's gorgeous no matter what - but I think that's going to take time.

[amorgan74]

Surgery???

Hey Eileen: I guess by now the surgery has been done. Hope everything went well and everybody is home now. There should be a pathology report after surgery and it usually includes the make up of the cancer and the staging. It will tell what kind(s) of tc are there and how advanced it is. If you have that information you will be able to go in a find others with the same results and read what their treatment plans were and follow along with how they did through treatment. I was just thinking about both of you and hoping everything went well. April

[huckchef]

hope all is going well!!! the surgery should be a breeze.... i know because i had two of them!! just take it easy for a day or two and things will get better. be positive for each other and always cry if you need to. it helps!! best of luck!
my thoughts and prayers, brian

[Larry B.]

Keep positive

Eileen,

1st and fore-mostly important. Have yourself and partner educated as much as possible about treatment options, and recommendations. There are few specialists in this field, and having one of them in the mix is so important. Many will give second opinions over e-mails or phone call. I got mine from Indiana University. As for the surgery, It is nothing (at least it was not for me). I was diagnosed last July, and I am sitting here after Surgery and Chemo treatments feeling like my old self. I know this sounds a little meaningless, but if your partner is to get cancer, this is the one to get. I am pretty sure that it has the best cure rate of any out there. Keep a positive attitude, and stay informed. Please keep us informed also. Keep your head up, and don’t fret over feeling weird taking care of him. It is what makes us all human after all. Best wishes.

[Don]

Best of luck with the surgery tomorrow!!!! As other might have already said --due to the the sensitivity of the area being operated on many men have visions of an agonizing surgery when in actuallity its really not too bad... Hopefully this surgery alone will be the cure!!!!! DON