Talking about their body, their cancer…

Dan was 20 years old when diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had a unilateral orchidectomy.

“When I first noticed a swelling in my testicle, I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was too embarrassed. The first person I told was a good female friend of mine. I felt more comfortable telling her than any of my male friends because she is really open and easy to talk to. In the end she encouraged me to see a doctor.

I have noticed that guys in general don’t talk about their bodies. They would rather just bottle up their concerns. I used to agree, but testicular cancer changed that. I am open about my experience with cancer and encourage my friends to self-examine.”

“I think that men should be more educated about testicular cancer, particularly in high school.”

Above and below are testimonies are pulled from A Courageous Journey - Experiences with Testicular Cancer booklet

Marcus was 35 years old when diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent a unilateral orchidectomy and radiation therapy.

“I never really think about cancer anymore. It’s something that happened to me and I have moved on. When I was diagnosed, I was married with two children, aged 8 and 12. My wife and I attended the appointments together. She was very intent on learning about the different treatments, and she even took notes during the discussions we had with the doctor. I think my illness affected her more than it affected me, since she felt there was nothing she could do.

She was concerned about my well-being and about making the right choices regarding treatment. We decided together about what to tell our children. We didn’t want to upset them because they were so young. They knew about the surgery, but we won’t mention that I had cancer until they’re older. I decided not to tell my parents until after I recovered from the surgery. I love them dearly and I didn’t want them to worry so much at their age.

I told two close friends about my illness but didn’t tell another friend who recently lost a parent and some relatives to cancer. I also kept my condition hidden from my employees at work. I am a director of a small computer firm that services companies and I didn’t want news to get out that I was ill. That could be bad for business. Longstanding clients would say to potential customers, Give him a break. Don’t go to him.”

“Now that the ordeal is over, I have come to recognize what I value in life. I have slowed my days down and have made more time for my wife and kids.”

Take the necessary time to visit each of our pages on this website to familiarize yourself with the disease. Do you have questions or concerns? Above all, do not hesitate. Contact us via Messenger on our Facebook page. It’s simple, free and confidential.

Video to review
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Sources and References
UHN: A Courageous Journey...

ADMINApril 18, 2022Comment