WALLSOFJOECO

Cancer

I was diagnosed with Seminomatous Testicular Cancer on August 18th, 2006. And since then it’s been one hell of a ride. And for me it’s been a mix of emotions. This is the Readers Digest version:

“I was playing golf with my roommate in early July when I pull what I thought was a groin muscle walking up a hill. Well, after about a week my left testicle what just getting worse (twice the size of the other one and throbbing). My Family doctor couldn’t find anything and said it was some sort of infection (epidermisidus (sp)) and put me on anti-biotics. Well after about a month of going in and out of the doctor (He was baffled because there was no sign of bumps, no Lumps, no ruff areas), I got my ultra-sound on Aug 14th, 2006 “just to make sure”. The results went to my family doctor. On the 16th my doctor referred me to my urologist for the 18th because the report did not look good. The girlfriend and I went to the docs on the 18th. This is what I heard: “You look to have Testicular Cancer…first thing is surgery, with CAT scans, Chest x-rays, and blood work…” After that I tuned out. I HAD WHAT…CANCER. I just cried, punched in the stomach…August 22, 2006 was the day. I was in at 6am and out by 1pm (Which really surprised me, but I found out later that it’s normal and I had one of the best doctors in Colorado). Well, setting on my butt for about 4 days (with great pain killers) with my beautiful Irish girlfriend helping me (like making me run laps around the house-she won’t let me be a wuss), I found out on August 25th that it was Stage I-II pure Seminomatous Cancer/60% of the testicle/no vascular invasion. My doc was SUPER relived and the one thing he said I still hang on still to this day, “You will not die from this”. On Sept 1, I got a CAT scan done and more blood work. He said I can be surveillance or have RT done (he did STRONGLY recommend radiation for the cancer was larger 3cm). I said without hesitation RT because LETS GET THIS THING DONE AND KICK IT. I think that was the day I started to think ‘LiveSTONG’. It reminded me not to get back into that “Rut”. Just get up. Do it. Don’t be the person I was before. Don’t let life dictate you but you dictate life. So I am. I got more good news with negatives on both the x-ray and CAT. ‘Thank God’ I kept saying so I met with the radiologist and I got my first dose radiation treatment on Oct 19. Two days before thanksgiving and 20 doses later, radiation was over. I still have no word on if it spread until later dates in 2007, but I will always now to start living life to my full potential.”

And here I am today. I have had a checkup with the surgery itself and it all clear along with the radiologist giving me the all clear. Although I have a ton of hair to get back. I am not cured yet. Not officially. The cancer may be out (so far) but I am still mentally in the fight. But I learned to take nothing for granted any more. Do those things I been saying ‘I will do’ and switch them to ‘I am doing’. I have permanently glued my Blues Brother glassing on and fighting the good fight. But in style!!