Why do bad things happen to good people?
Some of you already know; but for the rest of you I wanted to make a post.
Yesterday, September 5th 2007 I went to the doctor to look into a pain I was having in my lower abdomen (and down towards my 'man-parts'). There was a 2 month wait to see a real doctor, so I saw a "Physician's Assistant" instead. She was very nice, gave me an examination and immediately sent me for an ultrasound across town. The ultrasound place put a rush on the diagnosis and the radiologist had examined my films and sent it back to the doctor within 20 minutes (Here I'm thinking, don't these things usually take like 3-5 business days?). I get back to the doctor's office and the door opens with the Physician's Assistant followed by one of the doctors (This can't be good...). He does his own exam on me and then asks me to sit down.
I have testicular cancer.
It's a funny thing to joke about, even still. But it's very real. Luckily, it apparently is "the" cancer to get, since it has a cure and will work 95% of the time. But like the doctor I went to today (to get a 2nd opinion) said, 1 in 20 will die. It's the same odds.
So yesterday I went to the doctor and was told the bad news. Today the bad news was confirmed by a 2nd doctor the next town over. Tomorrow I go in for surgery at 9:15 to have it removed. At this point, I will be in pain for a few days (with only one remaining testicle) and they will send the removed one in for testing. They will be able to examine it and find out what kind of cancer it is. Best case, it's new, small and self contained. Removing it will have stopped it and I'm cured for life. The (almost) worst case scenario is that it's malicious and aggressive and could spread to other parts of my body, in which case I will have to undergo treatment for an unknown amount of time (radiation, chemotherapy etc). Lance Armstrong, the well known cyclist, had an aggressive form that spread to his brain and lungs and he was able to be cured. So I'm pretty optimistic.
I appreciate that some of you will be concerned, and it means a lot to me. Just reply to this entry and I'll definitely read it when I get back. I'm really going to be ok, and I don't need anyone to come over and sit with me, or bring me food or anything. I understand that you guys are my friends and are there for me, and I can call you if I need anything. And trust me, if it comes to me needing something, I will call :)
I'm going to update my voicemail and eventually my livejournal tomorrow, so if anyone is curious how surgery went just check here, or give me a call (812.361.9677) sometime in the evening. I may not answer my phone, but you can at least here the voicemail and leave me a kind message or whatever it is you do someone who just had cancer surgery.
Seems so weird for me to say. I have cancer.
But it could be worse, right? But let me tell you. I know I don't have bad karma. So things better start looking up for me real soon...
<3
Yesterday, September 5th 2007 I went to the doctor to look into a pain I was having in my lower abdomen (and down towards my 'man-parts'). There was a 2 month wait to see a real doctor, so I saw a "Physician's Assistant" instead. She was very nice, gave me an examination and immediately sent me for an ultrasound across town. The ultrasound place put a rush on the diagnosis and the radiologist had examined my films and sent it back to the doctor within 20 minutes (Here I'm thinking, don't these things usually take like 3-5 business days?). I get back to the doctor's office and the door opens with the Physician's Assistant followed by one of the doctors (This can't be good...). He does his own exam on me and then asks me to sit down.
I have testicular cancer.
It's a funny thing to joke about, even still. But it's very real. Luckily, it apparently is "the" cancer to get, since it has a cure and will work 95% of the time. But like the doctor I went to today (to get a 2nd opinion) said, 1 in 20 will die. It's the same odds.
So yesterday I went to the doctor and was told the bad news. Today the bad news was confirmed by a 2nd doctor the next town over. Tomorrow I go in for surgery at 9:15 to have it removed. At this point, I will be in pain for a few days (with only one remaining testicle) and they will send the removed one in for testing. They will be able to examine it and find out what kind of cancer it is. Best case, it's new, small and self contained. Removing it will have stopped it and I'm cured for life. The (almost) worst case scenario is that it's malicious and aggressive and could spread to other parts of my body, in which case I will have to undergo treatment for an unknown amount of time (radiation, chemotherapy etc). Lance Armstrong, the well known cyclist, had an aggressive form that spread to his brain and lungs and he was able to be cured. So I'm pretty optimistic.
I appreciate that some of you will be concerned, and it means a lot to me. Just reply to this entry and I'll definitely read it when I get back. I'm really going to be ok, and I don't need anyone to come over and sit with me, or bring me food or anything. I understand that you guys are my friends and are there for me, and I can call you if I need anything. And trust me, if it comes to me needing something, I will call :)
I'm going to update my voicemail and eventually my livejournal tomorrow, so if anyone is curious how surgery went just check here, or give me a call (812.361.9677) sometime in the evening. I may not answer my phone, but you can at least here the voicemail and leave me a kind message or whatever it is you do someone who just had cancer surgery.
Seems so weird for me to say. I have cancer.
But it could be worse, right? But let me tell you. I know I don't have bad karma. So things better start looking up for me real soon...
<3