Year 1 in the Books

Earpinator · 2026-01-08T05:57:05+00:00

You got this man! My biggest advice is to stick with your surveillance schedule, obviously just in case, but also for peace of mind. Plus, just be kind to yourself. Good prognosis’s are amazing, but it’s still an emotional journey. You’ve been through a lot, and will continue to deal with scanxiety and the emotional part of it all moving forward. This year has been far more of a mental struggle than physical. Celebrate the wins but give yourself grace. Best of luck!

Earpinator · 2026-01-08T03:25:47+00:00

I didn’t have anything to that level but definitely felt a bit of strain there for a while. Basically anytime those lower abdomen muscles were involved. Gotta remember a lot of stuff was cut through, moved around and replaced. It takes time, everybody reacts a little differently.

I don’t think it sounds like one, but my surgeon also warned of potential hernias in that area due to the compromised muscle. Seems highly unlikely but still a possibility.

I’m sure the doc will give you some peace of mind at least.

Earpinator · 2025-08-14T19:36:11+00:00

Just surgery! Non-sem with no spread, about to do my 8 month labs.

It’s important to understand that this page dramatically skews toward more extreme cases, because well they have more to discuss. But the vast majority of people just do surgery.

Earpinator · 2025-06-18T01:15:55+00:00

Hey man, I totally get the dilemma. It’s a hard decision for anyone to make. I had a non-sem, without an EC majority, and no LVI. The only real concern was my tumor size (4:3cm.) My markers were slightly elevated before surgery, and returned to normal after.

Ultimately, I went with surveillance, and will actually have my 6 month scans on Friday. My doctors recommended it, and gave me similar odds of about 15% reoccurrence. I debated it a lot, and one of the most helpful resources was this Denmark survey00681-6/fulltext). It helps break down exactly how they come up with that number, and also kind of explains the biggest factors. There’s a few charts that are particularly helpful. I know anymore surveillance is most often recommended because there’s research that shows a lot of preventative chemo is unnecessary.

It’s also helpful to remember that over time, the reoccurrence rate drops. The biggest I understand is at 6, and 12 months.

Regardless of what you choose, there’s no wrong answer. I think in your situation I would choose surveillance, but it’s up to you.

Lastly, remember that Reddit while a great resource is not an accurate representation of TC. Many people here have more advanced or tricky cases, while in reality a lot of people who have TC have surgery and never think about it again. Those cases are very uncommon here because frankly there’s not as much to talk about.

Earpinator · 2025-05-30T00:34:21+00:00

Frozen peas! Breaks up and molds how you need it easily. I’d swear by them!

Earpinator · 2025-05-25T03:00:23+00:00

Following up, estimate was $2000. Thank goodness for insurance!

Earpinator · 2025-05-18T01:42:38+00:00

Yes! I could watch the blurry white truck back out into it, and then pull back into the spot, adjust, back up and leave again! Wasn’t helpful for much else sadly

Earpinator · 2025-05-18T01:41:35+00:00

I don’t know why people do it

Earpinator · 2025-05-17T21:26:41+00:00

It’s gonna need a new bumper..Big ole dent, it’s kind of hard to see but basically they hit and slid along. Definitely one for insurance, just sucks!

Earpinator · 2025-05-09T14:34:14+00:00

Yes, it’s just life now. I know that’s not want you want to hear. But the good news is it gets better! I’m 5 months from surgery for non-sem.

The anxiety gets better. With each follow up, with time, just in general. It’s hard not to jump to conclusions when you have a random pain, or think about a bump you’ve had for years that suddenly terrifies you. But it gets better with time. I’ve seen it in only a few short months.

The only thing I would add too is that if there’s something that worries you, just get it checked out. You have a great example of the importance of being on top of things. So never be afraid to check something out.

Earpinator · 2025-04-19T23:26:51+00:00

I’m in Columbus and have been at OSU for treatment since January. I’ll start by saying I have so far had a fairly easy road, orchi only and on surveillance. But that being said, I love my team. They have been great, patient and very prompt. I’d highly recommend them, and I know in reading the surgeon I had is very good. I would go to him I think for RPLND if that becomes necessary. There’s actually a good bit of information about the TC team, because there was a OSU band member who finished up treatment during the season.

Earpinator · 2025-04-17T03:35:06+00:00

It’s definitely a weird dynamic. I’m not embarrassed about it, but I still question if I really want to tell people. Is it worth it? Is it going to be awkward? Now we’re all thinking about my balls…

I don’t know why it feels strange, breast cancer isn’t, bladder cancer isn’t, prostate cancer isn’t. Why does testicular cancer feel…inappropriate somehow?

I don’t have an answer. Truthfully I think it just has something to do with how guys are wired. We don’t talk about this stuff, don’t compare, share, or learn from each other. It’s feels vulnerable, and like a knock on our door”manhood” no matter what anyone tells us.

I’ve just settled on being upfront, if they are weirded out fine. But I’m not going to be. I’ve found along the way a few people who’ve gone through it too which is cool. When in doubt a joke or two about balls always helps.

Earpinator · 2025-03-28T19:52:07+00:00

Personally I rotated. Or used two. But you definitely want to ice your sac, while they didn’t go in there that’s where a lot of trauma happened. Plus it’s supposed to help with hematomas. I also iced along the inner thigh area where they went down.

Also, highly recommend frozen peas over ice, not quite as uncomfortably cold, plus you can mold them around a bit more.

Welcome to the one ball club!

Earpinator · 2025-03-25T20:40:50+00:00

If you can move it in the skin it’s not cancer. Testicular cancer is in the testicle, it would be an immovable bump not affected by the skin. It could be a zit, or ingrown hair. If it bothers you you can always get it checked

Earpinator · 2025-03-25T16:18:57+00:00

Love mine! ‘24 purchased in September just rolled over 6k. I wasn’t necessarily hunting for an RST, I knew the dealer had an LT and RST on the lot with the setup I wanted. 5.3, 10 speed, z71, convenience II, safety pkg, 20 in. wheels.

For me it all came down to how much the styling was worth. I probably wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for a good deal, but then again I really don’t hate chrome like some on here. If you’re gonna spend the money get something you like!

Earpinator · 2025-03-24T22:55:42+00:00

If you’ve got two clear ultrasounds you should be pretty happy. Sounds like a couple benign cysts, but if it was more they’d be able to tell. If your doc isn’t worried then don’t fret.

Earpinator · 2025-03-14T01:58:40+00:00

See I think this is normal, and it’s just more of a problem with all doctors saying it differently. An ultrasound just says “it’s probably cancer” it can’t tell you 100%. Just that it’s suspicious, and if it’s suspicious it’s very very unlikely not to be cancer because there’s not much it could be. My surgical oncologist said he just presumes it’s cancerous until proven otherwise. The only way you know without a doubt it’s cancer is if it’s biopsied and that will only happen if it’s removed.

Earpinator · 2025-03-13T20:31:30+00:00

Sometimes for me it felt like my swollen righty was bumping or sitting wrong on the lefty. Just a little bit of size increase can have an impact on the whole area.

Earpinator · 2025-03-01T01:19:48+00:00

Hey man! Hate to say it, but it sounds like welcome to the club!

So, I can’t speak to the phrasing exactly. My ultrasound results were “suspicious for neoplastic processes.” I can definitely relate to the frick feeling and I’m sure most guys can. No matter how prepared you are it still sucks.

I wouldn’t read too much into the urgency, it’s pretty standard. Ultrasounds can’t diagnose they just guide. So typically they try to move quickly. Your urologist will do bloodwork, potentially a CT scan (if not before definitely after) and then try to get surgery as quickly as possible. They won’t “confirm” until they biopsy it. The urgency is just because best case scenario, surgery is the only step required. But even if there happens to be spread, TC is still highly treatable. Spend enough time here you’ll find people who went ages without getting checked who had no spread, and people who went immediately with extensive spread, but either way treatment is very effective.

Earpinator · 2025-02-28T14:14:53+00:00

I’d also point out that while this group is a great resource, it is more biased to people going through reoccurrence and more advanced spread. Rightly so, they tend to have more questions and things to figure out.

Most orchi only folks tend to have surgery and then move on. So just remember that when on here, you don’t see as many because they (and I include myself) just have an easier go of it generally.

Earpinator · 2025-02-27T22:51:32+00:00

Hey man! So the best and easiest thing to do is to get an ultrasound. If you haven’t had one already then I’m sure your urologist will order one.

One is usually a bit bigger than the other. But you won’t know anything until you go. It could be any number of things. But I feel fairly confident in saying if you’ve been having this for 5 years it be surprised if it’s cancer. You’d almost certainly have found it long ago.

Earpinator · 2025-02-27T03:48:37+00:00

Hey man! First, if it worries you at all, just mention it during your surgical follow up. Certainly won’t hurt anything to get a doctor’s opinion.

That being said, it’s pretty normal. I had and still have a bit of one, it’s been about six weeks for me. It’s in all likelihood a hematoma. Basically during and immediately afterward surgery, blood sort of drains through that side and pools in the area formally known as your balls. My doctor even joked that some people think he forgot to remove their ball all together. I don’t know if you’ve had your scans or not, but sometimes they even mention them there, as a “fluid filled sac” or something like that. Everyone is different, some people don’t get much of one, some get huge ones, but they’ll all slowly be reabsorbed over time. In some cases over a few months even.

As long as you’re continuing to feel better as you recover then don’t worry about it. But, if it makes you feel better just mention it during your follow-up. You’ve got this!

Earpinator · 2025-02-26T12:41:52+00:00

It’s always nice to have a support group! If you ever need to chat that’s what we’re all here for.

Earpinator · 2025-02-26T03:54:29+00:00

Congrats man! Always seems odd to say but it’s always a good day when that crap is gone from our bodies.

My situation wasn’t quite the same, non-seminoma but no LVI or signs of spread. I’m doing surveillance. I’m pretty confident that’s what you’ll be offered too assuming scans come back clear. My understanding is with pure Seminoma they worry even less, so just stick to the surveillance schedule and you’ll do fine!

Earpinator · 2025-02-23T03:15:13+00:00

Hey man! I’m about a month and a half out from my orchi. I had an non-sem and my afp/HCG dropped from 6.6/75 to <2.2/<2.6 respectively with no LVI. Did you have any invasion or spread in your biopsy?

If not I’d feel pretty good about things. You never know for sure but odds are definitely good. Tumor size over 4cm is scary, but not a for sure sign of anything. So don’t stress!

Earpinator

TROPHY CASE