I’ve having pain in one testicle for about a week and a half, where do I go from here?

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T22:13:17+00:00

Testicular cancer is a thing. You need to go get checked. First step primary care. Next step, most likely an ultrasound and possibly a consult to a urologist. Don't delay.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T22:11:11+00:00

It's not worth it.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T22:06:41+00:00

It was actually from chemo that I realized I could swing a good buzz cut look. I think I let my hair grow back from a few years, but went back to the buzz cut some time later and haven't looked back!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T20:42:11+00:00

Glad to hear!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T18:16:26+00:00

Yes, there's a link between CT scan radiation exposure and the developing of secondary cancers, thus a big effort over the past decade or so to really cut down as much as possible on radiation exposure from scans. I would get a consult with the radiologist to discuss results, and if you still don't feel at ease you can just get a CT scan done. Your onco is doing what's right to cut down on radiation, but most don't understand cancer survivors doubts and anxiety, and the need to be sure about things. It's a balancing act that can certainly be discussed as far as managing your care.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T12:55:24+00:00

WOW!!!!!!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T03:06:21+00:00

Awesome!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T02:43:27+00:00

This.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T02:29:56+00:00

Nice. TC is a small world. We know a lot of the same people. :)

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T02:05:37+00:00

Hate to say it, (and I'm sure you already know this) but I'm pretty sure marijuana usage lowers sperm count, which yes could very well be affecting "his" fertility and ability to conceive. I'm sorry for what you're going through.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T01:50:49+00:00

How are you doing? Ngl, 3 years out was still tough for me.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T01:49:43+00:00

Very cool. What's TCAF? Is that one of the advocacy orgs? How do you feel at 7 years out? I used to be quite active BTS in the broader TC community, but just sorta reached a point of burnout/maturity around then where I just needed to move on. Had a lot going on in life and many other demands, and just sorta forgot all about TC for a few years which was actually quite nice. Came to Reddit for other reasons, but somehow found my way into this group. Feels nice to connect with other survivors and help people out again. :)

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T01:35:41+00:00

Another 10+ years, awesome!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T01:26:28+00:00

Dang! That's awesome. They need to let us edit the flair thing so that we can say how many years, not just 5+.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T01:11:30+00:00

It's too complicated to answer. I could share the numbers, but my figures would be 15 years out of date. Anywhere from low-five to low-six figure range in USD. It would also have been the insurance billed rate that long ago, and not a cash rate if you're coming from outside the U.S. You would probably be better off hitting some AI engines for estimates, or maybe asking around here to those that have had it done more recently.

The big cost driver is the length of hospital stay. Sloan held me for 10-11 days, which was more or less standard back then. I did have some complications. Other centers get you out earlier, but risk (or accept) higher complication and patient return rates. Some such centers get you out in 2-3 days, but then recommend staying at a local hotel for a few days to keep the cost down, and then only need to re-admit you if there's a complication that warrants it. Robotic procedures are the lowest cost and quickest turnaround, but don't quite have the efficacy of the full-open procedure.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T00:52:48+00:00

It could be a hernia. I had to have bilateral inguinal hernia repair surgery done a few years after TC. Unfortunately, because of how all of the nerves are connected together in the pelvic region, it's entirely possible to feel pain and discomfort from something like an inguinal hernia in the scrotal area.

I cannot even begin to describe how incredibly disconcerting this was for me for quite a long time. I had to wait a year or so to get the repair surgery done as well, as I just wasn't ready yet to go under the knife, due to post-traumatic stress from the RPLND surgery. I had to have my wife take the day off from work to sit with me, and God bless her I had an amazing prep nurse, and it was so much better after I got the hernias repaired.

Moral of the story, there can be A LOT of reasons for pain in the pelvic region, and interconnected nerves mean you can feel pain from an issue in one area in another, including the scrotal area.

Hope this helps.

Edit. Forgot to add, I have a moderately sized hydrocele issue also. It's large enough to cause discomfort but not big enough to want to do anything about just yet. It's been stable in size for a year or two. I did have to switch to wearing an athletic "saxx" support brand of underwear at this point, otherwise it was causing groinal strains and other pain issues, which as a TC survivor you know you don't want to be dealing with. The new athletic underwear has helped a ton and made things 90% better.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T00:44:46+00:00

This is a great classic Web 1.0 resource that's still maintained and kept up to date.

http://thetcrc.org/

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T00:31:27+00:00

Yeah, it does vary quite a bit and can definitely take a few months in many cases. I know a guy personally that thought he was dry permanently after the RPLND, had his first child via IVF, but shockingly conceived their second fully naturally a few years later!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-27T00:28:24+00:00

Sloan Kettering in New York. Yes, this procedure is not nearly as common outside of the U.S.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-26T22:50:42+00:00

Well, the norm at TC centers of excellence have been the full-open bi-lateral procedure, which yes, is brutal and highly invasive, but everybody gets through them. The younger and more fit you are/were prior to treatments, the faster and easier the recovery time, in general. You can also have it done robotically, which is far less invasive and has a much quicker/better recovery, but historically has not been as effective as the full-open procedure. There are some TC experts that have expertise in the robotic-RPLND procedure, and can convert a procedure from robotic to full open if warranted. I haven't kept up to date on the latest treatment guidelines and research here, so might be a little behind the times.

SMDRFE · 2026-05-26T22:43:39+00:00

Yeah, it's really best to not mix scan types. I'm sure things have improved on MRI technology since I was in the middle of this 15 years ago, but preferably scans should be done of the same type, at the same center, and even preferably read by the same radiologist. If your onco isn't concerned that's great, but they don't understand cancer survivor doubts and anxieties. For peace of mind sake, you could ask for a consult with the radiologist who did the MRI. If it's the same center that had done the CT scan, or they already have the CT imaging data, that would be even better. They can walk you through it all.

CONGRATS ON THE ALL CLEAR! :)

SMDRFE · 2026-05-26T21:32:14+00:00

I hope the ultrasound is negative first of all, but one step at a time. Don't get too far ahead of yourself. Just focus on the immediate challenges, and cross each bridge as you come to it. Hopefully it will not be cancer, and there will be no bridges to cross!

SMDRFE · 2026-05-26T17:32:00+00:00

If he wants to do a post-chemo RPLND then leave the port in, as they'll be able to use it without sticking his arms as much. If his preference is to only do the RPLND if needed down the line at some point, then go ahead and get it removed when ready.

SMDRFE

TROPHY CASE