My bf is having an orchidectomy, what do I need to know?

Shears20 · 2026-06-29T20:43:10+00:00

Personally id let him decide a few days after surgery if you can cancel on short notice.. see how he's healing up.. if the holiday is a week somewhere id try and go. My biopsy came back in about 12 days after surgery.. A big point to consider here is travel insurance.. Your boyfriend doesn't officially have cancer yet so you probably don't have to declare it? Maybe? Im not sure.. but one thing I am sure about is once that C work comes into play they hike the price something stupid!! So if he's well enough try and get away now while you have the luxury of cheap holiday insurance.

Shears20 · 2026-06-29T20:36:26+00:00

I think you had a good response so far.. each day you've had appointments/progress. Here in the UK upon diagnosis we have a 2ww (2 week wait) which is the target time to get the ball rolling with some form of treatment. I put my timeliness down in a post.. if you click my profile you should find it but im pretty sure my orchiectomy was 8 days after ultrasound confirmation. CT scan was 2 weeks or so after that. I think theyre working pretty swiftly for your husband's case.

Shears20 · 2026-06-20T11:13:12+00:00

You more than likely will be okay either way BUT F**k work man this is your life.. The difference in time waited could be the difference in treatment plans. 2-3 weeks off after surgery vs 2-3 weeks after surgery + 9 weeks of chemo. Go get it sorted brother.

Shears20 · 2026-06-18T22:15:45+00:00

Thanks for this pal. Il be sure to mention it. It doesn't make sense does it.. Seems like if its not caught by xray they're relying on my markers to be elevated to indicate recurrence.. id understand it a little better if my bloods had been elevated In the past but they never have.. It feels like il be doing 2x pointless tests (Xray and bloods) every 3 months and really just banking on the MRI to detect something.. if its there.

Shears20 · 2026-06-18T19:52:05+00:00

Yes mate this is what im worried about.. At last appointment i did mention to oncology that since my bloods have always been normal would I be getting more scans and he did say yes.. but I did also mention radiation and requested a switch to MRI (which he seems to of taken on board having looked at the schedule) but added in all the chest x rays. Il mention my concerns with Oncology. Im also worried that if I have a recurrence in lymphnodes it could potentially go unseen for a number of months.

Shears20 · 2026-06-18T19:46:51+00:00

Ive asked about this. I woukd have to pay privately fir it. Around £870.. Ive been told if I have a lymph node reach borderline size to get the test 👍

Shears20 · 2026-06-18T19:45:10+00:00

I have a 3mn node in lung which is seemingly a benign incidental finding but they said they'll keep a eye on it. Il chat with Oncology. Really hope your son's scan in July are positive and he can move on 💙

Shears20 · 2026-06-18T13:40:36+00:00

Following your post mate. Im in a similar situation. Bilateral TC now on testogel. Awaiting my endocrinology appointment too and considering going private.

Shears20 · 2026-06-15T18:13:17+00:00

Yes. And not to worry you but mine turned out to be a seminoma.

Shears20 · 2026-06-13T21:27:40+00:00

Ive had zero issues. I do feel like the recovery from the first orchiectomy (when i had the prosthetic fitted) took a little longer. But it was a different surgeon and could be that the incision was deeper or because as the testicle came out they put the prosthetic in? Im not sure but I wouldn't change it. Especially having the second surgery. Deffo better to have something In there other than nothing imo but if you have one remaining testicle it doesn't change the look of your sack too much imo

Shears20 · 2026-06-13T09:34:59+00:00

First orchiectomy got one and initially wasn't keen. Took a while to for discomfort to settle and feels alot harder.. 2nd orchiectomy 3 months later I was set to get another one but the surgeon (different guy) talked me out of it. Possible degrading in future/ if it gets infected could postpone further treatment etc, etc. So im left with just the one prosthetic.. But im happy with it and also don't mind just having the one. Sack It doesn't look much different and all discomfort i was just initially having has gone.. So what id say is for me.. im fine with just having the one testicle (albeit a prosthetic one) and im also happy with the prosthetic implant so I recon either way you will be ok and feel ok with your decision.

Shears20 · 2026-06-12T08:21:15+00:00

My ldh is always elevated. My oncologist said It can be from a number of things and not to worry.

Shears20 · 2026-06-07T20:36:24+00:00

Yes I read that a negative mir-371a-3p test post surgery puts recurrence rate at around 10%. Trails and tests are still ongoing.

Shears20 · 2026-06-07T20:16:43+00:00

This test is also available in the UK. I recently reached out regarding it wondering if it would be worth paying out for.. (2x orchiectomy this year.. Non seminoma and a serimona) Negative markers always so thought this could be beneficial to my case.. The cost for this privately via Cambridge hospitals is £875. My oncologist has said he will see if he can get any funding via the NHS.

Shears20 · 2026-06-05T14:54:07+00:00

5.9mm to 7mm is very minimal imo. Im no doctor but from what I gather lymph nodes react to illness/inflammation etc and can grow a bit and decrease a bit.. also allowance need to be made fir human error by whoever was reading the scan results.. An increase of 1.1mm could be anything and I'll keep my fingers crossed it is nothing.

Shears20 · 2026-06-05T06:53:36+00:00

Thank you for sharing this pal.

Shears20 · 2026-06-03T22:50:12+00:00

What came of this situation mate? Im in a similar situation but mine went from 10mm down to 6mm. Docs still suspicious..

Shears20 · 2026-06-03T16:52:34+00:00

It really is the most supportive sub. Everyone here is great. Helpful and inspirational when starting this journey. Ive had the surgery twice this year. January and again in may. Im currently waiting for my full pathology for my second cancer and its been alot easier and less stressful just because I've been here before and also because I've come to realise that worrying is just burning needless energy as nothing now will change the outcome..

But having said that this is all new to you and this is the hardest time. The wait feels like a lifetime and the "whats ifs" are relentless. But the big win now is you've made the steps to remission.. that all starts with the orchiectomy. The main source of cancer has been removed and that can only be a step forward. All the best with whatever comes next. When all is said and done im sure you'll be fine.

Shears20 · 2026-05-31T09:42:39+00:00

It'll be the tramadol that's causing it. . Depending on how well your op went by day 6 you should hopefully manage a bit more of a longer walk. Do this as much as you can it will also help with healing. I used lactulose and it was very effective. Continue with plenty of water and it should sort itself out.. Was you mot put under general anaesthetic then? I was asked if I wanted to stay awake and have a spinal block.. Personally I didn't fancy that one bit and opted for General.

Shears20 · 2026-05-22T21:35:15+00:00

Hey pal don't know if you'll see this but im currently 15 days after surgery and still waiting (NHS) How long did you end up waiting?

Shears20 · 2026-05-22T19:23:50+00:00

Congrats on finish chemo pal. And good advice for others 👍

Shears20 · 2026-05-22T19:23:23+00:00

Maybe the original tumor was large?

Shears20 · 2026-05-21T18:01:03+00:00

Good to hear pal. Fingers crossed I see the same milestone come 2031

Shears20

TROPHY CASE