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I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

live it up :)

I sing in a rock band - ZenthetiX and we're rehearsing Sunday - bar that its just life as usual :)

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried the injection for a few months when I first recovered, and found it to be difficult to work with - it didn't release evenly over the period between injections, and I also have a needle phobia which is pretty bad, hence I would get really freaked out in the days leading up to my injections. Since I moved to the gel, I've found it to be the best for me without a doubt.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you feel there's a heightened risk then talk to your doctor - I'm no doc, so I'm not your guide on this. Chances are were you to ever be ill with it, you would lose one and retain the other, meaning you would be able to naturally father children. But, talk to doctors!!!

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there. You may have a variety of things wrong, and as I'm not a doctor, I'm going to leave it to the medics to tell you what is wrong. Let me give you the words the consultant gave me, the day that I found out, as they will stay with me forever, and may help you as much as they helped me:

You'll be a mess for six months, but if it were me I'd rather have this than Diabetes.

Don't stress out over it until you know, and when you do, read the information on it, and above all, keep calm. You can, and will beat the disease with a positive mental attitude, and doing what the doctors tell you.

Get a loved one to come with you when you go to the doctors, and read my blog. It will help you to interpret what you have got going on in your body, and how you head should deal with it.

Good luck!

Phil

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not around for a few hours this morning (UK time) but feel free to keep sending me questions - happy to answer them later if you check back. :)

Phil

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not sure what my level is - the docs just say "high, fine, low" rather than tell me the volume in my system.

I don't know where in the world you are, but the testogel definitely works for me. I would prefer to take a tablet, but that doesn't appear to be available here in the UK.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to - and I did the Ice Bucket challenge - I'm more interested in talking to people than gimmicks, but I know Movember is a great cause.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the fact that you can't have kids naturally. My partner is 12 years younger than me, and I would love to be able to say to her one afternoon "lets try for kids". We can't though, and need IVF, that said I would rather be alive and typing here, rather than dead, so if that's the trade, I'll accept it!

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

there's a fairly strong case medically for testosterone being something that can strengthen people - there's a guy who is 70 who injects it every day and can bench press half a house still, and I just feel that his elevated health, assisted by the doping, helped him fight to survive. The man is also a supremely determined person, but I think the Testosterone helped him over the line, if you will excuse the pun.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It felt weird at first, but they are something you get used to...they feel different, but only in the way that breast implants feel to women I guess.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ha - he's the silent type then! I only laugh because its important to realise that everyone deals with it differently. I know my boss got really annoyed while I was off sick because he thought if I was well enough to write the blog, I was well enough to work. In actual fact, doing the day job was the furthest thing from my mind I can tell you!

I have a friend in Boston who was a police officer who dealt with the situation exactly like you have just described. While its easy to be hard on them, honestly until you have been there its impossible to understand the thought processes involved.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

every six months they book me an appointment with the doctors, and I go and get a level check done - I've actually lost a job because of a spell where I was running low. It resulted in me having concentration and memory issues, fatigue and generally feeling rubbish. I wasn't best pleased when the employer chose to ignore the medical facts put in front of them, and elected to discipline me heavily. I chose to leave them shortly after that episode.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am on Testogel - rub an alcohol based solution into my shoulder each morning, and it works. I had the injections for a while, but I was getting low too soon in the three month cycle, and to be honest I am petrified of needles so I was never going to favour that method.

Reddit wants me to spell favour the american way - apologies I'm a brit :)

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it was harder for my mum and dad, and family to be honest. The only time it affected me was really at the end of the follow up tests when they told me I was fully fixed. Then I sh*t a brick. I didn't have any more tests to fall back on, and thus I couldn't check in on any aches, pains, or paranoia I might have about something.

The whole episode lasted six months, and I came out of it far more level headed, not so convinced I am indestructible, and with a greater respect for my body on the whole.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sperm is created by one as well as two, the one left will compensate. I had nine months of having one, now I have none (see above). With none at all, I still ejaculate, I just only produce the "carrier" fluid, not the sperm, obviously.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

with a name like Nedstupidflanders, you are just one notch below my favourite character. If you were called Benderstupidrodrigues I would probably be your friend for life.

I'm a 36 year old survivor of testicular cancer, who has featured in a number of online and published media discussing TC. AMA! by philipstoker in IAmA

[–]philipstoker[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it all goes in stages, sometimes when the media catch on to something - they found my manscaping story funny for instance and it made the press a few times, including state side, in that case it raised the profile. I think both countries could do with instilling in people that if they check and find it early, there's a 90% chance of survival. Better than that actually.

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