Eight years ago (Jan 2009) I joined this club of ours and started my dealings with cancer. Having my I/O, being diagnosed with a seminoma and having radiation treatment, I had thought/hoped my cancer challenges would be over...
Well I was wrong because one year, two months and one day later I was back on the operating table having my second testicle removed. TC hadn't come back, rather I had a second primary - embryonal carcinoma. This time I opted for surveillance and hoped that that would be it...
Wrong again as in August 2010 I was diagnosed with a relapse and scheduled for 3 x BEP starting in September 2010, and that's a separate part of my story.
The reason for this post is to celebrate my seven year eunuch-iversary. Everyday for the past seven years, my daily routine has involved applying my TRT topically from a somewhat "less than manly" little sachet. Everyday, the same routine: get up; walk the dog; have breakfast; have a shower; apply the gel; get on with my day.
At the start I was worried about the transference of testosterone to my kids/my wife/my dog. I was worried about whether anything/everything/something would still work as it used to do. I was worried that people would know I was different.
Well that was then, and this is now. I am seven years older. Neither my kids/wife/dog seem to have suffered from any additional testosterone. The rest of the world looks in on me as just another normal guy. And the daily routine is just that - a routine.
To those just starting out, cancer is crap - period. There is no "good" cancer. But for most of you/us you will get through this. There is life beyond TC and that life can be as good (or better given a new/different perspective) - it is what you make of it.
To those who are unfortunate enough to loose both, for whatever reason, again there is life beyond your nuts. Get on a proper TRT program that is right for you and life goes on (it really does).
And to those/families/carers that have not gotten through this, I have no adequate words to say.
To finish with, when asked, I always say "I was lucky to be diagnosed with both cancers and I was lucky to be diagnosed with my relapse". People confuse that statement with thinking that I consider myself lucky to have had cancer - I don't, cancer is crap. But I do feel lucky to have been diagnosed - because from that came treatment, and from that came a cure. And for that reason I do feel very lucky indeed.
When I started this journey my kids were 5 and 7 years old. They are now 13 and 15 and consider me to be a total embarrassing pain (teenagers, eh?). So yes I consider myself very lucky indeed.
Join me in celebrating 7 years of being "100% nut free" and looking towards all of your futures.
Take care, DZ
Well I was wrong because one year, two months and one day later I was back on the operating table having my second testicle removed. TC hadn't come back, rather I had a second primary - embryonal carcinoma. This time I opted for surveillance and hoped that that would be it...
Wrong again as in August 2010 I was diagnosed with a relapse and scheduled for 3 x BEP starting in September 2010, and that's a separate part of my story.
The reason for this post is to celebrate my seven year eunuch-iversary. Everyday for the past seven years, my daily routine has involved applying my TRT topically from a somewhat "less than manly" little sachet. Everyday, the same routine: get up; walk the dog; have breakfast; have a shower; apply the gel; get on with my day.
At the start I was worried about the transference of testosterone to my kids/my wife/my dog. I was worried about whether anything/everything/something would still work as it used to do. I was worried that people would know I was different.
Well that was then, and this is now. I am seven years older. Neither my kids/wife/dog seem to have suffered from any additional testosterone. The rest of the world looks in on me as just another normal guy. And the daily routine is just that - a routine.
To those just starting out, cancer is crap - period. There is no "good" cancer. But for most of you/us you will get through this. There is life beyond TC and that life can be as good (or better given a new/different perspective) - it is what you make of it.
To those who are unfortunate enough to loose both, for whatever reason, again there is life beyond your nuts. Get on a proper TRT program that is right for you and life goes on (it really does).
And to those/families/carers that have not gotten through this, I have no adequate words to say.
To finish with, when asked, I always say "I was lucky to be diagnosed with both cancers and I was lucky to be diagnosed with my relapse". People confuse that statement with thinking that I consider myself lucky to have had cancer - I don't, cancer is crap. But I do feel lucky to have been diagnosed - because from that came treatment, and from that came a cure. And for that reason I do feel very lucky indeed.
When I started this journey my kids were 5 and 7 years old. They are now 13 and 15 and consider me to be a total embarrassing pain (teenagers, eh?). So yes I consider myself very lucky indeed.
Join me in celebrating 7 years of being "100% nut free" and looking towards all of your futures.
Take care, DZ
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