First off, thank you for the outpouring of support! I’m blessed to have a great family and group of friends.
My surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 1st. I’m hoping to get that moved up to this week, but if not, that’ll be when it is.
I’ve had quite a few messages and talks with people asking “how”, so I figured I’d tell the story. Thursday night (May 13th), I went to wash my hands, and I felt a sharp pain in my left testicle.. excruciating pain. By excruciating I mean the single most intense physical pain I have ever felt in my 31 years. I put on a heating pad, and after a while it felt better. There was still tenderness and inflammation, but I was otherwise fine. Friday night I was playing catch with Katie Lynn and the same pain happened again. I knew I needed to have it checked out, so I went to ER. They did an ultrasound and was officially “diagnosed” as being inflammed; I given anti-inflammatory medications, had blood drawn for bloodwork, and instructions to follow up with the urologist on Monday.
Called the urologist on Monday and went in for the appointment. The ultrasound was definitely abnormal; it showed a heterogenous ‘spot’. The doctor decided to give the anti-inflammatory medication more time and wanted a follow up ultrasound performed on Friday (May 21st). The ultrasound was performed on Friday, and the radiologist concluded there was no significant change. The urologist asked if I would be open to getting a second opinion and referred me to another urologist. Luckily, the second urologist was able to see me Friday.
The second urologist, after performing an exam, looked at the ultrasounds and informed me he’s relatively sure that the heterogenous spot was indeed cancer. He gave me two options:
1) Wait and see if the medication does, in the end, treat a possible infection. Infections show up on ultrasounds as heterogenous spots as well. That is, however, a “gamble” as the longer I wait, the more potential there is for the potential cancer to spread.
2) Have surgery now to remove it and prevent any spreading.
I’ve never been a gambling man, so this was an easy decision in the end.
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers!
Hey Tom,
best of luck with the surgery. Hope for a speedy recovery!
You’re in our prayers Tom! As well as Monica and the girls.
Hey Tom! I’m in agreement with you on this. (Remind me to tell you a short story one day) Besides, I’d like to have you around to toss Tuberville jokes with when football season starts.
Of course, my reasons don’t even compare to those of Monica & the kids so they take priority which is as it should be, right?
I’ll keep tabs on your progress as you let it be known and will keep you in our prayers here as well. I think you’ve made the best decision. Here’s to a speedy recovery!
We are with you, Monica and the girls all the way. Love you all.
Mom and Dad
My son-in-law had this surgery when he was in his mod twenties. This was about 6 years ago. Two year later my daughter delivered my second granddaughter. Today you would never know he had cancer.
Good luck to you from all of your parents friends here is Florida.
We’re thinking of you!
Thoughts and prayers are being sent your way! A friend from nursing school had testicular cancer when he was 18, and is now 40 with three children, and as healthy as can be. We are praying for doctors’ wisdom, a problem-free surgery, that no other treatment is needed, and for peace for you and your family.
Praying for you right now and your big day tomorrow….I am praying for God to calm all of your fears, to give the doctors wisdom and for you to never forget that he is with you every minute!
We’ve been praying, and added you (discreetly) to the prayer list in our Sunday School class.