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Beating Testicular Cancer to Become a Dad is Possible

November 13, 2013 by Guest Contributor

beating testicular cancer by doctors operating

Editor’s Note: Our focus on men’s health issues in the month of Movember continues. In this guest post, BD, a member of our Chicago Dads Group, writes about beating testicular cancer, which is the most prevalent form of the cancer among males age 15 to 35.

BD survivalTwelve years ago, when I was 30, during an annual physical my doctor found a lump on one of my testicles. Within a very short time that lump quadrupled in size. My team of urologists said they have never seen that before.

After a few more tests, my doctor sat me down to tell me I had testicular cancer and that I had a life changing decision to make with little to no time for a second opinion because he feared the cancer would spread to other area’s of my body. About one week later, I was under the knife having both testicles removed.

Hearing those words “you have cancer” was hard enough to accept. Processing the loss my manhood and any possible chance to have a family in the future proved even harder.

While my treatment for beating testicular cancer meant my wife was not able to get pregnant the old-fashion way, she was able to the scientific way. We used in vitro fertilization (IVF) and purchased donor sperm from a reputable organization in California Cryobank. After six attempts and four miscarriages, my wife and I we were blessed with two precious girls, now 4 and 2. To top it off, I have also been blessed with the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad, an adventure that I have truly loved.

While you will experience some side effects and hardship along the way with this type of cancer, you can make it. With a skilled, proactive urologist you will be in good hands. I see my urologist routinely every three to six months so he can check my prostate since the meds that I take for low testosterone put me at greater risk for prostate cancer — a balancing act to say the least.

Men’s health education on these two types of cancer has come a long way since my diagnosis 12 years ago and the Movember movement is one I support 100 percent since the ultimate prize is to be alive and cancer free. I have joined this cause as a survivor to be a motivator to any men faced with a similar story. I want to tell them that life is not over but only beginning again.

Operating photo by Olga Guryanova on Unsplash

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Filed Under: health, NYC, outreach Tagged With: cancer, men's health, Movember

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