Support patients like Michael
24 July 2009
ACT supports research for prostate and testicular cancer for patients like Michael Johnson. Michael (pictured right) who is backing the appeal, talks about his experience with testicular cancer at the age of 26, just six months after getting married. He hopes his candid account will shed light on a disease that some men feel uncomfortable talking about.
“Lying in the bath one night I noticed that something didn’t look right. My right testicle looked a little larger than normal and was really hard to the touch. Suspecting something wasn’t right, I made an appointment with my GP the next day.”
Michael’s doctor initially advised him that it was probably a cyst. But after the scan results came back he was left stunned and confused.
“I kept wondering who the doctor was talking to. Was there someone behind me that I hadn’t noticed? He can’t be talking to me, I’ve got a cyst. I was in shock, so I didn’t really pay attention to what was going on. I had people explaining to me how ill I was and what treatment I would need, yet I didn’t feel unwell. I didn’t feel any different than I did the day, week or month before. For the next couple of days I could only be described as a mess. But once the initial shock was over, I felt back to normal and decided it was just something I had to deal with.”
Michael underwent a right radical orchiectomy (a surgical procedure, done via a groin incision) at his local hospital in Bedford to remove the affected testicle. He was then referred to Addenbrooke’s, which has a specialist cancer centre, where Seminoma (a testicular tumour named after a single kind of testicular cell) was diagnosed and treatment options were discussed with him. Three weeks later he was given one cycle of a chemotherapy drug, carboplatin.
“My experiences of Addenbrooke’s were very good. Any questions I had were answered swiftly and I was given all the attention I needed.”
Further treatment included: chest x-rays, a CT scan and blood tests, to see if the cancer had spread further. However, as Michael had acted quickly on his symptoms the disease was contained.
Prior to his chemotherapy treatment, Michael made the decision to bank his sperm, as testicular cancer and chemotherapy can affect fertility. He was given advice about this by the team at Addenbrooke’s before visiting Bourn Hall fertility clinic in Cambridge.
“I didn’t have a family at the time but I knew I wanted one in the future. The fear that I might be left infertile was terrible.”
Concluding, Michael, who is now in remission, said: “As far as I’m concerned I’m cured. I don’t let it affect me and my regular appointments don’t interfere with my life at the moment. I still attend check-ups, which occur every six months, including blood tests and chest x-rays and an annual CT scan.
“The whole experience has left me a stronger person and I am now the proud father of a seven month old son. Strange as it may seem, as I am now happy and healthy, I see the whole experience as a positive thing. Don’t get me wrong, initially it was devastating, especially for my wife and family. But my wife and I are closer then ever after this experience and you only really know how strong you are as a person when you’re seriously tested.
“My wife keeps telling me I should do something to help with fundraising and generating awareness of this disease the ACT appeal seemed the perfect opportunity. I felt it was the right time personally to talk openly about my experiences of testicular cancer and I would encourage anyone concerned about any abnormal symptoms to go straight to their GP and get checked out.”
Click here to donate and help support patients like Michael, or call 01223 217757.
