Interview 12
A lump was first found in the neck in 2000. After a biopsy, testicular cancer (teratoma) was diagnosed, and other secondary tumours found in lungs and abdomen; 5 cycles of chemotherapy (each cycle over 3 weeks, with 3 days in hospital); then surgery- biopsy of an abdominal tumour - found to be dead tissue.
University student; single, no children.
More about me...
Explains that he first found a lump above his collar bone.
Explains that he first found a lump above his collar bone.
Recalls that the doctors gave him plenty of information.
Recalls that the doctors gave him plenty of information.
Describes his experience of the chemotherapy that he had to cure the spread of his teratoma.
Describes his experience of the chemotherapy that he had to cure the spread of his teratoma.
Recalls that he found aromatherapy relaxing.
Recalls that he found aromatherapy relaxing.
Explains that he became very anaemic and was prone to infection as the result of the chemotherapy.
Explains that he became very anaemic and was prone to infection as the result of the chemotherapy.
So I wish actually I'd asked at the time, you know, 'I feel weak and anaemic, can you just check out my blood and may be give me a blood transfusion'. Because the anaemia was bizarre and just, and once you've got the blood in you it's fine and you feel right as rain again. And I got an infection after chemo, three or four I think, because my immune system was just wiped out.
Explains how he banked some sperm in case he wanted children in the future.
Explains how he banked some sperm in case he wanted children in the future.
Explains that chemicals in the blood are good indicators of new tumour growth for men who have had a teratoma.
Explains that chemicals in the blood are good indicators of new tumour growth for men who have had a teratoma.
And celebrations started and I had like three weeks of having fun. And in the first year after being in remission they give you a CT scan every 3 months and then you visit the doctor monthly for a blood test and an x-ray. And the blood test is probably the best indicator that something has come back because it's very, very sensitive to the tumour growth, the fact that these hormones are being produced. That's probably the best sign that something has gone wrong. And they check you ever year, every month for a year and in that period, that first year is the most likely period for it to come back. But I was fine with that and I'm now in my second year after remission and they check every 2 months and then your third year they check you every 3 months and then in your fourth year it's every 6 months and then after the fifth year it's yearly just to make sure it's kind of, have a general check-up, give you a general check-up. So, and that again becomes part of the routine. Every month you would go in, you'd go and see the receptionist you knew really well, chat to the people that you'd see every month there and it's quite, it's kind of a community feel.