10 years post cancer diagnosis
This year will mark 10 years since my cancer diagnosis. I’ve been feeling compelled to share my story in hopes, at the very least, it gives some faith/hope to anyone going through something similar.
The final week of my senior year of college I noticed a lump on my left testicle while showering. At the time, one of my basketball teammates had just dealt with a cyst on his testicle, which to me, had to of been what I had…. Wrong. Here is where you should go right to doctor to get it checked out, I did not. I waited 4 months until it grew and became uncomfortable at which time I finally went to my doctor. Within a week of that doctor’s visit I was at the hospital set for my orchiectomy.
Post orchiectomy my prognosis looked good. I had elevated markers but no sign of the cancer spreading outside the testicle. My oncologist recommended I started EPX4. Chemotherapy was going good, my tumor markers were lowering each week and I was tolerating the treatment well… in my head I reminded myself constantly that I had a 90% of beating this thing. After my last chemotherapy treatment my markers were all normalized and things were looking good. I started to get back into the swing of post college life. Applying for jobs and looking forward to starting my career and putting this chapter behind me. Then comes my 6 month post chemo CT scan and bloodwork that showed an enlarged lymph node in my abdominal region with elevated tumor markers…. This shit was back.
At this time I was referred to memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC to meet with Dr. Carver and Dr. Feldman to discuss my treatment options. I was enrolled in a clinical trial (IRB #15-154) and began TIPx4. I couldn’t believe I fell into the 10% and now had to go through a stronger regiment of chemo… but I never felt defeated, I’ve always had a way with rolling with the punches of life and luckily had a very optimistic and almost angry approach and wanted to destroy this thing that was trying to kill me. I truly believe this mindset I had, of not letting off the gas, was the catalyst of my fight.
TIPx4 was definitely harder than my first round of EPx4 but I still tolerated it pretty well. Similar to my first bout of chemo, each treatment my markers were lowering and things were looking good. The mass on my lymph node however was not shrinking. After my last round of TIPx4 I was scheduled for an RPLND with Dr.Carver in hopes that the mass that wasn’t reacting to the chemotherapy was teratoma. Pathology came back after surgery and confirmed what I hoped, teratoma. I’ll never forget the feeling I had after that news, it was like I won the lottery.
Today I live each day filled with gratitude. Cancer gave me a new perspective on life, i live my days to the fullest and don’t sweat the small stuff. Anyone who is going through their battle, stay positive and keep fighting. I believe that anything is possible with that mindset.