r/testicularcancer

Hi everyone, I’m making this post hoping to gain some insight into other people’s perspective. I am a 28yo, I was diagnosed with stage 3c testicular cancer in June 2025. Lesions in both legs, my butt, and massive amounts in both lungs. I had an orchiectomy soon after and Pathology had 30% seminoma, 65% choricarcinoma, & 5 EC, I started one round of VIP then completed 3 rounds of BEP ending in September of 2025. Tumor markers started to normalize so I was monitored untill it was determined that due to some tumors that were still too big based on guidelines they needed to be removed. I had a lobectomy on my right lung on new years 2025. Recovery went decent but as everyone knows chemo is harsh and I have been dealing with horrible neuropathy and tinnitus. Since surgery everything looked good untill the past few weeks my hcg is back over 100 and spoke with my oncologist at Duke Health and his advising me this is a recurrence and I will need 4 more rounds of VeiP chemotherapy. I am beyond pissed off to say the least. I know it may sound stupid but I am nut really looking to complete any more chemo, I am just starting to feel like a person again and now they want to do more treatments. Does anyone have any suggestions on all natural ideas? Ivermectin? I’ve changed my diet and stopped smoking weed, cigarettes, eat really healthy and stopped soda. I’m kinda just about to say fuck it and ride it out because more chemo sounds like a nightmare.

I’m finally posting this because I’m spiraling and need some perspective from guys who have been there. I ignored a lump for about 8 months due to fear and being in denial. I’m finally seeing the Urologist on the 30th this week to get the surgery (orchiectomy) scheduled, but the "math" of my scans is scaring the life out of me. I don’t what to feel it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. The pathology and entire process since I went to the ER and they pretty much told me “ I don’t want to give you hope but it’s most likely cancer”. I’ve spiraled and the types of pathologies and what it could show has got me extremely worried. This has been going on since February 28th and the process is taking longer then expected. I’m super worried for myself and well being.

The Timeline & Growth:

• Feb 28 (Ultrasound): Left testicle measured 5.5 x 4.5 x 5.2 cm. Two separate masses were identified, the largest being 3.8 cm.

• April 8 (PET/CT Scan): The mass has consolidated and grown to 6.0 cm.

• My Concern: I’m terrified because it grew from 3.8 cm to 6.0 cm in just 6 weeks. I feel like I've waited too long.

The Clinical Data:

• PET Result: CLEAR. The report literally says: "No definite evidence elsewhere of additional primary or metastatic malignancy." Lymph nodes are unenlarged and have no hypermetabolic activity. Lungs are clear. only in the left testicle it shows “1. Asymmetrically enlarged left testicular mass (about 6 × 5.5 cm) is irregularly intensely hypermetabolic and of concern for malignancy.”

• Tumor Markers: AFP is 6.6 (Ref range <6.1). HCG is <5 (Normal).

My Questions for the group:

Pathology Check: "With an AFP of 6.6 and a 6cm mass, did many of you find it was a Seminoma or a Non-Seminoma? Did the low markers mean a less aggressive type for you?"

• The "Wait" Anxiety: "Has anyone else waited months and had their tumor grow to 6cm+ but still stayed Stage 1 after the final pathology?"

• Surgery Recovery: "For a 6cm mass, was the post-op pain more intense than a smaller one? How soon were you back to light exercise or running?"

• Surveillance vs. Preventative Chemo: "If you were Stage 1B (over 4cm), did your doctor recommend Surveillance (just watching) or one 'safety net' round of chemo (Carboplatin or BEP)?"

* So many things I have questions for and im just everywhere…

I’m nervous for my life but trying to stay hopeful because of the clear PET. Any insight would mean the world. I’m trying to learn to navigate while trying to understand what doctors I need to see and how to do everything. I’m so scared for my life but I know this community has helped so many people. So much regret and trying to not allow myself to bear it all. any insight or advice would help immensely. Willing to take privately aswell. Appreciate y’all

Thank you

Hello everyone,

I'm starting this discussion to understand how many people, after unilateral orchiectomy, have managed to maintain a near-normal sperm count and adequate hormone levels without undergoing any hormone therapy.

Several studies on PubMed show that there is almost always a reduction in sperm count and hormone levels, and sometimes, even unilateral orchiectomy can lead to azoospermia. Despite this, many doctors continue to push the idea that one testicle compensates for the work of two and treat the issue in a decidedly cursory manner, not offering blood tests to check testosterone levels or preventive cryopreservation.

I'd like to know your experiences, if possible, and, if you have actually experienced compensation, how long ago. In my case, after almost a year, my levels dropped significantly, despite the doctors' reassurances.

Thank you in advance!

23M here, day before yesterday night I felt my left testicle is hard, like way harder than it should be and searched up online it hinted at testicular cancer

Didn't waste time next day i went to the urologist and he told me to do an ultrasound which confirmed that, but there was another thing wrong my right testicle which was seemingly normal have multiple echogenic focus which my doc told to confirm by getting another ultrasound because this can be a pre cancer stage

Today I got another ultrasound which confirmed it and the doctor who was taking ultrasound said that right testicle will also definitely develop cancer, I was like "definitely?" And he said ye

The fact i might never become father, i couldn't find any reason too why it happened doctor said it can be genetic because my father had esophagus cancer from which he passed away

I feel lost, I was already going through a lot especially after my father passing at 15 we had no one in family who can earn and nor we had money I worked hard and started running my family I got to a point where I started earning good just few days ago I was feeling like I made it and then I got this news

Started my adjuvant chemo last week and got the ct scan results today. Cancer had already spread to my lung. 5mm nodule in my right lung and another 4mm one. No sign of cancer in my lymph node at least Onculogist told me i need to do 3 cycle now instead of 1 of course. Only 2 month between orchiectomy and the recurrence.... this suck my hcg is back to 20.... it was none month ago. I try to stay positiv but i feel really sad inside. Keep moving foward no matter what.

I’m 31, suppose to get this done in 2 weeks. For anyone who’s been through this, how have you recovered afterwards? Is there anything noticeably different after you did it? What ways did you prepare yourself for it? Is the scar going to be an eyesore for the rest of our life? How did you manage to do basic things around the house after your hospital stay? This whole thing has me very anxious…

About 2 months ago, while doing a routine testicular self-check, I noticed a small lump on my right testicle. It felt like a firm bump on the surface, around 0.5 cm in size.

I booked a urology appointment right away. They did an ultrasound, and the doctor said nothing abnormal showed up in the testicle itself, but there was some fluid around it , which could make it appear larger.

This appointment was about a month ago. Recently, I’ve started feeling a really really small (~1mm diameter) firm spot on my left testicle as well, and overall both testicles feel a bit firmer during the day compared to before and even a hot shower doesn’t seem to change that.

I have no pain or discomfort and the size of the original lump hasn’t changed.

What would you recommend I do? I have an important exam in about 2 months, so I’d prefer not to spend too much time on hospital visits unless it’s really necessary.

I felt a lump on my left testicle 4 months ago, but it disappeared after 30 minutes. It started out as feeling like a soft piece of string then developed into a more firmer pea sized lump then shrunk back into a soft piece of string and completely disappeared, all in the span of 30 minutes. I went and got examined by my doctor. He said it's nothing of concern and that a transient lump is never cancerous and that testicular lumps are usually cyst veins or just fluid build-up, especially if they are transient. There is no swelling, no redness, no pain during urination, no pain during sex or ejaculation. I felt it again today, and it did the exact same thing as last time. Completely disappeared after 30 to 40 minutes. I did originally feel a lump there in the same spot 4 years ago but brushed it off because It went away and I was a stupid 17 year old that didnt know the severity of a testicle lump. My doctor told me not to worry, but its harder said than done. I did completely forget about it until today and now my anxiety is back.

Hello everyone, on March 9th I saw my doctor due to some discomfort in my left side. An ultrasound revealed two suspicious nodules, though my tumor markers came back negative. I underwent surgery on the 23rd, and the pathology report confirmed a Stage I (pT1a) Seminoma.

My follow-up CT scan came back clear, showing no signs of spread. Today, at my oncology appointment, we decided that adjuvant chemotherapy isn't necessary for now, so I’ll be on active surveillance with my next check-up in six months.

I wanted to share this and thank you all for your posts; reading your experiences truly helped me get through this whole process. Sending a big hug and lots of support to those of us still in this fight. We’ve got this!

Pretty surprised to see it 3 days after surgery (they told me a week), and I haven't had any follow-up or interpretation from the Urologist or Oncology but the diagnosis on the report is:

Seminoma, two foci (3.5 cm and 2.2 cm each), invades rete testes.

-No lymphovascular invasion identified

-Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS)

-All resection margins negative for seminoma

I need to do scans still, but my pre-op serum tumor markers were all within normal limits so I'm choosing to be optimistic. Mostly I'm just glad I don't have to wait through the weekend...

I have gained a lot of information from everyone’s posts here so I figured I would share my experience as a division 1 pitcher. I am 23 years old and was diagnosed with stage 2a pure embryonal carcinoma. I opted for 3x BEP and unfortunately will be needing RPLND as one lymph node remained at 1.5cm. All my tumor markers are now normal so I am in biochemical remission but not complete remission due to the lymph node. Here is my experience with BEP and how I tried to remain active during it.

January 18th: Found the lump.

January 19th: Ultrasound.

January 20th: Orchiectomy.

Feb 19: Start chemo

Cycle 1: For me this was the second worst cycle. Because of when my port got put in, my chemo would start at 10pm lasting until 1am usually. Because of this, I would mostly just sleep through the chemo and then the rest of the night as I was inpatient for the first five days. As for side effects, mostly just tired with a little bit of nausea as well as a lot of hiccups and burps through all cycles. I started to feel way better and have more energy after day 6. On day 8, I had my bleo and then ended up with a fever that night so had to go to the emergency room. The doctors figured it was caused by the bleo and no other reason so they gave me fluids and then I went home. They gave me a steroid every bleo session after this to prevent it from happening again. The rest of the cycle went pretty smoothly, felt better each day. For baseball and exercise, I began throwing on day 10 to build up a little bit before the next cycle started. I also went to the gym a few times on the third week. I also began to lose my hair this week. My hcg was negative after the first cycle.

Cycle 2: This was the worst cycle for me as I was the most tired and most vomiting. For the first day I had a lot of vomit even though I wasn’t really nauseous and through the rest of the five days I was just super tired and out of it. I also began to have a slight ringing in my ears but it wasn’t constant. Like the first cycle, I felt significantly better once the five days were up and I began to throw again on day 8. I built up to a bullpen which I threw on day 20 and actually hit 94 mph (might be the world’s hardest chemo pitch lol.) I was also back in the gym on week 3 again.

Cycle 3: This was actually the easiest cycle. I experienced very little nausea and no vomiting. My appetite came back faster however the ringing in my ears is now constant. My hair has almost completely fallen out now. I began throwing on day 6 and built up to a bullpen on day 19 (only got up to 92 mph this time.)

Overall my main side effects only happened on days 1-5. This includes: fatigue, nausea, vomit, loss of appetite. Hiccups and burps happened for the first half of each cycle. Hair loss was gradual throughout. I now have a slight constant ringing in my ears but only notice it when it’s really quiet or I think about it. I did not experience any neuropathy.

For exercise, do as much as you feel like. I decided I felt good enough to push it on those bullpen days and did not see any downside to those. Just listen to your body.

I am now looking into options of RPLND to see what is best for me. Would you guys recommend robotic?