April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Testicular Cancer defined is a rare form of cancer that only affects one testicle and not both and occurs in males 15-35. I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer on July 19, 2013 at the age of 43, another rarity. When I was diagnosed I didn't have or feel any of the common symptoms related to this disease. I showed up that day at my Doctors office for a physical which is where she discovered that my right testicle was considerably larger than my left testicle and considerably harder to the touch.

After my diagnosis was made my doctor immediately scheduled me for an ultrasound to confirm what she already knew was true. The only choice for me was to have surgery to resect the right testicle (the one that was affected) which is what I had 1 week later on July 25, 2013. I was confident that this was the right decision for me as there was a 95% recovery rate.  After the surgery the cancer that is left commonly travels into the lymph nodes creating pain that needs to be taken care of either through radiation or chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was the treatment of choice for me on March 31, 2014 because of where in the lymph nodes the cancer was located and radiation wouldn't completely kill it like chemotherapy would. I would continue these treatments until May 27, 2014 the day I was declared cancer free as I am today nearly 5 years later.

During the chemotherapy process you are given a diagnosis and a stage. For me that was Stage II Seminoma which is mild compared to Stage IV which is the worst. If it gets that far the cancer can progress past the lymph nodes into the lungs and possibly the brain if not taken care of properly. 

Testicular Cancer may be a rare form of cancer with a 95% recovery rate but, if ignored can be a problem. The problem being the man's misconception that you lose your manhood if you have this form of cancer and something is taken away if you get it taken care of. I say you only lose your manhood if you think like that and don't get it taken care of and do nothing about it.  In other words, don't be a sad sack, CHECK YOUR BALLS!!!