Thank you to all those who commented on my last journal entry with their kind words. I have always been upfront and honest about my experience with testicular cancer as I figured if just one person who heard me talking about it had their eyes opened then it was worth it.
I know a lot of people find talking about the big 'C' word is very awkward, and even more when it is located down in the nether regions. But at the end of the day we are all human and shouldnt be so ashamed or embarrassed about talking about our bits and pieces.
Today I want to talk about the after side care I experienced after the operation to remove the tumour.
As I said in the last post, for the first 2 years you go to the hospital every single month where you get a physical examination, blood tests and chest x-rays. As well as this, every 3 months you go for a CT scan, which involves drinking lots of dye in drinks and lying on a flat table whilst going through a bit 'washing machine' that scans all of your body.
After this time it drops to 3 months and so on. Originally I was able to go to Blackburn Infirmiry but due to our great Health service, that clinic was cancelled and I have to attend Christies now.
The doctors and such on these trips are good and informative and very gentle and understanding.
What irritated me the most was the immediate after care I received, or rather didnt receive. Following my operation I was discharged the next day without any form of councilling or options to talk to anyone later on, I didnt even receive a flyer lol.
Now 3 months later, my aunt had a lump removed from her breast. She was given lots of information, councilling offers, the lot. It struck me how different the care was between men and women at that time. Im not saying that it is still the same now, but in hindsight I now realise how much you got shafted.
A lot of the doctors I see now for my depression and such forth, think that a lot of it stems from my whole cancer experience and the fact I never got to talk about it properly. Who knows? I just hope that there is a lot more for men now than there was back then.
I know a lot of people find talking about the big 'C' word is very awkward, and even more when it is located down in the nether regions. But at the end of the day we are all human and shouldnt be so ashamed or embarrassed about talking about our bits and pieces.
Today I want to talk about the after side care I experienced after the operation to remove the tumour.
As I said in the last post, for the first 2 years you go to the hospital every single month where you get a physical examination, blood tests and chest x-rays. As well as this, every 3 months you go for a CT scan, which involves drinking lots of dye in drinks and lying on a flat table whilst going through a bit 'washing machine' that scans all of your body.
After this time it drops to 3 months and so on. Originally I was able to go to Blackburn Infirmiry but due to our great Health service, that clinic was cancelled and I have to attend Christies now.
The doctors and such on these trips are good and informative and very gentle and understanding.
What irritated me the most was the immediate after care I received, or rather didnt receive. Following my operation I was discharged the next day without any form of councilling or options to talk to anyone later on, I didnt even receive a flyer lol.
Now 3 months later, my aunt had a lump removed from her breast. She was given lots of information, councilling offers, the lot. It struck me how different the care was between men and women at that time. Im not saying that it is still the same now, but in hindsight I now realise how much you got shafted.
A lot of the doctors I see now for my depression and such forth, think that a lot of it stems from my whole cancer experience and the fact I never got to talk about it properly. Who knows? I just hope that there is a lot more for men now than there was back then.
