Fifteen Years! Story of a Cancer Survivor

On the night of September 10, 2001 (note the date), I found a lump on my right testicle. An ultrasound examination confirmed there was something there, and a visit to the urologist confirmed it was cancer.

You can imagine how I felt on September 11, watching those people falling from the twin towers and, in a way, envying them.

They operated on October 19. The news at first was not good; it was a particularly aggressive form of cancer, and I'd likely have to go through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I was on a waiting list to see an oncologist.

Remarkably, just before Christmas, I had some bloodwork done, and the indications were that my tumour markers were close to zero. In consultation with the oncologist, I decided to wait it out and see.

That was fifteen years ago. I've been cancer-free ever since. I was essentially pronounced cured at the five-year mark.

Now, if I could just get rid of the phantom right testicle that still aches once in a while.