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Caregiver Chronicles: Meeting the Urologist

Published on:
24th October 2024
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In this second instalment of the Caregiver Chronicles series, we’ll discuss the urologist’s role in a cancer diagnosis. As discussed in the first blog (Caregiver Chronicles: Going to Your GP) the first medical professional you will see if you have signs or symptoms of testicular cancer is your GP.

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer can include:

  • enlarged testicles
  • testicles that change shape in any way
  • a dull ache or pain in the abdomen, groin or scrotum
  • back pain
  • a heavy feeling in the scrotum
  • a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum

If you are experiencing any of these, it’s vitally important that you visit your GP to have them checked.

GP appointment

You will typically have a blood test at your GP surgery, and perhaps be sent for an ultrasound scan. The blood test checks for tumour markers in your blood. The ultrasound scan uses sound waves (much like a pregnancy scan) to investigate your symptoms, to see if any further tests or treatment is required.

If you do show signs of raised tumour markers and/or your ultrasound scan shows signs of cancer, you will be sent to meet a urologist.

In this blog we will discuss what to expect and what may happen next.

Meeting the urologist

A urologist is a medical professional that specialises in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the urinary tract and reproductive system. At this point in your diagnosis, the urologist you meet may already suspect that you have testicular cancer due to your test results.

This will be just a suggestion at this point, not a confirmation, but the urologist will ultimately make the final call. One of the reasons this is just a suggestion at this stage is because a biopsy is required before it can be confirmed.

Nevertheless, hearing that you likely have cancer can be an extremely surreal and frightening experience. The urologist and your care team will do everything in their power to make sure you get the treatment and aftercare you need throughout your journey with testicular cancer. The chances of survival are extremely high too, with a survival rate of 95% after 5 years. But this is not to say it won’t have an effect on your mental health.

Dealing with cancer is tough, and you may feel like you are alone during many moments of your treatment. There are lots of services and people out there you can reach out to for help and support pre, post or during your cancer treatment – so you are never alone.

Support from Baggy Trousers UK

The team here at Baggy Trousers UK are here to ensure you feel as though you have nothing to be afraid or embarrassed about. The vast majority of us have been through the journey ourselves, and want you to be proud of who you are and your fight back!

Please do get in touch if you need any help, advice, or just someone to talk to!

What happens next?

A biopsy cannot be carried out unless the tumour is removed, it is not possible otherwise. This means the urologist will usually book you in for surgery to remove the affected testicle. It will be sent to a pathology department, where it will be examined to confirm the type and stage of cancer.

You may wish to ask the urologist some questions at this stage, such as:

  • When will surgery take place?
  • What are the risks?
  • Do I need to do anything to prepare?
  • What is the aftercare process?
  • How long will the operation take?
  • How long will I be in the hospital?

The surgery itself will be done by an oncologist. We will be highlighting the details of that, what to expect, and what happens next in our next instalment of this series.

Again, this is one of the most harrowing parts of your diagnosis, and you may feel as though your head has fallen off and rolled away. So it is important to get as much information as you can, verbal and written.

We have lots of information on our blog that may help, but again please do get in touch if you need any additional support. You are not alone.

Quick reminder on how to check your nuts

  1. Take a warm shower or bath so your skin is relaxed.
  2. Examine one testicle at a time by taking the testicle between your thumb and first two fingers and roll with consistent gentle pressure.
  3. Feel for any lumps or changes in shape, size or consistency.
  4. Make sure to also check the epididymis towards the back of the testicle.
  5. If you notice a change or you feel a lump, don’t panic, but do get checked out.

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