Posted on 07/15/2006 7:50:37 AM PDT by ut1992
My fellow FR's, I didn't think I would ever do this, but I need your help.
My dear brother, very best friend and mentor was diagnosed yesterday with testicular cancer which has spread into his stomach. He is 1.5 weeks shy of his 45th b-day.
The phone rang last night about 10:45 and on the other end was my brother and he was crying. As I haven't seen/heard my brother crying since he was a kid I immediately thought somebody in the family had been in a terrible accident or had died.
He finally told me that about the cancer and that he had just found out that afternoon and had been sitting in his home office alone for hours and crying....and getting drunk (he is not a heavy drinker).
I was the first person he called and he wanted my help. After that comment I will confess that the water-works started for me as well. He asked if I would let the folks and our other brothers know. He said he would call his kids and new fiance.
Geez, what a night; e.g. my better-half and I didn't get to bed until about 4am. Mom and Dad are absolutely inconsolable. Grandma still doesn't know, as Mom didn't want to tell her over the phone. At 86 she can't take that kind of news alone.
Ironically my brother and future SIL came out to visit us about a month ago and my brother was telling us that he was starting to feel "old" and that his back has been brothering him for about the last six months off and on. Now, my brother has been an athlete all of his life and he still plays sports, jogs and works out. So we were all joking that age was indeed catching up with him.
He went to the doctor about his back and was told that we probably just strained something and gave him some muscle relaxers and pain pills. That combined with sport messages seemed to do the trick for a while.
However, about a week ago he thought he may have pulled a groin muscle or had a hernia. He went back to the doctor and this was the result of the tests they ran.
He went into the hospital this morning and is having a immediate radical inguinal orchiectomy (both testes) and have biopsies done on several "masses" they found in his stomach.
Please keep my dear brother in your prayers and hope that he isn't called home just yet.
Thanks guys.
Prayers for your Brother, u.
prayers for strength for your brother and your family
Don't know where your brother lives, but Houston has a terrific cancer center. My ex-husband's wife owes her life to them. She had a cough and went in for a physical. They discovered it was lung cancer that had spread to her bones, hips, shoulders, skull, and brain.(She'd never smoked.) They put her on chemo and then an experimental drug, and the cancer vanished. It recurred within 6 weeks, though, as a lesion in her liver. Two more experimental drugs, and it looks as though they found the right cocktail. (Prayers for your brother.)
The shock of this cannot be understated, but cancer nowadays often can be managed or even cured, treatments are greatly improved, and testicular cancer in particular can be curable. So have some hope and communicate some to your brother.
Prayers for your brother and your family. He's blessed to have such a wonderful family supporting him during this time.
Prayers for your brother and family.
Prayer BUMP
Payers up!
The word cancer strikes fear I know. Please let your brother know that there are many new treatments out. Once he gets over the shock and connects with the right people I would think they would have a plan.
Although, at his age, to have these things happen must be devastating.
My prayers for your brother and your entire family.
I have been there, done that, with cancer and am now cancer free. I do pray for the same results for your brother. My surgery was for a different cancer however.
This effects the entire family emotional. So my prayers are for healing for your brother and comfort for all.
Prayers for your brother and your whole family. Keep in mind it was testicular cancer that Lance Armstrong had, and with aggressive treatment, they were able to get it under control. We pray a similar outcome for your brother.
When he was 24, my husband, now 33, was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had also spread to his stomach. He is alive and well and cancer-free. In fact, once testicular cancer has been in remission for 5 years, it is apparently one of the cancers they consider to be "cured."
He was treated with a course of radiation, and had an orchiectomy (testicle removal).
My point in telling you this, of course, is to let you know that testicular cancer, especially seminoma, can be, and often times is, very manageable.
Does your brother have seminoma or non-seminoma, or do you know?
Anyway, best to you and your brother. I think you'll find that once your shock and terror subside, you'll all find you are able to tackle this disease head-on wiht great success.
You and your brother are in my prayers.
I lost my brother to cancer 13 years ago. He was 52.
God be with you.
Prayers up for your brother and family.
Prayers just sent up for your brother. How heart wrenching! Keep us updated.
my prayers are sent.
I will keep your brother in my prayers.
Dear ut1992, I will keep your dear brother, and you, in my daily prayers. So many strides have been made in the treatment of cancer and we will just pray that your brother has a full and swift recovery. My best regards, Peach
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