Right, difficult post but necessary and apologies for a downer...

We all see stuff like the current selfie thing going on around facebook to raise awareness of cancer. Like anyone isn't actually aware, or are they?

Basically, these things are all well and good but how many of you check your bits regularly? The prospect of finding something isn't good but it is so important that we all do regularly, regardless of your age because you just never know.

My wife is 38, checks herself every few months and 3 weeks ago found a lump on one of her breasts. She went to the doctor, got a referral through and found out last week that the lump is an aggressive tumour. Luckily it is early cancer and treatable, there is no sign that it has spread anywhere else but we have along haul ahead. Surgery followed by chemo then radiotherapy, then hormone treatment. Hopefully when SK's colleagues in our local path lab get the lymph biopsy, that will be clear.

If she had ignored that little lump under her skin, nature would have it's way and the prognosis would be totally different.

I found a lump on one of my knackers a couple of years ago, like most lumps people find it was totally benign and nothing to worry about. But for some, it's a matter of life and death.

Be brave, be sensible, check yourselves and get things that aren't normal checked because it could save your life.

In the meantime, rock on people

Also guys should check themselves for breast cancer ( yes it can happen to you guys)


Hope all goes well for you and your wife Poundsey

Best wishes to you and your wife Dave.

Hope all goes well with your wife Dave...best wishes m8

Hope she will be fine matey! And yes, you totally got a point there.
I personally don't go to the Doc often, mostly i don't because i don't want people at work having Trouble because of me not being there. That is the wrong thinking and i do know that. Your own Health will always come first and you should really get yourself checked if you smell that something is wrong.

I've had the Stomach Pain for more than half a year. It wasn't constant, but it came back every now and then and the pain was immense. One Sunday Night i could not take it anymore and called my Dad who brought me to the Hospital. They checked me through the next day and figured i 'only' had a oesophagitis. The pain is really nasty. I will never ever do something stupid like that again. Once i figure that something is wrong i'll get myself checked. Everyone should do the same.

<3

ouch , sorry to hear of the bad news Dave. I hope all goes well mate, fingers crossed for you all.

I too hardly ever go to the docs, sometimes if ya think something is wrong, ya can feel too scared to go in-case the news is bad. I guess its better to hear bad news and get it treated soon though, other than just finding out that you were right when its too late.

Good speech Dave !

My nan got diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago sadly it had spread but he's had her treat ment an is still having some still now and it all looks good!

Check people!

Hope all goes well for you and your wife Dave.

All I can do is just reitterate what Dave has just told you! Early detection means a much better prognosis and even total removal of issues before they become a major life threatening illness.

Men can indeed get breast cancer as well, so men should be aware of their moobs, what is normal etc and also of their testicles. Weight changes of the testicles, testicular pain and extra bits on the testicle may be a sign of potentially fatal testicular cancer.

Also be aware of any moles/skin lesions you might have, there is an increase in melanomas in recent years, probably due to sunbed use, but also holidays without sufficient sun cream etc.

I'll leave you with this little story of a guy who's tissues came through our department.

He had a small growth on his penis, which he thought was a mole. He continued to leave it and leave it even though he noticed it had changed in size and colour. Men historically do not seek medical attention, but I have to say it's not a macho thing to just ignore something on your body that isn't "normal". The tumour this guy had continued to grow, until he could no longer urinate, leading to the pain and discomfort that involves. He could also no longer get an erection.
We recieved a bucket in our department that included the entire genitals of this relatively young man, he was under 60 years old, the tumour had grown to replace practically all the guys normal tissue and had it not been removed it would have continued to grow and kill him.

So, like I said, early detection improves chances of a cure and stops your genitals being removed!
Don't be embarrassed by seeing a doctor about your breasts or private parts, they have seen plenty of them during the course of their career, and yours are just another lot. They have seen it all before.

I wish your missus all the best for her continued fight Dave. Have they had a Herceptin test done on her sample? Might lead to another way of treating the cancer. Hopefully the lymph node will be clear, axillary clearances are very painful and can lead to complications.

All the best to everyone, stay safe and keep checking yourself, hell, gives you an excuse for a sneaky fondle!

SK

not just top bollox n lower bollox people, Moles too. any that are changing shape or colour...go to the doctors they can also turn into cancer. Aswell as any strange blotches on your skin, don't dismiss it it can be cancer.
Hope everything goes well for your mrs Dave. I also found a lump a few years ago, panicked the hell out of me, went to docs, he referred me to get a biopsy, luckily it was enlarged cysts and didnt require anything other than some tablets. phew!
I lost my father to leukemia when i was the age of 12, he got diagnosed after suffering excrutiating headaches, he was unloading a van full of pallets, they fell, hit him on head and he had constant headache for weeks, he went to the doctors and after loads of tests at hospital turns out he had cancer of the blood.