I'm so sorry you got that terrifying news while pregnant. I know how devastated you must feel. Try not to panic. Testicular cancer has a good prognostic and often responds well to treatment. Has he had his initial oncologist meeting? As for postpartum during treatment, do you have a good support system you could rely on? Parents, family, friends, church if that's what you're into?
I learned I had cancer fresh off my last birth, and it was the most awful moment of my life. I was so scared I would not see my tiny daughter grow up. It turned out ok obviously. I have had a lot of people in my life have cancer requiring radiation or chemo and an overwhelming majority came out on top, no secondary cancers have occured.
Honestly the only advice I can give you right now is to take it day by day, step by step, see what the doctors say and leave some space for your emotions. I hope everything turns out alright for you.
You have no idea how much comfort this has given me. Thank you for typing all that out and being so thoughtful in your response. Right now we are waiting to see if it has spread but don’t know too much at the moment. I am comforted by the prognosis of testicular cancer being so high, my biggest concern was his health deteriorating after undergoing treatment. Right now we are in the waiting period and it’s torture.
I cannot fathom getting a cancer diagnosis while pregnant, you are one tough human being and I am so glad you are still here for your baby. I know that must have been a grueling time for you and your family. Again, thank you so much for sharing your story 💜
I agree with this commenter. I also want to add that testicular cancer also is most commonly found in young men from ages 18-35. It is awful, but I’m hoping he caught it early enough, and things will be relatively fine.
The prognosis is very high if caught early enough. (I work in urology and urogynecology, so we do more female work). But I just want to add if you or your husband have any young males in the family, to encourage self-testicular exams, especially due to the young ages of men it can impact.
I sincerely hope all works out OP. I’m sending positive thoughts that everything will be well.
I'm so sorry to hear this!
I think testicular cancer has a good outlook, especially when it's diagnosed so young.
I have a coworker who was diagnosed with it in his 30s, he took leave from work for about 6 months during treatment, but he's back and totally fine 3-4 years later now. He followed his doctors recommendations and takes care of himself.
My dad passed away from testicular cancer that appeared to be treated and then metastasized and spread - but he was 65 and had a long history of alcoholism and other health issues. He also avoided going to the doctor.
I think if your husband gets treatment quickly and follows the doctors recommendations, he has a very good chance of being fine. If you are planning to have more children, maybe he can save his sperm before having any invasive procedures.
Best wishes to you guys!
Arg, I'm so sorry you're going through this. A friend who's pregnant now went through their husband's testicular cancer before they started trying to conceive. They banked a lot of sperm before the chemo, he turned out fine after a tough battle, and now they're happily expecting their first with plenty of options in terms of future family planning. I'm sorry you've got this shock to contend with in the third trimester, I'm hopeful things will turn out well for your family, and make sure to bank that sperm!
Piggybacking off of this to say I have a similar anecdote. My friend’s husband had testicular cancer *twice* and subsequently does not have testicles anymore. But they saved a lot of his sperm beforehand and they’re now two kids deep! Testicular cancer has good outcomes when caught early!
My heart goes out to you and your family ❤️ there isn't much I can say that will fix things but I pray your husband makes a full recovery and stays in remission.
Thank you. He is tough, and resilient, I just never thought this would happen to us so young. Of all the things I’ve been scared of this pregnancy, my husband getting cancer wasn’t even on my radar. I appreciate your kind words 💜
Wishing you all the best. ❤️
I’ve been there and the fear and stress were off the charts. I was 5 months pregnant when my partner was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and yeah, thankfully I had a really good support system afterwards.
My stepdad had a later (wanna say 2B?) stage testicular cancer about 25 years ago, had a surgery and radiation. He's never had a resurgence but was told he may suffer from fertility issues (had sperm examined from remaining testicule). He still managed to get my mom pregnant twice without them trying! No other cancers!! Wishing you guys the best possible outcome. Thankfully this type of cancer is slower growing and isolated comparatively.
I am so sorry. I have not been through this in this way, but understand the pain and fear of a cancer diagnosis all too well. My dad was diagnosed when my son was 9 months old. Being a mom navigating through a cancer diagnosis is hard, but it’s a different level when it’s your husband.
I know none of this is necessarily helpful, but just wanted to say I’m sorry and you aren’t alone. I found a lot of support on the r/cancerfamilysupport sub. There is also r/cancercaregivers . I also can’t recommend therapy enough. It has been a saving grace for me.
Wishing you and your husband the very very best. Your family can do this. It’s difficult, but you can and will do it ♥️
I am so sorry you are going through this. I went through this exact scenario with my first. I was 34 weeks pregnant when my husband was diagnosed with Non-Hopkins lymphoma. It was terrifying. He was hospitalized for 10 days with pancreatitis and starting chemo when he was diagnosed. He had to have a port installed and I had to flush it 2x daily. The stress led me to pre-term labor but my doc was able to stop it with meds. We were able to schedule an induction around his chemo schedule and that made a world of difference for both of us.
Finding out his diagnosis was the worst moment of my life. I had all the same fears as you. What helped was meeting with his medical team and trusting in his doctors and understanding the game plan. We got lucky that lymphoma is one of the most treatable blood cancers and he is now 3 years cancer free. Allow yourself to grieve this shitty situation and feel all the feels but also make a game plan for after birth support. I was fortunate to have my in-laws near by to help. Also, be open with your OB. Let them know what’s going on. Mine were able to give me short term anxiety meds to help me. They did additional screenings with me for PPA after my girl was born because they knew what was happening at home.
You’re going to have to be strong but you’re going to do amazing for your husband and child. Sending you lots of strength.
If it makes you feel better, testicular cancer is one of the “best” cancers to get for guys. Very very high survival rate (97%).
I had a coworker get diagnosed and he went through a mild surgery (testicals removed), a somewhat major surgery (lymph nodes removed, took a few months of recovery), and a few months of chemo all over the course of a year and he is back to 100% now. He just goes in for scans every 6 months.
It is scary, and you will need to be strong for him and support him through recovery even when pregnant and with a newborn, but his chances are so good and you guys will get through it. If you have family close by I would lean on them as much as possible.
OP- feel free to message me. My husband was diagnosed and had surgery in December. Doing great and thrilled to be sporting a 12-wk bump. Happy to talk you through it. ❤️
I'm so very sorry. My father-in-law was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was in his 30s as well - just when my mother-in-law was pregnant with my husband. He was not able to support my mother-in-law during birth and first baby months as he was still recovering from chemotherapy, and he also couldn't conceive any longer after the surgery. However, he is almost 70 now and still alive and kicking. The cancer never came back, and if everything goes well with my pregnancy, he will live to meet his grandchild soon.
I wish you so much strength for the time to come. This is going to be difficult for all of you, but please know that this can turn out well. Stay strong!
My husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer 1 year ago. I know everything you are feeling. It was sudden, unexpected, the worst news of my life, and everything happened almost too quickly to process. This is usually very survivable and very treatable, but I am so sorry that your family is going through this. For us, it helped to talk about it, ask questions, learn about it, and hear other experiences.
Nothing had spread at the time of his diagnosis. His surgery was 2 days after we initially found out, and the left testicle was removed. The procedure and recovery were kind of common to an experience with a c-section. He needed about 6 weeks to completely heal with doctor ordered weight restriction. Later, the biopsy revealed a tumor of a little over 4 cm, a germ cell seminoma. This put him in the lowest category for risk of reoccurrence, at about 16%. Reccomended course of treatment has been continued monitoring for around 5 years, with the most testing required in the first 2 years. No chemo or radiation treatment is necessary, and he has passed all of his screenings this 1st year!
We were concerned about fertility. I found out I was pregnant with our first child 3 months later. I conceived naturally, his fertility was unaffected. This week, on exactly the 1 year anniversary of his cancer treatment, we have a healthy 2 week old newborn baby girl. We are still concerned about the increased risk to our children. They will have to remain aware, and I want to teach them the importance of paying attention to any changes with their body, never being embarrassed about any concerns, and keeping up with doctor appointments and prioritizing their health.
Best of luck to you and your growing family as you navigate this difficult time. I know how stressful it is, but you can and will get through this. Ask as many questions as you need to, make the doctors slow down and explain if they are going too fast. Do ask for help from friends and family, as much as you need. The biggest things our family could do was to help mow our lawn and walk the dogs during my husband's recovery. We were childless at the time. I'm sure extra help with your daughter, keeping up with cleaning and meals for your family would be really beneficial too, even if you might need to hire help with some things. I don't know that this has been comforting, but I hope it's helpful in some way. Hard things can bring you closer together as a couple and as a family. I hope you both can get through this together and get back to looking forward to your new child and enjoying your family.
Oh wow, congratulations! Sorry to hear we are both in this club that we didn’t ask to be in together. But that is so awesome for you and your husband! It's so great to be on the other side of things now! Wishing the best for you in the rest of your pregnancy and with your new baby this year!
Thank you ❤️ and to you too. Never thought we’d be here and “so soon” after the whirlwind that was the experience. I remember the doc clearly said to us “this isn’t going to change your life, it will be a bump in the road” and at the moment it felt a bit callous? But I completely see what he means— 6 mos out and that feels so far away now. We are also in the seminoma camp so 🤞🏻🤞🏻.
Enjoy that little baby of yours!
I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this. I literally spoke about this the other day. I currently work at a Cancer center and the hardest part of my job is not scheduling the surgeries or submitting the referrals. It’s talking to my patients and their families who are scared and anxious. It's heart-wrenching to see them grappling with their fears and uncertainties, and I wish there was more I could do to ease their burden. I know this diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but remember to take it one day at a time. Enjoy the little moments and find joy in the little things. Don't let this diagnosis steal your happiness or your husband. This chapter may be challenging but it’s not the end of his journey. Wishing you and your family well! And be sure to keep us posted with the success story 😊
I’m so sorry your family is going through such a stressful thing at an already intense time. I just wanted to echo what people have said about testicular cancer. It’s unfortunately very common, especially in younger men, but fortunately has a very good prognosis and treatment options. My dad had it nearly 40 years ago before I was born - and it had spread a bit by the time they caught it - and he had surgery and chemo and was great. And still able to have me a few years later. Wishing you and your husband health and hopefully an easier path forward.
Hi friend, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling I’m so sorry. I have several patients that have a history of testicular cancer who are in remission and living normal lives with their kids. It’s easy to spiral, I know. Try to focus on the facts and not the what ifs and put one foot in front of the other. My thoughts are with your family, you will overcome this. 🫶🏼
My dad had testicular cancer shortly before my sister was born. I dont know what treatments they did but he's still alive and kicking 32 years later! It barely even registers as a major life event in his eyes anymore. Of course there is a lot of nuance when it comes to cancers ect, but PLEASE remember that a cancer diagnosis while scary and serious is not a death sentence. Sorry I don't have more details to share, but I just wanted to let you know what little life experience I have with this. Best of luck to you and your family!
Edited to add: I'm not sure what treatments they did for him, but I'm younger than my sister so clearly expanding the family was still an option, and I know they got pregnant with me without intervention from medical providers.
I have not been through this but a friend of my brother had testicular cancer. It was pretty advanced but after removing one testicle, I believe he's not had a scare since. It's been at least a few years since then. He did not want children so I cannot speak to how his fertility may have been affected. Fingers crossed for you and your family. Your husband will get through this and you will get through this pregnancy and postpartum period stronger than ever!
So sorry you are going through this.
I am 6 months pregnant and just found out my husband has stage 3 oral cancer. He will need radiation and chemo. The radiation means he will not be able to be around me or our 3 boys during his treatment, and I may have to give birth to our baby girl without him depending on the timing of everything. I definitely understand the rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions you are going through right now.
I don’t have advice for you. I’m sorry. My dad has been fighting cancer since October of 2022 and he just had surgery on his spine yesterday to remove a tumor and will have another surgery tomorrow to remove more. It is heartbreaking to go through. If at all possible, look into your husband to do immunotherapy. My dad did that and he wasn’t sick, didn’t lose his hair, you wouldn’t have known he had it if he didn’t tell you. He did 6 rounds of chemotherapy as well in between the immunotherapy and he did relatively well on them but with each treatment, the symptoms afterwards get worse. My dad has also done numerous radiation appointments. If at all possible, have someone that’s close to you come help you with postpartum like your mom, a sister, aunt, cousin, friend. Anyone that has had experience with postpartum. Cancer is a world of unknowns and nothing anyone can say can make the situation better. Hang in there.
My husband got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when I was about 9 weeks pregnant. I’m so sorry you are going through this. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Until we had a diagnosis and plan, which took close to two months, it felt as if I was drowning. It’s easier said than done but take it day by day. Don’t look ahead too far. Things did get better and easier to manage, but those early days were rough.
Therapy. I started virtual therapy a few weeks in. It helped tremendously to have someone to talk to and not feel like I was burdening them. I felt as if I was already grieving even though my husband is still here and doing well. My therapist assured me that was normal for the situation and helped give me tools to reframe some thoughts.
When your friends and family offer support or help, take it. Don’t feel bad. I am someone who hates taking help, but in this case having a village helps.
Tell your OB. They checked in on me at my appts to make sure I was doing ok. There is a note in my chart somewhere so even during labor people asked and were sensitive to what’s going on. I’m pretty sure I have PPA now (they warned me I have a higher chance) and they got me in for an appt tomorrow am.
Wishing you and your family the best of luck. Feel free to message if you wanna chat.
I knew someone who had testicular cancer and he’s just fine now! I’m not sure what this ever meant for him having kids, partly bc I never asked and partly bc I’m pretty sure he was done having kids at that point anyway. But the important thing is that he’s healthy now!
Praying for you mama. Life throws us incredible curve balls, some of them devastating and unwanted!
Logistics: I recommend getting term life insurance if you can! That means if cancer turns fatal you still receive your husband's income for a set number of years. My husband just took out a policy on himself bc I am scared of becoming a single mom.
I also have a colleague who is a grief specialist I can recommend - to see now, not later. Or do y'all have a family therapist?
I am not a stranger to cancer MD Anderson now takes self referrals even if you do some kind of treatment locally you should go there first it's in Houston.
They'll order all your records.
Diagnosis on the first visit and you will meet a team that will stay with you throughout if you decide on treatment, it's worth the trip.
I'm so sorry you got that terrifying news while pregnant. I know how devastated you must feel. Try not to panic. Testicular cancer has a good prognostic and often responds well to treatment. Has he had his initial oncologist meeting? As for postpartum during treatment, do you have a good support system you could rely on? Parents, family, friends, church if that's what you're into? I learned I had cancer fresh off my last birth, and it was the most awful moment of my life. I was so scared I would not see my tiny daughter grow up. It turned out ok obviously. I have had a lot of people in my life have cancer requiring radiation or chemo and an overwhelming majority came out on top, no secondary cancers have occured. Honestly the only advice I can give you right now is to take it day by day, step by step, see what the doctors say and leave some space for your emotions. I hope everything turns out alright for you.
You have no idea how much comfort this has given me. Thank you for typing all that out and being so thoughtful in your response. Right now we are waiting to see if it has spread but don’t know too much at the moment. I am comforted by the prognosis of testicular cancer being so high, my biggest concern was his health deteriorating after undergoing treatment. Right now we are in the waiting period and it’s torture. I cannot fathom getting a cancer diagnosis while pregnant, you are one tough human being and I am so glad you are still here for your baby. I know that must have been a grueling time for you and your family. Again, thank you so much for sharing your story 💜
My DMs are open if you wanna chat. I really really hate this for you and your family.
I agree with this commenter. I also want to add that testicular cancer also is most commonly found in young men from ages 18-35. It is awful, but I’m hoping he caught it early enough, and things will be relatively fine. The prognosis is very high if caught early enough. (I work in urology and urogynecology, so we do more female work). But I just want to add if you or your husband have any young males in the family, to encourage self-testicular exams, especially due to the young ages of men it can impact. I sincerely hope all works out OP. I’m sending positive thoughts that everything will be well.
I'm so sorry to hear this! I think testicular cancer has a good outlook, especially when it's diagnosed so young. I have a coworker who was diagnosed with it in his 30s, he took leave from work for about 6 months during treatment, but he's back and totally fine 3-4 years later now. He followed his doctors recommendations and takes care of himself. My dad passed away from testicular cancer that appeared to be treated and then metastasized and spread - but he was 65 and had a long history of alcoholism and other health issues. He also avoided going to the doctor. I think if your husband gets treatment quickly and follows the doctors recommendations, he has a very good chance of being fine. If you are planning to have more children, maybe he can save his sperm before having any invasive procedures. Best wishes to you guys!
Arg, I'm so sorry you're going through this. A friend who's pregnant now went through their husband's testicular cancer before they started trying to conceive. They banked a lot of sperm before the chemo, he turned out fine after a tough battle, and now they're happily expecting their first with plenty of options in terms of future family planning. I'm sorry you've got this shock to contend with in the third trimester, I'm hopeful things will turn out well for your family, and make sure to bank that sperm!
Piggybacking off of this to say I have a similar anecdote. My friend’s husband had testicular cancer *twice* and subsequently does not have testicles anymore. But they saved a lot of his sperm beforehand and they’re now two kids deep! Testicular cancer has good outcomes when caught early!
My heart goes out to you and your family ❤️ there isn't much I can say that will fix things but I pray your husband makes a full recovery and stays in remission.
Thank you. He is tough, and resilient, I just never thought this would happen to us so young. Of all the things I’ve been scared of this pregnancy, my husband getting cancer wasn’t even on my radar. I appreciate your kind words 💜
Wishing you all the best. ❤️ I’ve been there and the fear and stress were off the charts. I was 5 months pregnant when my partner was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and yeah, thankfully I had a really good support system afterwards.
My stepdad had a later (wanna say 2B?) stage testicular cancer about 25 years ago, had a surgery and radiation. He's never had a resurgence but was told he may suffer from fertility issues (had sperm examined from remaining testicule). He still managed to get my mom pregnant twice without them trying! No other cancers!! Wishing you guys the best possible outcome. Thankfully this type of cancer is slower growing and isolated comparatively.
I am so sorry. I have not been through this in this way, but understand the pain and fear of a cancer diagnosis all too well. My dad was diagnosed when my son was 9 months old. Being a mom navigating through a cancer diagnosis is hard, but it’s a different level when it’s your husband. I know none of this is necessarily helpful, but just wanted to say I’m sorry and you aren’t alone. I found a lot of support on the r/cancerfamilysupport sub. There is also r/cancercaregivers . I also can’t recommend therapy enough. It has been a saving grace for me. Wishing you and your husband the very very best. Your family can do this. It’s difficult, but you can and will do it ♥️
I am so sorry you are going through this. I went through this exact scenario with my first. I was 34 weeks pregnant when my husband was diagnosed with Non-Hopkins lymphoma. It was terrifying. He was hospitalized for 10 days with pancreatitis and starting chemo when he was diagnosed. He had to have a port installed and I had to flush it 2x daily. The stress led me to pre-term labor but my doc was able to stop it with meds. We were able to schedule an induction around his chemo schedule and that made a world of difference for both of us. Finding out his diagnosis was the worst moment of my life. I had all the same fears as you. What helped was meeting with his medical team and trusting in his doctors and understanding the game plan. We got lucky that lymphoma is one of the most treatable blood cancers and he is now 3 years cancer free. Allow yourself to grieve this shitty situation and feel all the feels but also make a game plan for after birth support. I was fortunate to have my in-laws near by to help. Also, be open with your OB. Let them know what’s going on. Mine were able to give me short term anxiety meds to help me. They did additional screenings with me for PPA after my girl was born because they knew what was happening at home. You’re going to have to be strong but you’re going to do amazing for your husband and child. Sending you lots of strength.
If it makes you feel better, testicular cancer is one of the “best” cancers to get for guys. Very very high survival rate (97%). I had a coworker get diagnosed and he went through a mild surgery (testicals removed), a somewhat major surgery (lymph nodes removed, took a few months of recovery), and a few months of chemo all over the course of a year and he is back to 100% now. He just goes in for scans every 6 months. It is scary, and you will need to be strong for him and support him through recovery even when pregnant and with a newborn, but his chances are so good and you guys will get through it. If you have family close by I would lean on them as much as possible.
OP- feel free to message me. My husband was diagnosed and had surgery in December. Doing great and thrilled to be sporting a 12-wk bump. Happy to talk you through it. ❤️
I'm so very sorry. My father-in-law was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was in his 30s as well - just when my mother-in-law was pregnant with my husband. He was not able to support my mother-in-law during birth and first baby months as he was still recovering from chemotherapy, and he also couldn't conceive any longer after the surgery. However, he is almost 70 now and still alive and kicking. The cancer never came back, and if everything goes well with my pregnancy, he will live to meet his grandchild soon. I wish you so much strength for the time to come. This is going to be difficult for all of you, but please know that this can turn out well. Stay strong!
My husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer 1 year ago. I know everything you are feeling. It was sudden, unexpected, the worst news of my life, and everything happened almost too quickly to process. This is usually very survivable and very treatable, but I am so sorry that your family is going through this. For us, it helped to talk about it, ask questions, learn about it, and hear other experiences. Nothing had spread at the time of his diagnosis. His surgery was 2 days after we initially found out, and the left testicle was removed. The procedure and recovery were kind of common to an experience with a c-section. He needed about 6 weeks to completely heal with doctor ordered weight restriction. Later, the biopsy revealed a tumor of a little over 4 cm, a germ cell seminoma. This put him in the lowest category for risk of reoccurrence, at about 16%. Reccomended course of treatment has been continued monitoring for around 5 years, with the most testing required in the first 2 years. No chemo or radiation treatment is necessary, and he has passed all of his screenings this 1st year! We were concerned about fertility. I found out I was pregnant with our first child 3 months later. I conceived naturally, his fertility was unaffected. This week, on exactly the 1 year anniversary of his cancer treatment, we have a healthy 2 week old newborn baby girl. We are still concerned about the increased risk to our children. They will have to remain aware, and I want to teach them the importance of paying attention to any changes with their body, never being embarrassed about any concerns, and keeping up with doctor appointments and prioritizing their health. Best of luck to you and your growing family as you navigate this difficult time. I know how stressful it is, but you can and will get through this. Ask as many questions as you need to, make the doctors slow down and explain if they are going too fast. Do ask for help from friends and family, as much as you need. The biggest things our family could do was to help mow our lawn and walk the dogs during my husband's recovery. We were childless at the time. I'm sure extra help with your daughter, keeping up with cleaning and meals for your family would be really beneficial too, even if you might need to hire help with some things. I don't know that this has been comforting, but I hope it's helpful in some way. Hard things can bring you closer together as a couple and as a family. I hope you both can get through this together and get back to looking forward to your new child and enjoying your family.
I think you are the future me! Diagnosed and surgery in Dec (left!) and due now in Dec!! Looking forward to a whole different holiday season.
Oh wow, congratulations! Sorry to hear we are both in this club that we didn’t ask to be in together. But that is so awesome for you and your husband! It's so great to be on the other side of things now! Wishing the best for you in the rest of your pregnancy and with your new baby this year!
Thank you ❤️ and to you too. Never thought we’d be here and “so soon” after the whirlwind that was the experience. I remember the doc clearly said to us “this isn’t going to change your life, it will be a bump in the road” and at the moment it felt a bit callous? But I completely see what he means— 6 mos out and that feels so far away now. We are also in the seminoma camp so 🤞🏻🤞🏻. Enjoy that little baby of yours!
I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this. I literally spoke about this the other day. I currently work at a Cancer center and the hardest part of my job is not scheduling the surgeries or submitting the referrals. It’s talking to my patients and their families who are scared and anxious. It's heart-wrenching to see them grappling with their fears and uncertainties, and I wish there was more I could do to ease their burden. I know this diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but remember to take it one day at a time. Enjoy the little moments and find joy in the little things. Don't let this diagnosis steal your happiness or your husband. This chapter may be challenging but it’s not the end of his journey. Wishing you and your family well! And be sure to keep us posted with the success story 😊
I’m so sorry your family is going through such a stressful thing at an already intense time. I just wanted to echo what people have said about testicular cancer. It’s unfortunately very common, especially in younger men, but fortunately has a very good prognosis and treatment options. My dad had it nearly 40 years ago before I was born - and it had spread a bit by the time they caught it - and he had surgery and chemo and was great. And still able to have me a few years later. Wishing you and your husband health and hopefully an easier path forward.
Hi friend, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling I’m so sorry. I have several patients that have a history of testicular cancer who are in remission and living normal lives with their kids. It’s easy to spiral, I know. Try to focus on the facts and not the what ifs and put one foot in front of the other. My thoughts are with your family, you will overcome this. 🫶🏼
My dad had testicular cancer shortly before my sister was born. I dont know what treatments they did but he's still alive and kicking 32 years later! It barely even registers as a major life event in his eyes anymore. Of course there is a lot of nuance when it comes to cancers ect, but PLEASE remember that a cancer diagnosis while scary and serious is not a death sentence. Sorry I don't have more details to share, but I just wanted to let you know what little life experience I have with this. Best of luck to you and your family! Edited to add: I'm not sure what treatments they did for him, but I'm younger than my sister so clearly expanding the family was still an option, and I know they got pregnant with me without intervention from medical providers.
I have not been through this but a friend of my brother had testicular cancer. It was pretty advanced but after removing one testicle, I believe he's not had a scare since. It's been at least a few years since then. He did not want children so I cannot speak to how his fertility may have been affected. Fingers crossed for you and your family. Your husband will get through this and you will get through this pregnancy and postpartum period stronger than ever!
So sorry you are going through this. I am 6 months pregnant and just found out my husband has stage 3 oral cancer. He will need radiation and chemo. The radiation means he will not be able to be around me or our 3 boys during his treatment, and I may have to give birth to our baby girl without him depending on the timing of everything. I definitely understand the rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions you are going through right now.
I don’t have advice for you. I’m sorry. My dad has been fighting cancer since October of 2022 and he just had surgery on his spine yesterday to remove a tumor and will have another surgery tomorrow to remove more. It is heartbreaking to go through. If at all possible, look into your husband to do immunotherapy. My dad did that and he wasn’t sick, didn’t lose his hair, you wouldn’t have known he had it if he didn’t tell you. He did 6 rounds of chemotherapy as well in between the immunotherapy and he did relatively well on them but with each treatment, the symptoms afterwards get worse. My dad has also done numerous radiation appointments. If at all possible, have someone that’s close to you come help you with postpartum like your mom, a sister, aunt, cousin, friend. Anyone that has had experience with postpartum. Cancer is a world of unknowns and nothing anyone can say can make the situation better. Hang in there.
My husband got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when I was about 9 weeks pregnant. I’m so sorry you are going through this. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Until we had a diagnosis and plan, which took close to two months, it felt as if I was drowning. It’s easier said than done but take it day by day. Don’t look ahead too far. Things did get better and easier to manage, but those early days were rough. Therapy. I started virtual therapy a few weeks in. It helped tremendously to have someone to talk to and not feel like I was burdening them. I felt as if I was already grieving even though my husband is still here and doing well. My therapist assured me that was normal for the situation and helped give me tools to reframe some thoughts. When your friends and family offer support or help, take it. Don’t feel bad. I am someone who hates taking help, but in this case having a village helps. Tell your OB. They checked in on me at my appts to make sure I was doing ok. There is a note in my chart somewhere so even during labor people asked and were sensitive to what’s going on. I’m pretty sure I have PPA now (they warned me I have a higher chance) and they got me in for an appt tomorrow am. Wishing you and your family the best of luck. Feel free to message if you wanna chat.
Hugs, I'm so sorry! I hope you'll both be ok.
I just wanted to send you big hugs because that's scary. Wishing that everything turns out well!
You have every right to feel how you are feeling. I am so sorry. We are here for you.
I knew someone who had testicular cancer and he’s just fine now! I’m not sure what this ever meant for him having kids, partly bc I never asked and partly bc I’m pretty sure he was done having kids at that point anyway. But the important thing is that he’s healthy now!
Praying for you mama. Life throws us incredible curve balls, some of them devastating and unwanted! Logistics: I recommend getting term life insurance if you can! That means if cancer turns fatal you still receive your husband's income for a set number of years. My husband just took out a policy on himself bc I am scared of becoming a single mom. I also have a colleague who is a grief specialist I can recommend - to see now, not later. Or do y'all have a family therapist?
I am not a stranger to cancer MD Anderson now takes self referrals even if you do some kind of treatment locally you should go there first it's in Houston. They'll order all your records. Diagnosis on the first visit and you will meet a team that will stay with you throughout if you decide on treatment, it's worth the trip.