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Rob Rathmann | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Fun With Cancer! tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Fun With Cancer!

On a Friday morning in October 2002 I notice a pea-sized lump on my right testicle. Less then a week later I was:
1. Recovering from the surgery to remove it (radical inguinal orchiectomy).
2. Reeling from a diagnosis of Stage IIIa non-seminomous testicular cancer that had spread throughout my abdomen.
3. Facing 9 weeks of chemotherapy.

After a LONG 13 months of treatment and recovery, I completed the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day and am now in remission. So, all you guys viewing these pictures: CHECK YOURSELF!! This site shows you how, and is an invaluable resource to anyone facing this disease.

These photos are in chronological order, from diagnosis to recovery, with everything else in between.

March 2nd 2011 Update: Twins! (yes, you can still have children after chemo)

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Bad News: 1st CT Scan Results
Bad News: 1st CT Scan Results		 Pre-Op 1: Freaked Out! (before Versed)
Pre-Op 1: Freaked Out! (before Versed)		 Pre-Op 2: No worries! (after Versed)
Pre-Op 2: No worries! (after Versed)		 Post-Op 1: Warm Blankets & Good Drugs
Post-Op 1: Warm Blankets & Good Drugs
Post-Op 2: Smelling fresh meat, the vultures begin circling...
Post-Op 2: Smelling fresh meat, the vultures begin circling...		 Post-Op 3: The Friendly Drunk
Post-Op 3: The Friendly Drunk		 Post-Op 4: $18,000 on surgery and I can't even get a longer bed?
Post-Op 4: $18,000 on surgery and I can't even get a longer bed?		 Post-Op 5: Inguinal Orchiectomy Scar
Post-Op 5: Inguinal Orchiectomy Scar
Prune Juice, a necessary evil...
Prune Juice, a necessary evil...		 1st Day of Chemo
1st Day of Chemo		 pulling my hair out
pulling my hair out		 It was falling out anyway....
It was falling out anyway....
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comment | share
lilianvelon27-Feb-2013 12:44
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Adrian 20-May-2010 17:20
Congratulations, I am going through a similar process, I am 23 and I was freaked out about how much painful and grey is the whole scenary, but now I am feeling motivated because of you, thank you for share your experience.
Andreas 23-Apr-2010 22:34
Hey mate, are you still in remission? I'm fighting with the third chemo for Stage IIC, so I'm interested in your present.
Jeffrey Lewis Knapp15-Mar-2010 03:55
You can beat cancer. I v. Stay strong.http://www.pbase.com/orangecones/cancer
Tom Nicholas 18-Nov-2009 15:02
Hi There.
Had radical orchiectomy 2 days ago and waiting for pathology results. Well done on a great site and thanks for sharing.Tom
Guest 03-Sep-2009 04:24
Thanks for sharing your story. I am recovering from TC right now. It's hard, but I'm making it.
Cory 29-Jun-2009 13:14
Wow what a tear jerker it was to read my message from Oct of last year. Scared, fearing my own mortality and realizing how much I had to live for. Now here I sit after a winter of chemo and a spring of recovery. My hair is back, and the cancer appears to be gone.. It wasn't the end of the world, it was a new beginning full of new opportunities and promise..

Thanks again for helping me get through..

Cory
Guest 23-Jan-2009 21:57
Many thanks for sharing your great recovery. I am in the same situation, so I am really thankful for your story. I wish you best of health and a long life. God bless you. From Hungary
kyle 15-Jan-2009 12:35
I am 1 day before my surgery. freaked out i m 23 years old and have a 10 month old. it is very good to see that another man has overcome the bad of cancer. thanks man.
Cory 27-Oct-2008 02:51
I am reading your story about 9 hours before my surgery, I'm scared to death. The past few days have been a wild ride and I wake up everyday asking my wife if I just had a bad dream. My CT results just came in on Friday and he said there were spots on my lymph nodes so we'll see when pathology gets done what we are dealing with. Thank you for sharing your story of survival. I'm a 32 year old father of 2 young children and husband, your story gave me hope, hope I will see my children grow up..

Thank you

Cory Young
Luna Pier, MI
Guest 07-Aug-2008 15:05
I stumbled on to your site while researching terminology for medical transcription. I admire your strength in facing this with such grit and determination! Good luck to you and I wish you all the best!
Norma 25-Jul-2008 07:08
Thanks for posting your experience with cancer. I am a nursing student and I was impressed at how open you were with your story. My father has multiple myeloma and he is the reason I am studying nursing.
Tab Canada 17-Jun-2008 17:16
Congratulations on your success. It must be a journey through your life that only the people with your situation can truly comprehend. I commend you in your documentation and openness on the subject. Not to mention the marathon. Thank you for spreading hope in the times where cancer is so rampid. A few dear friends of mine have suffered from cancer in various forms, some were fortunate to survive, others not. Good for you!
JP 11-Apr-2008 11:42
good that you were able to recognized the lump at an early stage. which medical and surgical intervention can still manage the said disease process. well it is very important that men do a testicular self examination once a month, after you take a warm bath, stand infront of the mirror naked ad with the use of your finger tips do palpation around the testes through out the spermatic cord...etc..and that is a big help trust me...

#639215800757
Jean-Claude Liehn06-Oct-2007 04:29
Congratulations for this photographic diary.
I use to think that I would do the same if I got a cancer.
This is the first realization of this I see.
The title of the gallery is great.
Dr Jean-Claude Liehn, Reims, France
Robert 07-Dec-2006 02:42
Oh man I found your website when I found out I had testicular cancer. I saw your website 2 days before surgery, didn't get to talk to anyone with the same problem. Thanks alot man for keeping this site up, it gave me an idea of what I was in for when I was scared as hell. I'm done with surgery, chemo and my hair is coming back. I keep your site in my Favorites and still come here sometimes.
Walt23-Feb-2006 19:45
Thanks for candor, Rob. I have a similar scar ... my post-op diagnosis was 'damage due to torsion' but pre-op, the docs had made a diagnosis similar to yours. Same surgery, pain, & much or the recovery, however. Thanks again!
Walt
kevin smith 22-Jan-2006 19:24
Hey thanks for sharing just had my Orch last week, waiting to find out if it spread. (as tom petty said the waiting is the hardest part) Just knowing there are survivors out there makes this a hell of a lot easier!!!! Peace
Steve Albano28-Jul-2005 04:04
I stumbled acrosss your gallery while doing a search, and couldn't help looking. I went through TC in 2002 also, stage 3 non-seminoma. Had the Orch, Chemo, and finally the RPLND (quite a gutting, I don't recommend it). So, congrats on your recovery and the marathon!
Guest 24-May-2005 01:42
Rob, You are probably going to save some people with this gallery. Alot of men are probably checking themselves out because of you. Good job....and all the best.
Guest 26-Apr-2005 23:02
This is a hard hitting subject! and its good that you have been able to share it with all rest of us! thank you! for showing us that there is hope ! Great documenty pictures! Mac UK
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