Guest Post: Evolution of a Cancer Survivor

One of the reasons I love twitter so much is meeting other cancer survivors. Not just breast cancer either. Survivors of all kinds. It's amazing the connections you can form with people you have never "met".  Recently I "met" Jason aka @iHubby. I found him on twitter thanks to my bestie girl @jana0926. Those two had one crazy bloghop bet over the National Championship game which was hilarious and awesome. Jana's Auburn Tigers won and Jason had to post on her blog about how awesome her team was. Really...just go watch HERE. Hilarious. Anyway...after chatting with Jason it came to light that he too was a cancer survivor. After some recent turn of events he and I realized how alike our paths have been. And because of that I asked him to be my very first guest blogger. His story is amazing and I am honored to share it with you all....

When Allie asked me to be a guest blogger for her site I was floored. Actually, I was flattered. Being a blogger you focus on your readers and trying to keep them entertained and interested. So I guess that’s what I am doing for you guys on here. I am stepping in for the day and entertaining you and giving you something interesting to read. However, I don’t think she needs any help in that department. I can say this cause I am captivated reader of hers and I always look forward to reading her journey. Cause to be honest, it’s similar to mine. I think that’s what makes our friendship special.

Allie had breast cancer. I am so happy that I can write the word “had” instead of “has”. See, it’s a special feeling for a cancer survivor to look at the disease they were struck with and say “I don’t have you anymore.” I too am a cancer survivor so I know what it’s like. I am a survivor of testicular cancer. Mine was different from hers (seeing she doesn’t have testicles) and every cancer patient’s story is unique. However, there are similarities that we all share.

With our disease, we all know that feeling of being told what we have. We remember the exact moment our lives changed forever. Now, the words that were spoken to us might have sounded like the teacher from “The Peanuts Gang” but we can remember that moment.

Most cancer survivors go through some form of surgery. Some part is removed, trimmed down or taken from us due to our illness. This is another thing we have in common.

But one of things that we all have in common are the 3 month check-ups. These are the times that we become nervous, edgy, scared, excited and any other emotion you can think to throw in. We are being poked, prodded and scanned to make sure that that little bitch of a disease has not popped up somewhere else in our heavenly bodies!

Allie, just had a 3-month check-up and from what I gathered from her Twitter feed it was nerve-racking! One fatal mistake by a lab tech and numbers get entered wrong and the doctor is giving you the wrong news. This can just EFF with a persons head, big time.

I recently had my most recent check-up. It’s been a year and 3 months and everything has been perfect. However, this last check-up wasn’t all peaches and cream. I gave a sperm sample to find out how things were going down there with my “single jingle” and to make sure he was doing his job. My doctor is a straight shooter. He doesn’t mess around with a bunch of bullshit and he delivers the info to me with no holds barred. I respect that about him. However, he was a little shocked this time and almost seemed like he didn’t want to give me my news.

No cancer was seen. GREAT! But, with the sample I gave there was also no sperm seen. None, zip, zilch, nada. ZERO! Also, my testosterone levels had dropped to the point where I now have to get a testosterone patch to help the levels come up. We spoke about if being on this patch would increase my sperm level and get things back up and running. His outlook on this was a solid “I don’t think so. “ He said that there could be treatments for HGH with the patch but from what it looks like, I am just not producing sperm and I wont ever. Basically, he told me that I won’t be able to have children of my own. This was yet another blow to the gut of both me and my wife. See, we don’t have any kids and want to.

Being a cancer survivor involves learning how to evolve. Your life changes drastically when you are diagnosed so that instinct of plotting a new course in life is something you learn how to do really quick. I was happy that the cancer was gone but now my wife and I have to shift our life path in a different direction.

Allie, had this happen when she was diagnosed. Her hysterectomy ended her chances of conceiving child ever again. But, like me she sees that there are always options in this world.

When I first read her blog I was touched by her story. I was happy that she was able to have a son before the diagnosis. But, I can say that I know how she feels about wanting to possibly have children in the future. Our options are limited but we still have options. We push on and take the gifts that we are blessed with.

Like I said before, we as survivors evolve. We are strong. I can’t wait for the day that my wife and I get to adopt a child (or three) and show them the love and care they deserve. We will welcome that child into our home and arms and treat them as our own. Our family will be happy for us, our friends will be there for us. And I know that my friend Allie will be one of the first to congradulate us on our new addition to our family.

Survivors also share one more thing: a bond. We know what the other has been through and we wear that shit as a badge of honor. We are strong and knowing that other survivors are there for us makes us stronger. I am so glad to have met another survivor like Allie. 

Thank you Jason for your amazing post. And please go check out and follow his blog at http://theihubby.com/ He's awesome. And I know!!!

XOXO,
Allie