Update re: My cancer and subsequent tinnitus.

[Masterfox66]

This is a follow up from the success story I posted here last month.

I wasn’t quite sure whether to post this update of sorts, even if it isn’t entirely a positive one, it isn’t to do with my tinnitus and this seemed like the best place for it.

I am still “habituated” (whatever that means) to my new tinnitus baseline so that’s all good. Recently I had a PET scan to make sure the chemotherapy worked as intended, and while it shrunk my germ cell tumour (from testicular cancer) down significantly from something like 5 inches down to half an inch, the results were in what the doctor called a “grey area” where they can’t be 100% sure if any cancer cells remained.

I was very briefly scared this meant more chemo and I am deathly afraid of Cisplatin at this point for fairly obvious reasons. Mercifully I need to have radiotherapy though, no more chemo.

Relief aside though, the news was still pretty disappointing as I was hoping to put this whole episode behind me, though the absolute worst of it (i.e. my suicidal thoughts) has been behind me for a while now.

It could have been a lot worse, I know. I was also assured the radiotherapy won’t affect my tinnitus, since it isn’t being administered to my head anyway.

[Happyrosie]

M66 thank you for your update and I’ve just reread your earlier tinnitus posts. Which were uplifting.

I have to say that when I was on chemo (six cycles) I don’t remember anything at all about the tinnitus. I expect that it got worse as, during the chemo, everything was covered by a big black cloud for one week out the three between infusions. The depression and brain fog was hard to get through - but you know with chemo that it’s going to end some time. So after three cycles I was able to cheer myself up by saying “well I’m halfway through and the chemo hasn’t killed me yet!”

I’m sorry that your cancer treatment wasn’t necessarily perfect - and indeed who knows with mine? All I know is that I was diagnosed nine years ago, 21 august 2014, and I’m still here at age 77. Happy and fulfilled with my life in general.

[Ponay]

Hello,

I understand totally what a blow that would be. The hope to be coming to the end of a horrendous process and then have yet another hurdle to get over. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your radiotherapy. My husband also had testicular cancer so it’s very close to my heart. (He’s 8 years cancer free now so all of the awfulness is totally worth it in the end).

Thinking of you, let us know how you get on!

Naomi

[Covenette1]

Hi there,

I’ve read your post with interest as I, like you and Happy Rosie, was treated for cancer and again like her I’m now 10 years down the line. You can only take one day at a time, you’re already half way through so, I guess what I want to say to you is, hang on in there - you can do this. I’m sending lots of positive thoughts your way … let us know how you’re doing . x