Hi Tom

im sorry to hear you're so distressed and didn't want to read your message without replying. Id firstly say I'm sure your mum would want to know of your worries and support you to get it checked and given the all clear from a doctor. If you don't feel able to share with your mum yet, please think who you can share this worry with to support you to get it checked, even if that's a teacher or a trusted adult / relative.

I see so many people saying avoid Google! (Hard I know) but there's proper places to get more info such as the cancer research helpline and also reputable sites, from looking at NHS sites for example. Even if talking to people on here don't feel alone, I think most people making their way to this site are worried people like you and me or wise people who have been through health issues and want to help others, so those people will probably be along to help you shortly!

The best place is always the doctor. Please think about going to your doctor, you'll get their reassurance and be able to move forward. I remember being about your age (I'm now 39, female) and going to the GP with a similar but equivalent female problem and it being immediately resolved, panic and embarrassment over with in a flash and able to get on with my young life - please do the same for yourself, it's so much easier than the worry, I promise! 
 

Take care Tom, come back to this chat if you need to talk to people in this community.

Emma

Sorry to hear you are having so many worrying symptoms. I wonder did any of them come on or did you first notice any of them after you read about them. If so, it is possible that you are noticing very minor things that may even be entirely normal. I know when I was awaiting my appointment for a biopsy of my thyroid, I read that pain in the neck was a symptom of thyroid cancer and suddenly started getting pains in my neck. The doctor asked about that, as I had expected he would. I told him that I had recently, but suspected it may be imagination as it had happened only after I read that it was a question he was likely to ask me. Once the appointment was over, I had no more pains in my neck, because I was no longer thinking, "he's going to ask if my neck ever hurts; does it?"

Googling tells me that testicular cancer is relatively uncommon, so it is quite likely that something more minor is wrong with you, if there is anything at all. 

I understand that you don't want to worry your mother, but I think she would want to know that you are worried. And you should get this checked out. If there is nothing wrong, you will get some reassurance and worst case scenario, if something is wrong, the sooner you get treatment, the better the outcome is likely to be. By the looks of things, even if it is cancer, it is very survivable and the sooner it is treated, the better. Not that I think it at all likely that it is.

You don't necessarily have to tell your mother, "I'm afraid I have cancer." You could just say something like, "I need to see a doctor because I have some pain in my lower back, nausea and fatigue." I'm sure your mother would hate to think you were going through unnecessary worry or delaying treatment for something because you didn't want her to worry. 

Hey Tom.

Sorry to hear that you are so worried and anxious about this.  I am sure your Mum would much rather know and support you through this rather than have you worrying and struggling alone.  I have Teenagers and I would much rather know and help!
 

If you can't speak to her, find somebody else to confide in (Teacher, friends Mum, relative?) and get yourself checked out to out your mind at rest.

Don't google anything, this will make you feel so much worse and raise anxiety (I have learnt this!!).

Take care 

Nikki x

Hi Tom, 

My son who is now 14 told me he had the same about 2 years ago. We went to the docs and I know he felt embarrassed etc. He was referred to the hospital..thankfully it wasn't nothing to worry about. Please dont try and deal with this alone. I was so proud when my boy told me. Your mum would 100% prefer you to tell her regardless of what else is going on. Hopefully its nothing but im sure you know this if it is something the earlier the better to get it sorted. Sending you a big hug and please tell mum. If you really feel you cant is there another family member or even a friend you can talk to? xx

Hi Tom,
You've had good advice already. And it really comes down to one thing: go to the doctor. You will feel so much better afterwards, trust me. You just have to pluck up the courage to do it. So please make an appointement tomorrow. Your Mum doesn't need to know if you don't want her too.
It will probably be nothing but even if it isn't, you'll be just fine. Testicular cancer (which I think is the scenario you are dreading) is cured in all but a very small minority of cases.
Let us know how you get on! And take care. Harry

Hi Nikki, I just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you today and sending you whatever you need x