Feelings and moving on

I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in February 2024. I was fortunate to catch this early and underwent surgery in February and recently completed Chemotherapy last week. This now means that I am cured but similar to others on here I have struggled to motivate myself back in to normal life. Does anyone have experience of how long it has taken them?

If you were to look at me I look 'well' but the mental impact of diagnosis and treatment combined with the speed that this has happened makes me feel as though I have not had time to process or deal with the fact that I had cancer. I want to be back at work to support my staff/friends but now I need to take the time for me before I can move on. Is that selfish?

I am 6 days post Chemo and I am still feeling a little unwell but getting better each day. I want to go back to the gym and walk etc but feel guilty for doing so. Is that normal?

I feel very fortunate that cancer 'didnt fancy it' this time around and I know others have been far less fortunate. Some of those people I have known. 

Thanks for reading

  • Hiya, great to read your treatment was successful. I was diagnosed with DLBCL Lymphoma in 1 testicle in March last year. I went through surgery, 6 rounds of R-chop chemo, 4 x lumbar punctures with chemo injected into my spine, 3 x 5 day in-patient high dose chemo sessions, then finished radiotherapy just before Christmas. Disbelief was my first reaction, then immediately started considering my future. I was lucky, it was caught very early, stage 1A and had not spread out of the infected testicle. In myself I feel well, but I do get that nagging thought of what if it comes back. The Chemo will have some longer term effects such as tiredness and lethargy. I found my short term memory was badly affected for a couple of months, but it is much better nowJust take your time, do what you feel you are capable of, I.e. walk the dog, take yourself out of your home and socialise, don't overdo things or stress yourself. I am 5 months into remission, feeling well in myself, have trouble sleeping which is when the mind games start. You need to stay positive and set yourself a goal each day. It doesn't matter if you don't reach that goal, at least you tried. Stay strong, you will get there, I wish you the best of luck. Once you are diagnosed, everything happens like a whirlwind because it has to. It is that feeling of not being in control that can be a bit scary. I would suggest you get your doctor to sign you off for a while, kick back, take your time to recuperate, enjoy some fresh air and warmer weather. Most importantly, Don sit stewing over bad thoughts, talk to someone, there are lots of anonymous live chats and phone support at organisations li,e CRUK, MacMillan etc. Chin up, best foot forward and off you go, give yourself time to get over the events.