Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young men. Movember is working to reduce the number of deaths from testicular cancer, and I want to help them get there. Help me stop men dying too young.

11 years ago, my husband who was 31 at the time, was diagnosed with stage 3c testicular cancer. Not to be outdone, he also had a stroke and a brain hemorrhage, and was in a coma for a month. You know, because he could....

This was the same type of cancer as Lance Armstrong. For perspective, Lance's BHCG levels were around the 109,000. Bill's was 2.3 million. A normal count for males is 5 or under.

The journey we had in 2011 was pure hell.
Four rounds of 'five days on, ten days off' chemo went quite quick. He was still in a coma due to the brain hemorrhage he had the first day of chemo for the first two rounds. The doctors had no choice. It was treat him and hope for the best, or allow the cancer to spread. What would Bill do? Have a crack!
After the initial four rounds, we got a break to allow the treatment to work. Unfortunately his BHCG levels did not fall enough and he was given another four rounds of treatment. Super aggressive treatment.

Fast forward a smidge, and he had a PET scan to show remaining tumors in his body. They were all through the abdomen, and chest. They showed up as 'dorment tumors' or 'dying tumors'. It was surgery time! What would Bill do? Have a crack!
23 tumors were taken from his left lung in that experimental surgery. 23. Luckily they were determined to be dying and another surgery was not required.

He was very lucky it was caught in the nick of time and had the care he did, and I will forever be grateful to Bendigo Health and The Austin Hospital.

Check your bits boys! Check in with your mates. Have those conversations over a beer, or at the gym. Go out for a run, or get some fresh air. Hug your loved ones.
Breathe.