Movember: Terenure husband talks about surviving testicular cancer

At the age of 27 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009.

“But I most probably had it for two years prior already,” Jacques Otto from Terenure told Express.

In admitting that he was stubborn to have himself checked, he said his girlfriend prompted for him to be checked.

“The doctor checked and said my testicles were swollen. I told him I was aware of that because at the time I thought it was merely a swollen gland. The swelling had fluctuated to make my testes bigger and smaller and so it continued. Two years later, my testes remained as big as a cricket ball. And I just left it.”

Eventually, he was referred to another doctor and the test confirmed he had a tumour in his right testicle.”

Jacques was advised to go for a CAT scan and a PET scan, by which a liquid is injected to highlight one’s veins and cells providing a more thorough analysis.

“I went to Joburg Gen’s (Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital) radiology department and I received incredible treatment. It was confirmed the cancer had already spread to my right pelvis and lower abdomen.”

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He went for a second opinion at the oncology department without disclosing any details of his first diagnosis.

“I told the oncologist to tell me straight if it was good or bad news. He confirmed that my right pelvis and lower abdomen had been affected by cancer, except that the PET scan had already picked up that the cancer had spread even further to my neck.”

When asked ‘what next?’ the oncologist prescribed the book of Lance Armstrong’s battle with cancer, which had striking similarities to Jacques’ diagnosis.

“He said I had exactly the same cancer – everything was the same – and told me that he’d be putting me on the exact same treatment as Armstrong had received.”

The following week Jacques started treatment for six months, receiving chemotherapy. Radiation would have affected his fertility.

“I still wanted a child and chose chemotherapy.”

In 2010 he was operated on and his right testicle was removed.

“The doctors don’t cut the testes and remove it at the source, because allegedly it causes the cancer to spread. I was cut in my lower abdomen and then they pulled it out from there.”

Although Jacques’ cancer was not hereditary, his brother was also diagnosed with testicle cancer. Only, his brother’s experience was totally different.

“He noticed something was wrong when his left breast became swollen and also thought it would be a troubled gland. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had his testicle removed. He only received a half day’s chemotherapy and he was finished.”

Jacques’ chemotherapy sessions worked as follows – one session consisted of three weeks treatment.

“I went in for five days in the first week, the following week I’d go in for two days and the third week I only needed to go in for one day.

This would continue in these respective sessions for six months.”

He also confessed to not seeking any support groups through this difficult time. He said while in the waiting rooms and therapy sessions, there were more than enough cancer fighters whose conditions would seem worse than his own condition.

“Back then I thought to myself – I’m lucky.”

How was Jacques’ treatment?

“I was nauseous, had to change my diet and lost all my hair – my only enjoyment was that I didn’t need to shave,” he joked.

At his last session’s pre-consultation, Jacques’ doctor examined his latest results and told him that he would be taking him off the treatments, as his figures reflected that he was in remission in 2011.

Despite the fact that he had removed a testicle so inherently connected to masculinity, Jacques said he just felt more aware of his body.

“Now I would say it’s a good thing to self-examine.”

His advice is to not ignore any signs of health and to rather check it out.

“I was a typical guy who just shrugged off the signs to be nothing serious. Being through all I’ve been through, I would tell a man to put their ego aside because it’s your life you’re playing with.”

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