Say a prayer.....

I know there have been alot of serious things happening recently and learned today of one more that I would appreciate everyone adding to their prayer list. My son is 24. He had an appointment with an urologist today and is scheduled for surgery Monday at Wishard. The urologist believes that Jay has testicular cancer. He won't know until he removes the mass (about as large as my fist and rock hard) on if it's cancerous...and if it is, benign or malignant. They will also be doing a cat scan of his torso (from below his ribs down) to try to be sure there aren't anymore lumps/tumors anywhere else. Yes, testicular cancer is curable these days but you do lose the testicle and if malignant, have the radiation/chemo to go through. Jay is very upset. He has no kids and had always thought he'd have one or two 'someday'. He knows this will drastically reduce the liklihood of him becoming a father. He's also concerned about the chemo & radiation. All in all, he feels that at the young age of 24, he's losing his manhood. About how many women feel after a masectomy. As for me & Bill, we're taking all of this fine. We'll wait until we hear what we are definately dealing with. It's just how we both deal with things like this. So, please keep Jay's health and his mental attitude about this in your prayers. He well knows that cancer runs in our family and that doesn't help his outlook any. My dad died when he was 50 (liver cancer that spread) and my sister when she was 32 (lymphatic malignoma). Thanks... Sherri

Dear Sherri, I will certainly keep you, your husband, and your son in my prayers. I know this must be a terrible blow to a young man. I have two friends who have had testicular cancer, both are now cancer-free, thank God. Keep us posted. Donna

I'm sorry to hear that news. I hope it's just some kind of mass, and not cancer. I had to have a breast biopsy when I was 22 or so for a mass, and it just turned out to be cystic tissue. I know it's very scary waiting to find out though. Linda Vicory

I will request prayer at church tonight for him. I know that has to be scary and disheartening for such a young man. Keep us informed! Blessings! Betsy

We well be praying for him Sherri. Remind him Lance Armstrong had testicular cancer and look at him. He banked a few deposits before he went thru the chemo. Pherhaps you son may want to think about that.

Sherri, Blessed be your family. Thinking down the road if the worst is true there is a way he can have children. Jay can have sperm frozen for a later time, just as women have eggs frozen,but with the great creators grace and the power of modern medican and prayer,Jay will be just fine. As I sit tonight and meditate i will keep you and your family in thought. Vicki aka brightlady

Sherri, I absolutely will be thinking of you all and keeping Jay in my thoughts and prayers! I can understand the emotions that he must be feeling right now, I am sure it is tough being so young! I wish him the best and hope for some news that he is able to handle and accept! He has you to lean on, you are a great support, give him extra hugz, even if he's 24, I still plan on sneaking a hug in to my son, no matter the age LOL!!! Thinking about ya, Hugz Dawn

Sherri my thoughts are with you. I know someone that had testicular cancer and he is okay now. Just know that cancer treatment has improved so much in the last few years and there are many more successes than there used to be. My granddaughter just got a clean bill of health. She is 15 and had Hodgkins lymphoma which is cancer of the lymph nodes. She had 4 rounds of chemo, lost her hair and was sick on week one of each treatment. That did not kill all the cancer cells so she did 14 days of radiation which did not affect much except her voice was raspy and had a sore throat. but now she is cancer free!!!! Good luck to your son.

Sherri, Please knew that I too will be praying for Jay as well as you and Bill. I hope that the removal is something less serious then what it could be. Jodi

Sherri, I will keep you and Jay in my thoughts and prayers. I was a chemo nurse for a long time before Lilly. Please let me know if there is anything I can ever help with/questions I can help answer. Jay is in the right place for treatment, because it's a teaching hospital, He will get whatever is on the cutting edge by being treated there. If you ever have any questions about his treatment...ask for second opinion by Larry Einhorn. He's right there at IU and a very good guy. He's nationally known for testicular cancer treatment. Ken