The email below shows the progression from oldest to newest information. Oldest is at the bottom.

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Everyone:

I won't know any additional details until my appointment on Tuesday (including details on my treatment).

I just got off of the phone with my surgeon's office. I have some good news. The results of my CAT scan have been analyzed and my cancer has not metastasized. He's going to go over it in detail during my appointment on Tuesday (including treatment). I won't know anything else until then.

They said I can try and go to work on Monday as long as I don't get carried away with physical exertion so I'm going to give it a shot. I'm beginning to climb the walls here at home. I'm not taking any medication and managed to drive and get movies and coffee today. It's easier to get in and out of Tracie's Jeep.

Thanks everyone and I'll see the ADM crew Monday morning. I'm sure they're getting sick of me texting and emailing them anyway. I might as well keep them from working in person.

Den

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Everyone:

I'm home from the hospital and things went well. The painkillers I'm on are making me loopy so Tracie will have to proof read this email for me. I am walking funny and it feels weird to not have two testicles but the pain pills are working wonders. Now I'm going to watch a couple of really crappy movies with Tracie.

The cancer looks like pure seminoma so I'll most likely to be treated with radiation since it's very sensitive to that course.

Here is my timeline as I know it now. This is all I know right now, no more, no less:

1. Wednesday I go in for my CAT scan.

2. The detailed pathology report will be done next week.

3. I go back to see the specialist Tuesday the 22nd.

4. My Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is normal. For more information follow this link: http://tcrc.acor.org/dictionary.html#afp

5. My Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), beta subunit (BHCG) is elevated.  For more information follow this link: http://tcrc.acor.org/dictionary.html#hcg

The consistent theme I've heard from all of the doctors is I'm as healthy as a horse with the exception of the cancer in the one testicle. That makes me a feel a little better. I'll definitely feel better once I've had my second round of blood tests and the CAT scan.

All in all I feel pretty good. I went to a BBQ with coworkers on Saturday. It was nice to see almost everyone there. I also spent some time with one of my Army buddies this weekend.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your thoughts and concern.

Mom, you don't have to forward this email to the rest of the family. I'm already sending it to everyone.

Den

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Everyone:

Nothing really has changed since my last email (see below). Due to popular demand I'm sending an update.

I had the pre-operation physical today. That included an EKG among other things. I'm as healthy as a horse. Once I taught the doctor how to man up and not be a pussy about giving information out we were fine. We went over my folder line by line and I asked questions over the stuff I didn't understand. The only issue is whether all my blood tests will be done by Monday morning. I told him they needed to be finished by then because I'm not in the mood to reschedule. I truly would have picked on this poor guy in high school. I'm trying to think of a thank-you gift for when this is all over.

Two of my friends (Charlie and Brian) came over last night and worked on the yard drainage project. I owe them big time. Thanks guys

Den

***

Everyone:

This what I know as of right now.

I finished up my tests today and will have a pre-operation physical tomorrow. My surgery will be Monday at 1:30 pm at St Lukes in Cedar Rapids. It will be a 90 minute procedure consisting of a left radioalinguinal orchiectomy with frozen section. In short, they'll remove the testicle through a slit in my abdomen and send it in for further testing. The surgery is outpatient so I'll be home that night.

I spent most of today waiting for different tests and doctors. Once my surgery is complete I will be given a full body CAT scan to determine where it's spread or even if it spread anywhere at all. Once they determine the class of cancer they will decide on the best method for treatment. We covered both radiation and chemo. I also did pre-surgery blood work today. They need a before and after sample to help make sure it's gone.

The most interesting information that I'll pass on to my male relatives (especially the younger nephews) is: only 5% of men feel any pain at all with testicular cancer. Changes in the shape of the testicles or lumps is just about the only warning sign. This shows the importance of checking yourself out. Males should be self checking from 13 on up.