Original Post by Felix Garcia Tirado
Date: December 26, 2017
Context:
On December 26, 2017, I felt a pain in my groin that led me to investigate the source of the discomfort. After a self-examination, I found a small mass in my testicle, something similar to a subcutaneous nodule, but painful and unusual. Realizing the seriousness, I decided to go to the doctor for examinations.
Initial Diagnosis:
In the emergency room, they did a sonogram that detected the mass. When the results were ready, I visited my primary care physician to discuss the findings. He informed me that I had an irregular mass in my testicle and that I needed to see a urology specialist.
Seeking Medical Attention:
At that moment, I thought of my friend, who is a pulmonologist living in the capital. I asked her for help in finding a surgeon, as I had a tumor and needed urgent intervention. My primary care doctor suggested a path that would involve months of waiting for medical appointments and tests, but my friend resolved everything in 24 hours.
Surgical Intervention:
She got me an appointment with a specialist at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in Río Piedras. In the blink of an eye, I was already recovering from the surgery. The speed at which events unfolded was crucial for my treatment and recovery.
Biopsy Results:
A few months later, the biopsy results came back. I had three types of cancer in different amounts, some more treatable than others. The most aggressive ones were in smaller quantities, while the larger quantities were less aggressive. But, in the end, it was cancer. That’s what I heard and what confirmed my already strong hypothesis that I had cancer since they read me the sonogram results in December.
Personal Reflection:
In my book Cancer In My Journey, I provide more details, but to give you an idea, my reaction was one of acceptance of my new reality. There was nothing I could do to change it, and my time was too valuable to spend on anything that didn’t bring me happiness. I never cried over my condition or denied my reality. If I remember correctly, only once did the thought of "why me?" cross my mind, and my almost instant response was: because people who are alive go through things like this, and it’s normal. Others have to live through different experiences, but on my path was the illness of cancer.
I had to walk that path, and what better way to do it than with the best attitude in the world, taking advantage of every minute as if it were the last. It’s the only thing we can really do. With or without cancer, eventually, we will all transition to another form; this moment will not repeat itself. This is the moment to enjoy the journey. Tomorrow, we’ll see.
Conclusion:
This experience taught me the importance of having a support network and being proactive in seeking medical attention. If it hadn’t been for my friend’s intervention and the decision to act quickly, my story could have been very different. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial in the fight against cancer.