Testicular Cancer – My Story (Originally written in November of 2000)
Fred Furia <fred@phillyzone.com>
(stage II, non-seminoma)

My name is Fred Furia. Late in August of 1999, I learned that I had testicular cancer, and my life was suddenly turned upside-down. I was 28 years old at the time.

This web site, originally authored in November of 2000, tells my story.


Contents:

Full Story
Brief Chronology
Photographs
Selected Emails



The Full Story:

You can click to read my full story. Be warned, this is a long one!!!


Brief Chronology (1999/2000):

Sat Aug 28, 1999 -- I was diagnosed with testicular cancer, at Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX
Wed Sep 01, 1999 -- radical orchiectamy (remove testical)
Wed Sep 29, 1999 -- retroperitonial lymph node dissection (remove any infected lymph nodes from the abdomen -- a favorite landing spot for cancer)
Mon Oct 18, 1999 -- Begin chemotherapy, first cycle
Sat Oct 23, 1999 -- Discharged from hospital. Readmitted for extreme nausea.
Tue Oct 26, 1999 -- Discharged from hospital.
Sat Nov 06, 1999 -- Emergency surgery to fix bowel obstruction, probably caused by Sep 29 surgery
Wed Nov 16, 1999 -- Begin chemotherapy, second (and last) cycle
Mon Nov 22, 1999 -- Discharged from hospital. Readmitted for extreme nausea after 20 hours.
Mon Nov 29, 1999 -- Discharged from hospital
Wed Dec 01, 1999 -- Last dose of chemotherapy (bleomycin)
Mon Dec 14, 1999 -- Returned to work
Sat Jan 17, 2000 -- Returned to Gators hockey

New Developments!!! (added 1/02):
October, 2001 -- Expecting a BABY!?! (Doctors had told us we couldn't!!!)
Mon Dec 24, 2001 -- Engaged in Houston, Christmas Eve (photo)
Wed Jul 3, 2002 -- Had our baby boy, 8' 8'' / 3.9 Kg (photos at 3 weeks, 11 weeks, 3 months)


Photographs:

 9/28/99 - Just about recovered from the orchiectomy, and just before the lymph node dissection
9/29/99 - My wound, the day after surgery (yuck!)
10/31/99 - Me with a beard?
10/31/99 - My healing wound (from the lymph node dissection)
11/3/99 - Pulling out my hair
11/7/99 - Hospitalized

January 2000 - Feeling much better, but still bald as an egg!
10/22/00 - Vacationing in the Denver area!



Selected Emails from along the way:

08/30/99 Sharks
09/01/99 Gators1
09/02/99 Family1
09/02/99 Workfriend1
09/23/99 Gang1
09/27/99 Gang2
10/05/99 Gang3
10/05/99 Workfriend1
10/07/99 Coworker1
11/16/99 Workfriend2
11/17/99 Gang4
11/19/99 Gang5
11/20/99 Aunt1
11/22/99 Aunt2
11/22/99 Gang6
11/26/99 Penpal1
11/26/99 HSFriend1
11/26/99 Gang7
11/26/99 Workfriend3
11/27/99 GSFriend1
11/29/99 Gang8
11/29/99 Gang9
11/30/99 HSFriend2
12/02/99 Coworker3
12/14/99 Gang10


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