Meet Adam Frey: How I got here, part I

 
Two days later I had a biopsy, which basically was a sampling of the largest tumor, now estimated at twelve pounds, which set up base between my kidneys.  To do this, they stuck a ten inch needle through my back and then stuck a smaller needle inside that one into the tumor to get a sampling of what it was.  It was deemed cancerous within five minutes. It was March 28, 2008 and I was diagnosed with cancer.
 
My parents rode up as soon as they found out about the tumors, and I was out of school and back home the day of the biopsy.  Within a week I had an appointment at the Hillman Center in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, and they told me what it was.  I had germ cell testicular cancer that had started between my kidneys and spread to my liver and lung. It is a very rare form of cancer that does not form in the testicles, but rather from where they formed during the embryo stage.  A few of those cells don't drop down to their current location and they became cancerous.
 
A few days later I was told just how serious this entire thing was.  I met my current doctor, Doctor Appleman, and found out that my cancer was a rapid growth strand and was already in stage III.  Testicular cancer goes from stage zero to three.  I was in the most advanced stage and given a 60% chance of survival.  The side effects of treatment were dismal.  Castration, hair loss, sterilization, surgeries, possible stem cell transplants, possible bone marrow transplants, nausea, achiness, loss of appetite, and fatigue were now what I had to look forward to.
 
This is where I am going to stop this week.  I feel I should tell you all why I decided to share this experience with you and write for a site advocating something I never did.  It is because I know how I felt sitting there being told what my odds were, and I looked at my mother and seen her face.  The first question I was asked with my cancer was do you smoke? It was followed by do you chew tobacco?  Nothing I have done in my life could prepare me for the feeling I felt when I was told that news.  I sincerely do not want anyone else to have to feel that same emotion.  That is why I am here to help all of you.  I will continue next week with the rest of my story, and if you feel up to it I also have a daily blog at www.adamfrey.us that has tracked my progress since my diagnosis.
 
Take Care and God Bless,
Adam Frey