Chemo

@GiantSpiderGoat Said

That's sad both you and him are so young. Hopefully he gets the best result possible. My prayers go out to him.

@Dark_Tink Said

There are a multitude of possible side effects for Chemo. Not everyone's experience is the same. I'm guessing, but since he is good health/shape, the chances of your friend having the more serious side effects are low.

My mom had Breast Cancer. She was lucky in the fact that they found the tumor early and she did not need a mastectomy. Just the tumor and lymph nodes along her left side were removed.

She lost her hair. When it started, she said "Screw it!" and shaved her head. She got a wig from the wig/hair salon that assists the Cancer Treatment Centre she was with.

She lost weight. It was about 15-20lbs.

After the first month of Chemo, she had less energy and would be sick throughout the day.

She kept working for a few weeks after she started Chemo, but then had to stop once her strength/energy depleted. She's a strong, hard-working woman(and stubborn), so for her not to be able to work, that really bothered her.

In our family, we are not a sappy, lovely-dovey bunch. We were there for her for whatever she needed, but also kept the mood light and didn't dwell on her having Cancer/going through Chemo.

Once her Chemo was done, she went every 3months for check-ups for 1yr. She now goes every 6months. That will continue indefinitely.

It has been 5yrs and there has been no sign of the cancer returning.

As for lifting his spirits, that is different for everyone. The main thing I can think of, is to treat him no different then you do now. He's the same person.

A lot of the time, family/friends can treat someone with health issues with "Kid Gloves". If you don't know that expression is means 'To treat something very delicately or carefully.' You know him best as to know whether or not to do that.

@astrohamgirl Said

My friend Bronson was just diagnosed with testicular cancer and they think that the cancer may have moved to his Lymphatic system. We do know that he will need chemo either way. He will be out for 3 months at the max and he is just devastated. He finally made quarterback on his high school football team and he is going to be a senior next year. He is so afraid of giving that all up.

So what can we expect from the chemo?
How can we lift his spirits?

Thank you for reading this.

@Electric_Banana Said

There's still a chance that they can stop the cancer so don't allow him to give up hope.

What's really going to be scaring him the most is that they are, more than likely, going to have to remove part of his genitals which may or may not permanently impair him.

He, like every one else, will more than likely desire to have a nice girl to settle down with for the rest of his life and be someone for but he might be terribly afraid that the impairment might scare off any chances.

He needs to be reminded that even in the instance he is impaired that there's more to love than just sex and that he's still good enough to find somebody special to settle with despite.

This will be more of fear than the football because once he recovers he will be able to take up sports again.

@treebee Said

In my experience it is important to be quite positive around people with cancer. That doesnt mean pretend nothing is happening nor does it mean treating them differently. People often feel very tired and sick and self conscious when having chemotherapy although this is not always true, some chemo doesnt make people sick or lose hair so i cant comment at all on what your friend will have, only he and his Oncologist would know.

Often people with cancer appreciate people doing work to raise funds for hospices or cancer research or awareness.

I really would just play it by ear and see how your friend is, sometimes you wont be able to see him because he will be more likely to pick up germs but a good idea is to open a website forum for him and everyone in school to contribute to so that he can open it up any time and chat or read messages and he can respond whether he likes ideas or not.

Also a note to his family just saying you are thinking of them and if you can help at all, getting groceries, walking the dog, washing the car, running people to hospital and back then you will make time.

Small thoughts go a very long way.