Charles Stuart:  

hat's reasonably central. It's good to be back in the West of England because this is where most people I know are located. I have recently taken up art and, while I don't consider my skill to be anything beyond very amateur, I exhibit my work on RedBubble.com , an Australian art website that seems to me to be the best of its type in the world. I am also trying to write science fiction short stories, with an eventual aim of writing a novel. In early February 2013, I went to the doctor with some symptoms. She thought that it was back pain and prescribed physiotherapy. However, I had serious doubts, so I decided to go to the GUM clinic, who do a lot more than just VD checks. They sent me for an ultrasound of my testicles, which they did as "routine" because they suspected varicose veins and that showed a tumour. I then saw my doctor the same day and a urologist two weeks later. Four days later, this last Monday 8th April, I had a left radical orchidectomy. It'll take a bit of time for the pathology results but the blood tests are good indicating either a benign tumour or the earliest stage of cancer. Though generally an illness of young men, testicular cancer can occur into one's 50s. It's always worth checking your bits because, caught early, surgery is simple and remarkably pain-free. Of course, if it's benign, that should be the end of it. The pathology result was a first stage seminoma (germ-cell cancer). CT scans confirmed the blood tests and physical examination that there was no metastasizing of the tumour. I was given a choice of either just being closely observed for the next ten years or having a single cycle of chemotherapy to reduce the chance of recurrence. Having read about the subject, I found it easy to choose the chemotherapy route. I am healing well from the operation and I'm glad that I chose not to have a neuticle implanted. I really don't see the point of such a prosthesis. One useful outcome is that I'll get all my prescription medicines free for the next five years!