LaConnie Taylor-Jones

The prevention and screening treatments for testicular cancer

There is no standard or routine screening test for the early detection of testicular cancer. Also, there are no proven ways to prevent testicular cancer. However, performing monthly TSE’s and knowing the symptoms of testicular cancer increases the possibility of detecting the disease at an early stage, when it’s most curable.

National Cancer Institute

Treatment of testicular cancer

There are several ways to treat testicular cancer once it is initially diagnosed. The most common way starts with an orchiectomy, which is the surgical procedure to remove the testicular mass. Once removed, the mass is sent to a pathologist to determine if it is indeed malignant and if so, the stage of the cancer. Other treatment options include: Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, Chemotherapy, Radiation and Surveillance.

Men may experience a wide range of emotions after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. However, do not, and I repeat, do not let these emotions interfere with understanding and receiving appropriate treatment options. In addition to speaking with a health care provider, men should join a support group to discuss their feelings with others who’ve had similar feelings.

WebMD.com

How is testicular cancer diagnosed?

If testicular cancer is suspected, a health care provider will evaluate a man’s general health, which includes a physical exam as well as laboratory and other diagnostic tests. These tests include:

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“Many men don’t realize the importance of doing a testicular self- exam each month. Just as women should be examining their breasts to look for possible signs of breast cancer, it’s important for men after they have reached puberty, to perform a testicular cancer self exam each month. Because testicular cancer has a very high cure rate and with a cure rate of almost 100% for the very early stages of this disease, it’s very important to detect and treat the cancer as early as possible. Doctors recommend that men perform a testicular self-exam while standing up, and preferably after a hot shower or bath when the muscles are most relaxed …” Dr. Melissa Stoppler, MedicineNet.com

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Soon after the leading male character in my latest release, If I Were Your Woman, meets the love of his life, he’s diagnosed with testicular cancer. Needless to say, this news prompts a series of challenges and conflicts for the couple. So during the week of March 29th, I’ve decided to take off my author hat and put on the one I’ve worn for the past twenty-five years. Over the next five days, my profession as a public health educator comes to the forefront and my blog posts will focus on testicular cancer in five key areas: (1) what is testicular cancer (2) the symptoms and detection of testicular cancer (3) how is testicular cancer diagnosed (4) the treatment of testicular cancer and (5) the prevention and screening treatments for testicular cancer.

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Tinsel Town is about to learn a few lessons from a Southern belle name Dr. Laney Olivia Houston. She has the courage to win the heart of a certain jazz man who swore no woman ever would in – If I Were Your Woman – due to be released March 4, 2010!

For months, I’ve tried to interview this petite-framed leading lady and finally succeeded. I was stuck by her warmth and honesty the moment she walked into the room. At only five feet, three inches, physician researcher with flawless butter cream skin, red hair and eyes the same shade as polished emeralds captivated my attention for over an hour. During our time together, I learned a lot about this freckled-face heroine that I believe readers would be interest to know.

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A few weeks ago, one of my readers e-mailed me. Her query was simple: how do you create the characters in your stories? That’s a simple question, right? Well for me, it’s a little more complex than simply creating a character. My goal as an author is to create characters readers will love!

Here’s the analogy I go through each and every time I sit down to develop the characters in my stories:

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My response has been and will continue to be the same. Why not?

I love romance! Plain and simple. Based on the 2006 report from Simba Information, revenue from romance fiction was estimated at 1.37 billion dollars. With the exception of religion/inspirational books, romance fiction outsold every market category with a whopping twenty-six percent. So, there are a lot of authors and readers who love my addiction to the genre, too.

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Have you ever wondered how a novel ends up on the big screen? Well, I asked myself this very question over the winter break when I took my daughter to see New Moon, the second book from the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer.

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If a Gallup Poll was conducted today and people were asked to define the term romance, an overwhelming percentage would say it’s the collection of love stories, the genre. Although the term has several meanings, there’s one other definition I’d like to put on the table—the spirit of adventure.

Aaah…the spirit of adventure! Are you ignoring the still, soft voice of your inner spirits? You know the one, the voice that begs and challenges you to escape the comfort zone you’re in and strive for higher ground. None of else, and especially authors should ever permit the walls of complacency to close in around them.

Perhaps you’re at a crossroad in life, contemplating a new path. Even though circumstances are aligning in perfect sync in order to go in that new direction, you fail to seize the opportunity. Why?

I don’t believe any industry is as daunting as the world of publishing. Every day, authors are faced with decisions ranging from penning in a different genre to changing agents or publishing houses. Instead of embracing modification, they hide behind the shield of same-old, same-old. Why?

Maybe, just maybe the ability to embrace our romance, the spirit of adventure is because we fear change.

Let’s face it people, change is the most difficult concept for human beings to accept. It’s even more difficult for writers. Whether the reluctance to engage in our romance is due to procrastination, lack of effort, or fear of the unknown, those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities just might pass us by. Then we’re left to ponder the proverbial, ‘what if’.

I’m not a ‘what if’ individual—never have been. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve delved into some romances in my lifetime that have straight up bombed! Rather than dwell on my lack of success, I focused on the lessons learned, the experience gained. There are some things in life only our romance can teach us.

What romance lies dormant inside of you?