Tim Buckland

How did you find out you were sick? What event(s) led to the diagnosis?
I found a lump, didn't seem like anything much but I went to the doctor who immediately sent me for an ultrasound. From there I was sent to a Urologist for a surgical consult and eventually diagnosed me with testicular cancer. I did a three-year surveillance program at the Cross Cancer Institute and was released in April of 2006. In November of that same year I found a lump on my remaining testicle, went through the same paces to diagnosis but in this case I was sent for a partial orchidectomy (to remove half of my testicle). Three weeks passed before the tumor returned, I had the rest of it removed and I was sent for blood work. This time I wouldn't be so lucky and learned that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. 

What year was it? What was your age at the time?
I was diagnosed the first time when I was 18 (2003) and the second time when I was 21 (2006).

At what level of education were you at diagnosis? 
I was just entering university the first time and finishing my third year the second time. I took the first semester of my final year off to go through chemotherapy.

What was your diagnosis? Testicular cancer, in both cases embroynal non-seminomas.

What were your first thoughts when diagnosed? 
The first time I was just in complete shock, the second diagnosis was more emotionally complex for me; I felt like life really wasn't fair at that point.

How did your family react?
My family was extremely supportive. It is one of the reasons why I believe I have overcome the emotional burden of my disease.

How did your friends react? Were you treated any different? Absolutely, as a teenage male it isn't easy to talk about something that has disfigured your "manhood."  My friends didn't/don't know what to say about it, and to tell you the truth I don't blame them, It took me a very long time to become comfortable talking about it.

What did your treatment consist of?
I was on four cycles of Etoposide and Cisplatin. I chose not to take Bleomycin due to the respiratory side effects. The chemotherapy treatment consisted of three days of IV infusions, then two weeks off. I was an out-patient for my whole treatment and have been followed thereafter by blood work, chest x-rays and CT scans to ensure the disease has not returned.
The first time I went through the diagnosis, the shock was the overwhelming factor. I couldn't believe that an 18-year-old could have cancer. The second time around I was more upset than in shock. How could it happen to me twice by 21 years old? The treatment itself was tough on me, I was very rarely nauseated but the effect it had on my concentration was more significant. I can remember staring at a wall for hours but not really thinking of anything. Mentally, I have just now felt that I am on par with the old me and my ability to concentrate is still a work in progress.

In which Hospital(s) were you treated? I was treated at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta.

What is your current medical status? I was just released from the Cross in May of this year and have two more years of follow-up before I am "cancer free."

How is life different for you now post diagnosis (physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually)?
I am a totally different person; I am motivated to help others that have been affected by this disease.  It is the reason why I chose to study cancer biology and why I have started reaching out in hopes of helping others more directly battle the same fight I have. Emotionally, I am more understanding of the world around me, it isn't an easy place but I have dealt with worse and am proud to be a cancer survivor. Socially I haven't changed much. The only real difference is the new relationships I made due to this disease; it's a great feeling to interact with people who have fought similar battles.

What was the toughest part of your challenge? Getting back into the swing of things, it took me a while to get past blaming everything that happens on my cancer.  It no longer controls me and it is a part of my life that has made me stronger, not brought me down.

What was the best part about having your challenge? Focus. Cancer has allowed me to get my life in order, to drive towards important goals and hopefully make a difference in others' lives.

What really motivated you to keep going while you were sick? At the time it was golf, I love to golf and I was treated during the winter, it was my goal to be ready to swing my clubs as soon as the season opened.  Really it was a reason to keep fighting and the distraction I needed to keep going.

What lessons or messages have you taken away from your experience? Cancer is a disease that if you survive and makes you a stronger person. Especially us younger survivors who have our whole lives ahead of us to grow from this experience.

What are your thoughts and feelings about your illness now?  How have they changed since before your diagnosis?
I never thought about cancer before I was diagnosed, it was the last thing on my mind. Now I sometimes worry about recurrence, about the side effects the chemotherapy has done, and the damage this disease has caused. The one thing that I always try and keep in mind is that it's not my fault, I have no control over a recurrence and there is no point in worrying about something that you have no control over.

What are some (if there are any you know of) preventative measures that people can take to lower their risk of having an experience like yours? There aren't any, as scary as that sounds. Testicular cancer is a disease without environmental triggers (as far as I know). The best medicine for a better outcome is prevention, check yourself regularly and if anything is different, go get it checked out. The embarrassment won't kill you but if it is cancer; it certainly could.

If you did not attend a support group, why? At the time there was none available, and I thought that I was emotionally fine.

Would you if one had been available?  Probably not but I probably should have.

Do you think attending one would have helped you? It is a great way to not feel alone, which as a young cancer patient I certainly felt.

If you are interested in connecting with Tim Buckland please email connect@youngadultcancer.ca.