Brendon made an appointment to have a painless bump on his left testicle assessed by his primary care physician in July 2024. His doctor referred him to Tufts Medical Center, where he promptly received blood work and ultrasounds that confirmed Brendon had 3 masses consistent with germ cell cancer.
“Early detection saved my life. I'll be forever grateful for the quick action of the medical professionals at Tufts Medical Center.”
Brendon Duffy
Ten days later, Brendon underwent surgery, an urgent radical inguinal orchiectomy, to diagnose the type of testicular cancer and determine a treatment plan. As a result, he was diagnosed with Stage 1 Seminoma Testicular Cancer. His care team developed a plan for Brendon to have the masses surgically removed.
“Because of the staging, I would not need to undergo a PET scan, chemotherapy or radiation,” said Brendon. “Surgery was enough to remove this awful disease from my body. I will continue to follow up with blood work and ultrasounds every 6 months for a couple years, but I know how fortunate I am to not have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation like so many others on their cancer journey.”
Brendon’s experience highlights the importance of early detection and treatment.
Tony Luongo MD, FRCSC, FACS
“Testicular cancer is one of the most curable solid tumors in men, particularly if it is found at an earlier stage,” said Dr. Luongo. “That is why early detection via self-examination is so important. If you think that it ‘just doesn’t feel right,’ see your doctor to evaluate it further.”
This will be Brendon’s 3rd marathon after running the Baystate Marathon in Lowell in 2022 and the REVEL White Mountains Marathon in Conway, New Hampshire in 2024. He’ll be in good company. Dr. Luongo, will also run the Boston Marathon this year for the 10th year in a row.
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