The case in summary: Jan Dalen was diagnosed with testicular cancer with spread when he was 19 years old. He was offered a chemotherapy treatment that would make him sterile, and he chose to store his sperm in a sperm bank in Copenhagen. After the treatment, he met his wife, and they had nine children together, without the help of the sperm bank. The Cancer Association believes that Dalen’s story is an example that there is hope even if you receive a cancer diagnosis. According to the Cancer Society, there are good opportunities to become a father, even if you have to be treated for testicular cancer. Dalen has chosen to share his story to give others with testicular cancer hope. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – After the message I received, I never imagined that I would have so many wonderful children and grandchildren, says Jan Dalen. In November 1980, 19-year-old Jan Dalen is at a handball match with some friends. In the stands, he gets severe stomach pains and is unable to stand upright. He lies down in the fetal position and writhes in pain before a friend drives him to the emergency room. He thinks about what happened 43 years ago. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / NRKHe thinks about what happened 43 years ago. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news – I probably didn’t understand the seriousness of it. Jan had had a lot of pain in his back for a while and a lump that was growing. He had also had pain in his right testicle. The breasts were very hard and hurt. – I didn’t take it as seriously as it really was. I probably didn’t understand the seriousness. Symptoms of testicular cancer A palpable lump in the testicle The testicle increases or decreases in size One testicle becomes harder than the other Slight pain, tenderness and heaviness in the testicle Enlargement of the mammary glands Testicular cancer usually only occurs in one testicle. Source: Cancer Society Testicular cancer with spread The week after, Jan ended up at Radiumhospitalet. Here they determined that he had testicular cancer with full spread. Both to the lungs, liver and lymph nodes on the back abdominal wall. The right testicle was removed. At the hospital, Jan was offered a new type of treatment for the cancer. A chemotherapy regimen that caused a lot of nausea and vomiting. And he had to undergo surgery. He learned that the treatment would render him sterile. – Then I thought about the future. If maybe I didn’t have children. He accepted an offer to travel to the sperm bank in Copenhagen, Denmark, to make sure. Then the treatment started. Six chemotherapy courses. – The chemotherapy was horrible. I threw up every day. Jan, who was initially a slim man, lost 20 kilos. – Those were tough times. The year after the cancer treatment, Jan was on the hunt. photo: PrivatThe year after the cancer treatment, Jan was on the hunt. photo: Privat The lump that had grown on Jan’s back was due to the spread of the cancer to the lymph nodes on the back abdominal wall. – The lump was as big as an orange. Here is Jan Dalen at a follow-up at Radiumhospitalet.photo: PrivatHere is Jan Dalen at a follow-up at Radiumhospitalet. photo: Private Had nine children In June 1983, Jan married his wife. They had one thing in common. They were very fond of children. After the treatment Jan had been through, hope lay in the sperm bank in Copenhagen. But the wife immediately became pregnant without help from the sperm bank. – Then I was overjoyed. The couple thought: Oh, there is hope. Maybe we’ll get more. In 1984 they had a daughter. And after this, the children came on a conveyor belt every couple of years. What is the reason why you have chosen to have so many children? – The first children gave us so much, so we chose to have nine children. The oldest is today 39. Yngstemann is 20. And Jan has eight grandchildren. The picture shows Jan and Guri with their children, son-in-law and grandchildren. photo: PrivatThe picture shows Jan and Guri with their children, son-in-law and grandchildren. photo: Private – A happy thing The Cancer Society believes that the story of Jan Dalen is an example that there is hope even if you receive a cancer diagnosis. Ole Alexander Opdalshei is assistant general secretary of the Cancer Society. Photo: Bård Nafstad – It must be a happy thing for both the man and his entire family, says Ole Alexander Opdalshei in the Cancer Association. The chances of becoming a father after treatment for testicular cancer are even better today than they were over 40 years ago. But it may depend on which cancer treatment you have to receive. – Roughly speaking, you can say that the easier the treatment, the greater the probability of preserving fertility even after treatment. Opdalshei recommends that anyone who develops testicular cancer talk to their doctor. – For some, it may be relevant to give sperm to a sperm bank so that you are sure that you can become a father even after the treatment. Most people have a good quality of life Professor Sophie Dorothea Fosså (82) was Jan Dalen’s doctor at Radiumhospitalet in 1980. Professor Sophie Dorothea Fosså is associated with Radiumhospitalet. Photo: Per Marius Didriksen / Radiumhospitalet She has treated up to 2,000 Norwegian men with testicular cancer. – I used to have long conversations with such young patients as Jan to persuade them to go through this troublesome treatment. Otherwise, they would certainly have died within two years, says Fosså. She has also done a lot of research on treatment, side effects and quality of life. According to Fosså, the treatment is less demanding today: less chemotherapy and more surgery. There is better treatment of nausea and most people have a good quality of life in the years afterwards. Jan Dalen met Sophie Dorothea Fosså at Radiumhospitalet this summer. He is grateful for the help she gave him. photo: PrivatJan Dalen met Sophie Dorothea Fosså at Radiumhospitalet this summer. He is grateful for the help she gave him. photo: Private – Jan has shown me and my colleagues that the younger you are when you get testicular cancer, the greater the chance of preserving fertility. Facts about testicular cancer Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in younger men. (15-49 years) Testicular cancer can be hereditary. The prognosis for survival is very good. (98.5 per cent when the cancer is detected early, 86.5 per cent when it has spread.) Many become fathers even if they have undergone cancer treatment. Source: The Cancer Society – It’s a blessing 43 years have passed since Jan Dalen ended up at Radiumhospitalet with testicular cancer. – Life has been fantastic. I am the richest person in the world. He can hardly believe it is true that he should have so many children after the message he received as a 19-year-old. – It is a blessing. It is impossible to explain. Jan Dalen proudly shows off a family photo. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / NRKJan Dalen proudly shows off a family photo. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news Jan Dalen chooses to tell his story to give others with testicular cancer hope. – But you have to be willing to go to the doctor and make contact as soon as you notice something. Earlier this year, doctors found a spot on his kidney. After another operation and is today cancer-free again. What is your hope for the future? – It must be that I get to live a long time to be able to be with my family, says Jan Dalen and his eyes go blank. Jan Dalen believes he has a wonderful group of grandchildren and sons-in-law. – It is an enormous enrichment, quality of life. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / NRKJan Dalen believes he has a wonderful group of grandchildren and children-in-law. – It is an enormous enrichment, quality of life. photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news Hi Did you get any thoughts when you read this article? Feel free to send me an email! I have previously written, among other things: Do you have any tips for other matters I should look into? I treat all information confidentially. Please feel free to contact me!
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Jan got symptoms of testicular cancer, but did not understand the seriousness. Still had nine children. – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
