My TC Story by Joe Bonavita
Joe Bonavita and wife Ellensue
On Jan 30th 2002 I found a lump on the right side. I told my wife and she called our Urologist. I went to see him the next day. After a quick exam he sent me to get an ultrasound. I was sent immediately back to his office to discuss the results. He explained the findings and that it had to be removed quickly so he scheduled the operation for the next morning. I remember saying to him - "wait a minute, I'm going fishing tomorrow". Well needless to say both the doctor and my wife said "Not anymore".
I was diagnosed with Stage 1. I was very, very lucky it wasn't worse. I underwent radiation treatment 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
Normally I wouldn't have thought twice about the lump. I typically would have figured it would go away in a few days without anything. I was a person that never really went to the doctor for anything except for when I was younger for a few broken bones.
What made this different was the HBO show Sex in the City. My wife and I were watching it about a week or so prior (maybe a little longer) and the character Steve on the show was diagnosed with TC. This was the first I ever heard about it. Because of this, it led me to tell my wife about it immediately instead of play a wait a see game.
In a way I owe a big "Thank you" to Sex in the City for bringing awareness to a cancer which I had never heard of.
I will forever be thankful for my wife Ellensue Bonavita for taking such good care of me and being right on top of everything.