Hi everyone I'm Mike Rodman.  I work at St. Mary's Medical Center in Blue Springs.  I've been there 12 years.  I also have my own dog sitting service that has been very successful.  But I have cancer and here is my story.

Around Sept. 8 I felt a lump on my right side and I was experiencing sharp pain in the right testical.  I made a Dr. appt. for Sept 13 and a CT scan was ordered.  I had the CT done on Sept. 16 and that afternoon I was told I had a mass in the testicle and lymph node on the right side.

I was told to contact a Urologist so I called a physician on staff at St. Mary's because he also took my insurance. I saw Dr. Wilson on Sept. 19 and was then scheduled to have surgery on Sept. 28 for removal and biopsy at the same time.

I had to have some other tests done to be cleared for surgery.  I had surgery and was off of work for over a week.  The results of the biopsy showed that I had Seminoma cancer and I had to see an Oncologist.

I went to Dr. John Davis and was told I have Stage 2B testicular cancer and the treatment would include a series of chemotherapy infusions one week on and two weeks off for a total of 3 times.  I also have to go in on Mondays for another drug infusion.   I am unable to work during the 21 days of chemo and drug infusions and I am also not able to watch dogs during this time.

My treatment won't be complete till the first week of January.  I don't really know if I will be able to work at all even on the  days when I'm not getting an infusion. I also don't have  any sick time or vacation time left which means I have no income during my treatment time.  My main concern is how to meet my mortage and car payments.

I'm not the type of person to ask for help, but I had several friends suggest I do this page.  I would appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts as well as any donation of any amount.  Please know that I am thankful for my friends and my motto has been throughout this diagnosis, "I can rock this".  Thank you for your help.