Worried about complicated problem...

[Already Bald]

if necessary, start over.

You have a tough/weird situation going on with this doctors office, but I think your solution is clear. Just to go another urologist, specifically one that specializes on TC, and start over. Then ask your new doctor to get your records. A phone call from say a Dr. Einhorn or Sheinfeld will get them moving, that I'm sure of.

The US report is really the critical document, can you get that from the imaging center?

[TCLEFT]

Please, listen to this group. Get a second opinion now. I was initially mis-diagnosed. I had no tumor markers. The Seminoma I had was allowed to grow 3 months while the original idiot I saw would just throw me cipro. Please, GET OUT OF DODGE.

[Fed]

Seriously, you need to be persistent. Do whatever it takes to get the records, and like I said before, if necessary, start over. Hopefully it won't come to that, and they'll fork out the data. Just don't let the time pass by... keep at it so your husband gets the treatment if he needs it.

[Karen]

Your husband is in the age range where the seminoma is the more common tumor type. The vast majority of seminomas are negative for tumor markers.

Your doc seems to be on some kind of power trip. Your husband is entitled to his records. Please get them ASAP and go to another urologist. Again, I would keep records of calls made and things said. If the word tumor is written on a report, even with a "?' by it, the doc is being grossly negligant in not following up

[Scott]

I agree with patients advocating for themselves and their families. For what it's worth, I believe in polite (but direct) persistence over angry confrontation. It's clearly also important to have confidence in your doctors!

[dadmo]

HW:
Not all types of testicular cancer cause tumor markers to rise. The big thing that needs to be investigated is the mass. The tech/doctor should be able to tell if it's solid or not. If it's solid the testicle should be removed for examination. A cyst or infection will show up as a fluid filled mass.

[His Wife]

So, the most recent update doesn't offer much more than we already knew. My husband had placed multiple daily phone calls to the Drs office and finally got a call back from one of the nurses (I think...) that works there (it wasn't the doctor...). He expressed his concerns, and asked for an explanation of his lab work, and was told that the "borderline" test the Dr has mentioned was simply his urinalysis which demonstrated some blood and protein/semen in his urine. She said all of his tumor markers were negative, that the PSA was within acceptable limits, and told him he "shouldn't worry" because of that. She explained the regimen of antibiotics as the doctor wanting to rule out/treat any infection. When he asked about the tumor(s), she read him off the record that the dr had written he had a cystic mass, and had written and circled the word tumor(?) next to it. She said she would discuss what that meant with the dr and either she or he would call back to explain it. She also indicated it would take two weeks for copies of the record and US film to be available for him to pick up. My husband indicated to her (as he has with every other phone call) that he was NOT feeling any better, that nothing was improving, and she said she would discuss that with the dr. too. She called back two hours later, and her only advice was that he could take some advil for the discomfort and the Dr would see him again on his scheduled 10/23 appt. They had a brief discussion of when my husband could pick up his records, and she said he could pick up a copy of just the lab work tomorrow. No mention of the tumor at all, and my husband again didn't press the point. He says he got distracted by the conversation about the records (my husband also as ADD, I might mention...)
I seriously want to scream right now, I'm so frustrated with this entire situation. While I suppose negative tumor markers are a GOOD thing, I wouldn't consider that a CONCLUSIVE thing, and I want to know what this chuckle-head thinks is in my husband's testicle (or maybe at this point, I do not care what this chuckle-head thinks). There is another urology clinic not to far from here, and I am whole-heartedly encouraging him to seek a second opinion there (read that as nag, nag, nag).
Any thoughts on a cystic mass with negative tumor markers? I am assuming that if he had a discernable malignant testicular mass of 9-10 month duration, he would in all likelihood have elevated tumor markers, though I recognize there is a certain margin of error. So, I guess I am wondering about other causes - I strongly suspect that there is a correlation between his hernia and this problem given that the original problem began with the hernia... If the lab work ever gets here, I'll post more specific results.
Thoughts would be appreciated.

[Mom]

I really didn't mean to come on so strong but my guy is one tough nut (no pun intended). His urologist moved out of the state and another doctor bought out his practice. I noticed that my husband stopped his follow up visits (this time for bladder cancer) and I just kept nagging him. Finally he said that he couldn't stand this new doctor and wasn't going to go to him anymore. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! Well, one of my business associates (and believe me I had to feel comfortable about this) had some prostate problems so I asked if he liked his urologist. He recommended him highly. I called him up, made the appointment and told my husband. He blew up but he ended up going. Thank God because he has had a reoccurrence of bladder cancer two times and this urologist treated our son when he came down with TC. All doctors are not the same and this outfit that is treating your husband scares the sh!t out of me. Where are you located? Maybe someone from the forum could direct you to a good practice.

[TCLEFT]

Go get 'em girl!!!! When I get treated like that I always make sure the person on the other end knows I'm writing down their name, the data and time, and what they said. I'm riled up just reading this!!!!

Purely speaking for myself, I don't know if I act childish simply because growing up is so completely over rated or that it's just so impressive to watch the ladies protect their own. Karen said it. You go girl!

[Karen]

Go get 'em girl!!!! When I get treated like that I always make sure the person on the other end knows I'm writing down their name, the data and time, and what they said. I'm riled up just reading this!!!!

[His Wife]

Please, please move on this quickly. Hopefully, it isn't TC, but you are one smart lady to follow your gut instinct. What would you do if it was your son? If he acts like a child, then treat him like a child and take him to the doctor yourself.

Yeah, well he does want to act like a child sometimes.... <g> Unbelievably, despite leaving a message last Tuesday and again on Friday demanding a return call and telling the service he wanted a copy of his records, and despite calling again yesterday afternoon and letting the reception staff know he was coming for his records (reply "Oh? Are you planning on seeing someone else?" - damn STRAIGHT lady) and that he was extremely unhappy to still be waiting for a call from the doctor (response he was greeted with on the phone was "the doctor still hasn't called you? Well, you ARE on the list", he IS going to call you") the doctor still hasn't bothered returning our phone call. So we have now been waiting over a week for a call back from this loser. I don't know if you can file a complaint over this sort of thing, but I'd really like to. I am definitely planning on writing him a letter letting him know what I think of his practice. Its frustrating too because my husband is pretty mild-mannered and would be unlikely to unload on these people to let them know what he really thinks. I, OTOH, would have no problem doing that, but since *I* am not the patient, I know I can't expect any information to be forthcoming through any route but my husband.
So, hopefully, my other half gets his records in hand today. The ditz on the phone said they would be ready today, and God help them if they aren't...

Thanks for the advice...

[Karen]

Mom knows best! We have lots of women here dragging their men-folk to the doc and appointments. They may gripe, but at least they're still around to gripe!

[Mom]

Please, please move on this quickly. Hopefully, it isn't TC, but you are one smart lady to follow your gut instinct. What would you do if it was your son? If he acts like a child, then treat him like a child and take him to the doctor yourself.

[Karen]

Welcome. I'd get copies of ALL the records from these clowns, get copies of his lab reports and CT and get to another doc immediately. Please do not back off on this. If you can post the blood markers, CT and US reports we may be able to give some more guidance.

[Margaret]

You already have some of our BEST giving you advice, TCleft and FED, but from a wife to a wife...please urge your hubby to go to someone new and start over.

The one thing to remember about TC is that it is rare in the world of cancer. To give you your bearings, 330,000 new case of prostate cancer per year compared to 8,000 new cases of TC. So some doctors go an entire career and never see a case of it. Some could be looking right at it and not know it is TC. Or your husband may not have TC and could be having trouble with his prostate, all that matters now is getting him the help he needs and FIRM understanding of what the issue is.

You are being a great wife and looking out for him. Please let us know how it turns out.