Lots of questions

[worried Mom]

Hello
I just found this site yesterday. My son was diagnosed on Dec 12th 05 with advanced TC. He has already gone through 15 rounds of radiation and next Tuesday will finish his 4th round of chemo with a final bleo ( I hope). He has suffered through a raging blood infection which kept him inthe hosp for 5 days and now has blood clots in his lungs. He has NO energy and does nothing more than get treatment and go back to bed. His tumor markers are down to normal and the MRIs and CAT scans all reflect we are beating the cancer but the affects of the treatment have knocked him to the dirt. I am afraid he is suffering from depression and am afraid we can't kick him out of it. He is my only child, is 34 years old with 5 children and we are all so scared for him. His coughing is constant and now that I have read some of the info on this site I am wondering what the Bleo has done to him. This has all happened so quickly and I am new to all of this. Luckily he was diagnosed at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State. He has lesions in his brain , lungs and abdomen. But the Drs dont tell us much. I am hoping this site will teach my the qustions to ask and alert me of what to expect. Thanks in advance for what I know I will learn from all of you...I have felt very alone through all of this!

[Scott]

I'm glad you found us. We're here to help, as much as we can.

It's obviously too late to provide any input on treatment decisions, but just so we know a little more about the situation, do you have the pathology report and any blood test results? I'm assuming it was pure seminoma, since radiation therapy was the first treatment. Based on the little I've heard so far, it seems surprising that your son didn't start chemotherapy right away. Was there more spread than initially discovered?

Please be sure to read up over at the Testicular Cancer Resource Center, too.

Ask all the questions you like!

[worried Mom]

new to this and have questions

Just found this site yesterday and am so thankful. My only child, who is 33 and the father of 5, was diagnosed Dec 12th 05 with advanced agressive TC. He has lesiona in his brain, lungs and abdomen....luckily none in his lymph nodes. His eye site is affected but we are hoping it will return to somewhat normal.We feel lucky he waa able to be treated intially at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State. He had his testical removed, 15 rounds of radiation and his 1st of 4 rounds of chemo there. He has since been back to the hosp for a raging blood infection since his white blood count dropped to .4! Three weeks ago after my constant nagging it was discovered that he has blood clots in both lungs. Next Tuesday he will finish is 4th round of chemo with his final ( I hope) bleo. He will then be scheduled for a full body scan to see where he stands. All tests so far indicate that we are beating the cancer as the lesions in his brain and lungs appear to be shrinking...his tumor markers are normal. But he has been able to nothing more than get treatment and climb back in bed. I am extremely worried that he is suffereing from deep depression. He started out strong, kept his appetite...but now has no appetite. His coughing is constant and the Drs dont seem too worried. But I am, as he still has one more bleo to go through. I am so concerned of what the treatment has done to him and that he wont snap out of this depression. I am hoping to get insite from this site as I feel so alone. I know nothing about the terms that are thrown out to us. Just reading through this site has given me much info.
But I havent seen anything about the depression.
Thanks in advance for what I know I will gain from all of you!!

[worried Mom]

thanks

I am just the Mom so I dont have acess to everything. Next week I should have more info. He did start chemo within the 1st week of diagnosis. The first week he had his testicle removed, started radiation and started his 1st round of chemo. I am hoping that aggressive treatment is what has caused him to loose ALL energy. The blood clots are a real concern as he has not been able to encrease his activety...so on top of the chemo he now is on Cumedon (?)...I am as concerned about his depression as I am the cancer!

[Scott]

Depression is a pretty normal reaction to everything he's going through, but please let him know that he is by no means alone! While testicular cancer is relatively rare, there are many thousands of survivors out here who can relate. There's no question that the cancer experience is life-altering. Some of the changes aren't great, but others can be fantastic. As a result of my cancer, I've met some truly incredible people and found a new sense of purpose.

[Scott]

The blood clots are a real concern as he has not been able to encrease his activety...so on top of the chemo he now is on Cumedon (?)...

As you probably know, Coumadin is an anticoagulant, or blood thinner. I was prescribed a low daily dose of Coumadin myself for a couple months after my surgery last summer, to help prevent blood clots.

[Scott]

At first I was surprised to see both radiation and chemotherapy together, but was the radiation therapy for the brain metastases?

[Jens]

Hi worried Mom.
I fully understand why you picked the name "worried Mom", but please know that the tumor markers returning to normal is a very good sign of the treatment beeing effective.

Perhaps you can tell your son about this site?

Best wishes
Jens

[Mom]

Hi worried Mom, after a year I am a very less worried Mom. My son had blod clots in his arms and was on a blood thinner through the three rounds of chemo. In fact, the bruising on his body was noticeable long after the treatment stopped. It is amazing that your son has five children before the TC. A low sperm count was certainly not one of the signs. The depression is normal because he probably can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but it is there, maybe a little faint, but it is there. You have had some positive tests results. If you can find out the pathology it will help us relate to his situation. Also, his oncologist should help him out with the depression. We're here for you. Dianne

[worried Mom]

At first I was surprised to see both radiation and chemotherapy together, but was the radiation therapy for the brain metastases?

Yes...once he got to the James the truth came out that he had had this for 5 years and didnt tell anyone...so the cancer has spread to his brain and his eyesight and headaches were what finally made him get treatment. His testicle was huge...the folks at the James told him he had set a record!!

[worried Mom]

Hi worried Mom.
I fully understand why you picked the name "worried Mom", but please know that the tumor markers returning to normal is a very good sign of the treatment beeing effective.

Perhaps you can tell your son about this site?

Best wishes
Jens

I certainly will. He was staying with his step Dad and I while getting his treatemnt. He has returned home to his wife and kids. I am anxiuos to see what the body scan shows and what the Drs at Ohio State determine is the next step.

[worried Mom]

Hi worried Mom, after a year I am a very less worried Mom. My son had blod clots in his arms and was on a blood thinner through the three rounds of chemo. In fact, the bruising on his body was noticeable long after the treatment stopped. It is amazing that your son has five children before the TC. A low sperm count was certainly not one of the signs. The depression is normal because he probably can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but it is there, maybe a little faint, but it is there. You have had some positive tests results. If you can find out the pathology it will help us relate to his situation. Also, his oncologist should help him out with the depression. We're here for you. Dianne

Thanks...I have felt so alone...This sight , I feel, is going to be a big help. As I find more of his blood info I will share. It sure helps to read how others have dealt with this .
I am glad your child is doing better!!

[KevinGC]

Hi Worried Mom. Depression is not all that uncommon considering all he has gone through. You said he went to James. Is he from Columbus? Are you? If I can be of any help, let me know. I live in the Columbus area (Grove City) and have gone through the testicular removal and radiation.

[worried Mom]

He is actually from Bucyrus and we are from Springfield...so Columbus is 1/2 way for us both. He travel back and forth depending on the circumstances.
Have you gone through this too. He comes to Springfield for his final "scheduled" chemo treatment of bleo. We are hoping tomorrow they will schedule the full body scan. I am also anxious to find out what shape his blodd is in. He has no energy to do anything. Simply taking a shower wears him out.
I am hoping that we will get answers after the body scan. And we are going back to Ohio State for a follow-up in April. I am afraid that the treatment is doing him in and am hoping to hear that others have had the same experience and bounced back

[dadmo]

worried Mom:
While your son is having all this work done you should consider having his testosterone levels checked. Low testosterone can exhibit itself as depression.