Diagnosed December 30th 2005

[63bgi]

Hey y'all my name is Jose Guerrero, I'm a Specialist in the US ARMY, when in active duty about a year ago I saw a doctor for a pain in my left testicle, that made is way to my abs and back, doctor's wrote it off as a strain from training and gave me a few days rest, for the past year i have lived with the dull pain, until December 29 2005, on that day the pain was so bad I could not drive, immediately my fiancee rushed me to the hospital where after an ultrasound they found a 2 cm mass in my left testicle after my left orchiectomy on Dec. 30th, they diagnosed me with testicular cancer, 90% Embryo Carcinoma and 10% Teratoma, I am due to start chemo on January 23rd, I've been reading your forums for a few weeks now and I had some questions.

1. I have soreness and mild pain on my left upper thigh towards the joint were my leg rubs with my scrotum, the pain gets worse with walking yet i feel no pain when siting, has anyone experience this?
2. My groin as well as my left side of my pubic area is still sore and tender, is this normal? It's been more then two weeks already, doctor said after two weeks I should be back to normal.
3. What should I expect from the chemo? Tomorrow I will be seeing the surgeon to have my catheter place in.
4. They found a 4mm node in my left lung, should i be worried?

Any info would be greatly appreciated, you folks have a wonderful site on your hands and I'm very glad to have found the forum!

OOPS, i forgot to mention, my car is stick shift, and i started driving a week after the operation and thats when i started feeling this pain on my upper thigh, could it be that i'm over doing it with the driving? should i be worried about a hernia? what do i do?

[Jens]

Hi Jose.
Sorry to hear about your TC, but I'm sure you will beat this.

Your pain in the thigh should wear off in a couple of weeks, but I wouldn't worry to much about that. Your doc should check for hernia, but my guess is that you are just sore and have moved around in unusual ways since your surgery. Soreness - and numbness - accompany surgery, time will help.

A 4 mm node in the lungs is a very small node. I wonder if it's even enlarged?
As you can see from other postings, TC guys are very keen to get all available info - and then some...
I would ask what your tumor markers (AFP and HCG) were before surgery and are now (blood test) and if there are any enlarged reproperitoneal lymph nodes (CT scan).
There are more info to get, but assuming that you have metastases in the lungs, it's really not that interesting. If it's the case, you need chemo.

You are likely to get 3 series of BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide and cisPlatin) and it will kill the cancer. Embryonal carcinoma is a relatively fast growing bugger - which may sound scarry, but it really means that it's very sensitive to chemotherapy. So, in all likelihood you will be free from cancer in 9 weeks from the day you start treatment.
The most disturbing sideeffect is in general considered to be fatigue. Nausia can normally be controlled well with medication and alopecia (hair loss) is just trendy.

TC is curable.
The cure is not something to take light, but it works.
Getting through it is a mental excercise more than anything else (imho), it's (almost) all about attitude.

Stay in contact, we will get you through this!

Best wishes
Jens

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, Jose! I second what Jens said. I think what you feel in your left leg is from the orchiectomy and will fade in time, but ask your doctor for his opinion if you haven't. There's a difference between being back in your normal routine and feeling completely normal. The latter can take months after surgery.

If what showed up in your left lung is cancer, the chemotherapy will take care of it.

Hang in there! Life will get better again soon.

[dadmo]

Jose:
One of the things that makes tc so curable is that it follows a very predictable path. The symptoms you have and the test results are quite common, including the lung spot. The attached link will take you to a site that will answer most of your questions. http://tcrc.acor.org/ Anything else your interested in just write back and I'm sure someone will be able to help you with an answer.

[63bgi]

thank you guys, i appreciate the replies, my blood levels are all normal, from the test before the surgery there was no sign of any markers, and after surgery everything has stayed the same. I was told I was going to have 4 cycles of chemotherapy, each lasting 5 days with 3 weeks in between and checkups once a week. Anywho, like I said, you folks have a wonderful thing here, not only do you help by educating people you also lend a shoulder for people in this situation. Thanks again!

By the way, my doc and the family says I'm taking this extremely well and i plan to continue the same, chin held high always positive, I'm young (21) and in shape so I'm sure I will beat this and I now know I can come on here with any questions or any issues!

Thanks guys....

[Scott]

"Attitude is everything." You're definitely up to the challenge!

[huckchef]

try and stay as positive as you can. there will probably be days worst than others but always remember that soon you will be back to a "normal" life. glad to know you someone at your side to help you through this. she, as well as you will need comfort, dont hesitate to give it. my prayers are with you each and everyday. be positive and "live strong", brian.

[Fish]

Greetings Jose:

I'm glad to see you have a positive attitude, that's a big plus. I'm wondering why they are starting chemo based on a 4mm node in the lung. Did you have any enlarged nodes in your abdomen? I'm sure they want to be cautious since you had a 90% embryonal cell component in your tumor. At any rate, hang in there, you'll be a survivor, and the thoughts and prayers of lots of people are with you.

Take care,

Jim

[MikeyT]

Jose,

I was 25 when I was dignosed and a year earler i graduated from the police academy. I was in awesome shape also and that really helps... I did 4 rounds of BEP and had the RPLND because I had some tertoma.. I did not get sick from the chemo, but I was tired all the time.. The days that your not on the chemo and feel up to it, get out and try to walk a little bit.. Your not going to be able to feel up to it when your on your 5 day cycle, but you will when you are off for the 2 weeks.. This helps you recover faster when you are all done in the 12 weeks from the chemo.. Keep a postive attutide because TC is very curable and you will beat this!!!! You will lose your hair probably 3-4 weeks into it, but who cares about that, it will grow back... I took Zofran (Anti Naseau) medication when I was on the chemo and for me that really helped me out a lot.. This time next year this will be a distant memory and it will make you a better person... Talk to you soon Mike

[63bgi]

Thanks again guys, my fiace and I are greatful to have found this site. Yesterday I had the catheter put in my chest, no fun at all, local anesthisia sucks, right now I'm very sore, movement in my left arm is very limited. Anywho, I'm ready to overcome this obstacle!

Thanks y'all

Jose

[dadmo]

Jose:
Do you start your chemo on Monday? As awful as the chemo is, it will be a relief to get the battle started. Just make sure you take your anti -nausea pills.