Hoping to make the right decision!

[sjsamgolf]

Just diagnosed. 2/1/06. Had right testicle removed 2/3/06. Pathology report 50% immature teratoma, 50% yolk sac, less than 1% embroynal carcinoma. Cat scan was clean. Blood markers AFP 350 before surgery coming down to 82 as of 2/17. Other markers are normal. Sent pathololy report to IU for second opinion. Both my urologist and oncologist suggest I go on surveillance. I will have no problems sticking to my appts. as I tend to take my health serious. Chemo and rplnd scare me. There was no evidence of vascular or lymphatic invasion. Any thoughts from anyone on how to proceed? I was going to do 2 rounds of BEP, but doctors said there is a good chance it is not necessary. Thoughts or comments to anyone in similar situation would be great.

[matthias]

I am a big proponent of surveillance, if in any way feasible.

Chemo and RPLND will always be available if and then needed. Neither of these are without, potentially, serious side effects. For some people, surveillance is an unbearable mind game.

Ultimately the choice is yours.

[wolken]

stick with surveillance ..my doc told me after RPLND that i have 70 % chance to be cancer free but also to consider 2 rounds of chemo ...at first i said yes to chemo but during my sperm banking period i read so much about chemo and how dangerous it could be , i decided to take my chance and stay o surveillance. it has been a year so far and i'm cancer free . Of course there is always that thought that it could come back but i think i would have that thought even ater chemo ..
make ur apps and you will be fine ...

[sjsamgolf]

Thanks!!

Thanks for the replys. I would love to hear more. Any difference on how the different types of cells spread?

[Scott]

You're a good case for surveillance. There's a good chance you're already cured, and if you do have a recurrence later, chemotherapy (and possibly RPLND for teratoma) will cure you then.