Any help would be very much appreciated...

[Jiddy78]

Hey guys & gals,

I just found out on Wednesday past that I may have testicular cancer (ultrasound in the emergency room)....Had a Catscan performed as well as a chest x-ray and blood tests..

The catscan and chest x-ray both came back negative....BUT...The blood tests showed my alphafetoprotein at 80.3 and chorionic gonadotropin level at 69...

I'm off to the mayo clinic tomorrow morning...but any help deciphering these two (as I've been concerned about it, obviously) would help...

Has anyone had levels this high? Is this significantly high for those with cancer?

My research online would suggest that this means some type of nonseminoma....

Thanks for any and all input.

[Scott]

Non-seminoma for sure, but those markers aren't too high. Good risk is AFP <1,000 ng/mL, hCG <5,000 mIU/mL, and LDH <1.5 x ULN. See this link.

[Jiddy78]

Thanks for the quick response Scott.

That table information calms me very much....and gives me great hope....

I'm off to dig into more nonseminoma types and probabilities/treatments of each type and the like...All the best to everyone.

[Scott]

By the way -- welcome to the forums! It sounds as though you're still waiting for your orchiectomy? When is that scheduled? The sooner the better!

[Jiddy78]

By the way -- welcome to the forums! It sounds as though you're still waiting for your orchiectomy? When is that scheduled? The sooner the better!

Thanks again Scott....My finding of this forum was, as human nature seems to drive one, because of my condition...

My orchiectomy is scheduled for Tuesday morning....I had the ultrasound on Wednesday night (trip to ER cuz I was nervous at "hardness" in right testicle)....By Thursday morning I had contacted a urologist (after trying 6 others) who took me immediately...Had my CT, blood tests and chest x-ray that day immediately...

I was kinda scared that the operation was put off 'til tuesday...but the doctor reassured me...What is nice about that is that I will be sperm banking in the morning AND visiting the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for a "second opionion lookie loo" before Tuesday...In the meantime, my urologist's secretary has my lady on her heels to try and get the surgery bumped up to monday (which is ok with the doc, but scheduling with the hospital seems to be somewhat tricky with the holiday and all)....Just want peace of mind for where I need to be going forward...

...and that pathology is what will bring it....

I don't know too much about this...but I've been reading ferverishly...It seems that radiation therapy is out...leaving "watchful waiting" "chemotherapy" and "RPLND" as my possibilities...as well as a benign tumor...

Thankfully, it appears that the numbers (as your table have shown) work in my favor....

It's been tough relating this to family and friends...and I've taken it upon myself to be very strong when I do so...I've only broken down in front of my fiancee thus far....and that was more because she was breaking down and I was in suffering seeing her in pain...

Nonetheless...I'm gonna lick this thing...Based on my readings, it seems that the fact that AFP is present at my level seems to rule out the choriocarcinoma, but I'm not going to qualify that until I talk to the doctor...but for sure that is a relief...

Hanging in there in the meantime. I'll post what comes back from Mayo tomorrow....Hopefully my case will teach them even more for those that come after me as mine will be by those who came before...

[Scott]

With elevated AFP and hCG, we can rule out a benign growth, but you're reading all the right stuff.

You're in good company here. You may also want to join the TC-NET mailing list.

Hang in there -- you'll come through fine.

[huckchef]

wishing you all the best.
my thoughts and prayers,
Brian

[Chris'Mom]

Welcome, my sons AFP was 84 pre orchiectomy and they told us that put him in the good cure category....he did need chemo as numbers would not god down and he had enlarged lymph nodes.... and also RPLND for teratoma....keep us posted and remember you are not alone...Mary Ellen

[rupert]

I was diagnosed and operated on 3 months ago.

The most important thing is to continue to be positive and remember this is the best cancer to get since it has a high cure rate.

The operation was very straight forward and it took about 2/3 weeks before I was able to drive without discomfort.

The biggest problem is the waiting for the results and the mind games that might occur. Don't let them ! There are lots of great people on this forum who you can speak to and help you.

[Jiddy78]

Hey ladies and gents...Ok...So the Mayo took me in for the orchiectomy YESTERDAY (woohoo) and I am now officially past the first big step....My test results should be available by Wednesday at the latest and I will be sure to post the findings here. (The doctor actually based on the initial prognosis mentioned both embryonal and, surprisingly, yolk sac...but until we know...We don't know.)

Thanks for the good wishes.

[dadmo]

Jiddy78:
Yes plaese keep us posted on the findings from the orch. Good luck with your treatment.

[Don]

Hoping you get some good news and that your feeling better!!!!!!!!

[Jiddy78]

Welcome, my sons AFP was 84 pre orchiectomy and they told us that put him in the good cure category....he did need chemo as numbers would not god down and he had enlarged lymph nodes.... and also RPLND for teratoma....keep us posted and remember you are not alone...Mary Ellen

Thanks for the post....Just wondering, did the original CT scans, pre-orchiectomy show enlarged lymph nodes??? Just wondering as mine did not, and of course, I'm fishing for good possibilities...

All the best for you and your son...Thanks again.

[Jiddy78]

Update:

The pathology report came in:

75% benign teratoma

25% embryonal

5% yolk

It was confined to the testicle as the cord came up clear....I cried a bit on the phone there...Still a ways to go with blood tests in a few weeks...but still....

Thanks for listening.

[MROSE]

I'm glad you had the orchiectomy - you are on your way to dealing with the TC. I can assure you that you will become well-versed in everything. When there is a chance to learn something about TC, embrace it. This forum will certainly help. I am a co-survivor, my boyfriend is 23 and had a very similar experience as you. He tried survaillence but wound up starting chemo about 3 months after the orchiectomy. He moved on to the RPLND Wednesday (when you were probably in the ER!) and is doing GREAT at this point. The toughest part is the wait between the pathology and testing, but you'll make it out just fine. Just know there are so many great things available for TC patients, and wether the road is long or short from here on out, you will come out of this a stronger person

GOOD LUCK! Keep us posted.
Melissa