Need suggestion, just got diag. and had the left one removed

[CanMan]

Hey guys,

About 5 weeks ago I felt a small but hard "lump" on the bottom of my left teste. It didnt' hurt, I just cought it during a routine "self check" for me.

When I got home from field work, I went to the doc and asked to be checked out, thinking it could be TC from all the reading I did.

He sent me for an ultrasound and bloodwork. I managed to get into an ultrasound within a few days, and then to the specialist the next day.

Specialist said it was a hard mass in the left teste and was most likely tumor/cancer and I needed to have it removed. He said it was just under 1/2" big and was prob. a few months old. He also said that my right teste felt good and a healty size and that the ultrasound showed no issues.
He schedueld me in the next day and I had the operation. That was about 72h ago.

I am at home recovering. In the hospital I had a blood test prior to the Orchiectomy. A few hours after the operation I had a CT scan.

Just before I went home (few hours after the scan) the doctor told me the CT scan looked good to him(still had to be checked by a radiologist), and said my blood work came in normal. He sent the teste/w mass for a patology exam which I have not heard about yet. He said the "normal" blood test might mean a more difficult to catch reoccurance of the cancer/tumor if it ever decides to come again. Does this make sence?

Needless to say I'm worried about this and it has been a turbulent week. I have had so many plans for the next few years (I am 27 now) and am not sure how to proceede with life now. I did not get any information on the possible treatment yet, and am not sure what "normal" bloodwork and normal CT scan mean. I assume and hope something good.

I have no problems going to the bathroom, and I have minor swelling on my penis (noticed it just today) and minor discomfor to touch where my left teste used to be, but otherwise am having minor pains from the cut and am on no pain medication.

I am not sure how long this recovery will take (pain from the operation) and how long I wont be able to work. My work is phisical one day, then pretty slack for the next few. I can't afford not to work for ever, but I am worried about my health first of course.

I am also worried about loosing my right teste or the cancer spreading somewhere else.

Any help/suggestion to my questions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the bad wording/too much writting, but I'm just trying to vent some of my worry.

Thanks a lot.

[huckchef]

welcome to the forum!! the good news is that your scans are clear as well as your bloodwork. The pathology will definitively show the make-up of the tumor and what is the next step, if there is any. if the tumor is seminoma then you maybe already in surveillance now. since some seminoma cases can be treated by the orchiectomy alone. what were your lab results before the orchiectomy? if it's a non- seminoma case than other options of treatment will be presented. as far as the recovery from surgery, it will take a few weeks before any strenous activity can be done. this is so you don't pull anything loose from the surgery. you should be able to move around pretty good after a few days but it could take longer. general swelling is normal and tenderness around the incisions. you will know more when the pathology comes back for sure. keep us posted! in any case your chance of cure are really good. stay positive!!
my thoughts and prayers,
brian

[Scott]

Welcome, CanMan. There's a lot of reading here and at the Testicular Cancer Resource Center that should help. The first thing you'll need is your pathology report, as huckchef explained, but it's very good news that you caught it early.

Testicular cancer doesn't spread from one testicle to the other, and your odds of having a new cancer in second testicle are only about 3-4%. That's higher than the general population's odds, but still low.

Recover well and keep us posted.

[CanMan]

Thanks guys.

I haven't had any tests done prior to the orchiectomy. If its a non senouma, what kind of steps will need to be taken. Just hate the waiting game....

[huckchef]

there are others who can go into more detail than i about the non-seminoma side of this. it could mean just surveillance(if caught early enough), it could mean retro-peritineal lymph node disection(RPLND), chemo and sometimes both. it will all depend on the make-up of the tumor. some spread and react to treatment in different ways than others which call for different outcomes.

[Sans rt1]

CanMan - -

It sounds like you caught it early. Rest and heal up, try not to overdo too soon. I wish you luck on your pathology report, if it is seminoma you may be cured. Mine was larger with vascular and lymphatic invasion but CT and bloodwork were clear - I considered surveilance, but chose to do radiation because I felt I would not handle the waiting well - and I had read that a small percentage don't generate blood markers. You will have to make these kind of decisions, and finding this forum early (I wish I had) will make it easier. Some advice though, once you make a decision don't look back because you can drive yourself crazy second guessing or worrying. Focus on the positive - you will be cured!

Anyway, I read with great interest your doctor's comment that the "normal" blood test might mean a more difficult to catch reoccurance of the cancer/tumor if it ever decides to come again. Because of what I had read, this has been a concern of mine and something I intend to discuss with my oncologist and urologist when I have my first follow-up in few weeks. I would also be interested if anyone has any knowledge on this topic.

Good luck to you.

[CanMan]

I'll keep you updated on what happend. If the CT/bloodwork were clear, how did you know you have vascular and lymphatic invasion? I think when they did my ultrasound they might have looked at that, 'cause they looked at my abdomen (after finding the mass on the left teste) and looked at my bloodlines all the way upto my heart, but don't think they saw anything.

Thanks,

Igor.

[Fish]

CanMan;

The presence or absence of vascular and lymphatic invasion should be noted on your pathology report, from the examination of the tumor/testicle that was removed. Make sure you ask for a copy so you can refer to it if needed.

Regarding tumor markers (AFP and HCG): I had non-seminoma in 1988 and pure seminoma in 2003. I never had any positive tests for tumor markers. I think with non-seminoma most guys have either AFP or HCG elevated. For pure seminoma AFP is never elevated, and HCG is elevated in less than 20% of patients. Here are some good links on markers:

http://www.tcrc.acor.org/marker_links.html

Best wishes, let us know when you get the pathology report.

BTW I will be in Calgary in August for the IAFP meeting at the Telus Center, looking forward to seeing some great sites.

Jim

[CanMan]

Thanks for your reply.

The Doc told me to call him on the 17th if I hear nothing from him on the Patology report. I guess it all hangs with that now. Wish I knew the answers sooner, but what can you do.

Thanks everyone.

[IowaBrian]

Try not to worry Ice the area to keep the swelling down as that can cause problems and you will be fine. Sounds like early stage if all the test are clear which is the best news for this.
Good Luck
Brian

[CanMan]

Thanks for your support and everyone elses. I'm trying not to worry, but that's easier said then done. The way I see it is hopefully its just stage1 and I need survailance, but even if I need other things, as long as they can fix it, that's all that matters in the long run.

Thanks.

[burgdob]

CanMan,

My experience sounds like yours. Not elevated tumor markers, CT and x-ray were clear. Mine was a seminoma and confined to the tesicle. I chose to have radiation. It was a low dose and one 3wks worth. (every weekday). Let us know how it goes.

[CanMan]

CanMan,

My experience sounds like yours. Not elevated tumor markers, CT and x-ray were clear. Mine was a seminoma and confined to the tesicle. I chose to have radiation. It was a low dose and one 3wks worth. (every weekday). Let us know how it goes.

Will do, still no resluts from the doctor. What "choice" did they give you?

Thanks.

[burgdob]

They really didn't give me a choice. My reading told me I could choose survellance or radiation. I had my mind up that I would get radiation. My Doctor sent me in that direction and I planned on taking it, so it never came up "What if I don't want radiation."

BTW just had my first follow up Ct (4 months) and all was good.

[CanMan]

Well just got my results in, said was pure senoma, small in size, and confined to the testicle. Said a follow up clinic will contact me for treatment, and if anything might be a bit of radiation and/or survailance. I guess that is good news considering.

Thanks for your help guys, and hope this thing stays away now!