Just diagnosed with germ cell

[saswa]

After discovering a lump on the 26th of July in my left testicle I looked up info on TC, at the time no pain. Waited over the weekend and on the 31st the testicle bcame swollen and painful. Saw a urologist on Aug. 3rd and he scheduled a possible radical orchiectomy on the 7th, which was yesterday. Cancer was present, Embryonal Carcinoma (I believe Germ Cell).

Today I am to schedule an appt. with a radiologist and oncologist for C/T scan and treatment.

Anyone have any info on Chemo Portocols involved (apparently this form is radiation resistant). Pain from the surgery has been minimal and have been walking since about two hours after the surgery.


thanks,

Steve

[Dave40306]

Steve,

It sounds like you're in good hands and everything is progressing as it should.

Just FYI- all TC is classified as a "germ cell" tumor and there are two major types - seminoma and non-seminoma. Embryonal Carcinoma is a form of non-seminoma and this type of germ cell tumor is radiation resistant as you've already found.

There are basically two, standard chemo protocols for non-seminoma. One is called 3xBEP and the other is 4xEP. The number denotes how many three-week "cycles" are in the total regimen and the letters stand for the different chemo drugs that are included in the treatment. In certain cases and depending on when the chemo is administered (pre or post RPLND surgery), the number of cycles can vary.

I'm about to finish 4xEP on August 11th and it definitely was one of the toughest 12 weeks of my life but I certainly came through it pretty well and it did the job.

The next step for you is to have your cancer staged which will be done with a combination of some simple blood tests, your pathology report from your I/O surgery and the CT scans. From there, your doctors will determine if you even need chemo or any more surgery.

Good luck and keep us all posted on your progess.

Dave

[IowaBrian]

WELCOME
Sorry you had to join the club. Many time surgery is all that is needed to cure TC so after your CT scan and blood test the docs will have the info they need to give you your options.
Let us know how those test come out and if you have any more questions let us know.
Brian

[dadmo]

Steve:
Check out this web page for information on staging and treatment. As others have said you may already be cured by having the tumor removed, let's hope so. If not you will be getting some chemo and the routine is fairly standard it will be 3xBEP or 4xEP. Let's not get too far ahead of what we know. When you get the results of your lab work post it here and we may be able to help you make some informed decisions.

[saswa]

Thanks

Thank you for the responses. I am still waiting to hear for confirmation of appts. for CT Scan etc. Will keep everyone posted.

Steve

[Ras Joe]

If it is embryonal carcinoma, and it hasn't spread, maybe ask about some precautionary chemo. It could cut your time in treatment by as much as three weeks. I was put on surveillance and had a relapse (5yrs ago) that could have been avoided by giving me a short blast (2 cycles) of chemo right away-- as they did for a friend of mine. Instead, I had to do more. No need to get too far ahead of yourself, but I wish someone would have even let me know about the precautionary chemo during my first battle with TC, I could have avoided a stage III nightmare. God Bless, you will be in my prayers.

[stevenh77]

Pain from the surgery has been minimal and have been walking since about two hours after the surgery.

Yeah, I was really surprised with the way I felt after the surgery. I expected a lot of pain, I guess because the only thing I had to compare it with really was being kicked in the testicles.

I can't say the pain was "minimal" because I did have a problem with getting up out of bed and changing my clothes (pants and socks especially) for 2-3 days after the surgery, but other than that I was fine. I was up on my feet and playing my guitar the same day of the surgery, and it was only 2 days before I felt like I was ready to take a little walk to my local Starbucks.

[Scott]

If it is embryonal carcinoma, and it hasn't spread, maybe ask about some precautionary chemo. It could cut your time in treatment by as much as three weeks. I was put on surveillance and had a relapse (5yrs ago) that could have been avoided by giving me a short blast (2 cycles) of chemo right away-- as they did for a friend of mine.

Be aware that there's mixed opinion on adjuvant chemotherapy. Refer to this TCRC page, starting with the section that begins, "Some countries in Europe..."

[Don]

Maybe you will be a canidate for surveillance!!!!How long till you find out what the next step is???? Hope all is well!!!!!!