having differnet kind of tumours at same time???/

[ivannabanana]

Hi to everyone

I finally met my husband's consultant yesterday!!!! He seemed ok and confident but one thyng worried me... He spoke of my husbands tumours and implied that the largest one which is sitting behind hys right kidney is seminoma because that was what the pathology report said but he was nt sure about the others because they had not been needle biopsied.... then said it wouldnt matter because the treatment is the same for seminoma and non-seminoma... But surely it would matter? help me here? i know non-seminoma is the same as teratoma... why havent they done needle biopsies on theother tumours? should they have? is thys normal to only needle biopsy one tumour when there are several....Also he said that there is no specific dimensions of the large tumour written in george's case notes..i find thys imposible to believe surely if thys tumour is so big then it should be noted down aat least for future reference..... When i asked again about the size of thys tumour he replied that there were no dimensions but all i needed to know was it was a biggy!!! Very comforting to know i thought....He mentioned that Georges tumour markers had came down he read out AFP and i thought that if it was pure seminoma then there shouldnt be an AFP reading or am i wrong about that? He said that everythyng was moving in the right direction all hys counts were lowering but he only mention AFP and one other i cant recll right now.... He also mention that thus was good reading for having just finish one cycle of hys chemo...He kept saying i was getting ahead of myself when asking my Q's which i didnt really like but was not gonna let hym intimidate me into not asking them.... After George finishes hys las cycle (he getting 4 altogether) they will then gyve hyme CT scan and decide what needs to be removed...he spoke about some bulky lumps of dead cancer cells... does thys sound right to u guys? and he mention name of surgeon who was gonna perform thys operation apparantly he does every one in the UK... so perhaps you guys will know hys name? Sorry to rabbit on but i so worried because my hubby has extra-gonadal germcell tumour and as you know they are quite rare..... I hope some of you out there can shed some light on my fears, i really have no one to talk to as my hubby neva speaks about what he going through which is fair enough its hys way of coping wyth it...Both my mother and hys parents are in their 70's so i dont wanna worry them i have no kids and my sister has her own problems (she recently found lump in her breast)So ul forgyve me for sounding so anxious....Hope everyone feels better each day and stays well... bless, Yvonne

[Karen]

Yvonne,
A doctor that tells you that the tumor is a "biggie" and that's all you need to know, and you are asking too many questions needs to be put in HIS place! Don't know about Scotland but here in the US patients are entitled to all their medical records. I would demand copies of all blood work, CT scans, X-rays if done, ultrasounds and the pathology report on the tumor that say is a pure seminoma. Bring a paper and pen and stop him to explain whatever you don't understand. Don't allow yourself to be intimidated. AFP is NEVER elevated in a pure seminoma, so there is a non-seminoma component somewhere in the other tumors. If he has many tumors and a non-seminoma component than chemo is needed and a CT to see what's left after the chemo. There can be dead tumors . Have you looked at the "experts" list and considered a consultation with one of them? http://tcrc.acor.org/experts.html#uk "Rabbit on" any time and don't apologize for being anxious. This is a difficult time for you and your husband.

[dadmo]

Yvonne:
The elevated AFP indicates that your husband has both Seminoma and Teratoma (non-seminoma), chemo is the right course of action to beat that. It is quite likely that dead cancer cells will be left behind and the doctors will probably want to remove them to make sure they are dead. You have a lot to take in now and I don't want to add to that but I do want you to be prepared for the possible loss of that kidney, you need to speak with the doctors about that. When the tumor is up against the kidney they often take the kidney, I know it's an awful thought but you husband isn't alone in that. Take Karen's advise be nice but firm with the doctor's get copies of everthing and take notes, if you don't understand something ask again. The last thing for now is that you can let loose on this forum anytime you want, I know I have.

[Scott]

He mentioned that Georges tumour markers had came down he read out AFP and i thought that if it was pure seminoma then there shouldnt be an AFP reading or am i wrong about that?

There should be an AFP test no matter what, but with pure seminoma, the result would be in normal range. It would help to know the numbers.

[Scott]

then said it wouldnt matter because the treatment is the same for seminoma and non-seminoma... But surely it would matter?

Since they've confirmed bulky, extra-gonadal, cancerous tumors, I'd say you're on the right treatment path.

Have you already found the information on EGC treatment options at this link?