Terrified and Overwhelmed

[Renea Rosson]

Well we got through another day. They seem longer and longer waiting, hoping, praying for things to turn around. You guys on here are all great!!!! You send out so much encouragement and share great information. Yesterday Derick looked real good and said he felt good although I know he doesn't always tell the truth to Mom because he hates making me worry. Hopefully, the doctors here will be rerunning his tumor markers Monday to get prepared for our visit to Dr. Roth at Vanderbilt next Friday. Domenic and Chris' Mom it was encouraging to hear from you who have sons who have faced the same thing. Actually, it is encouraging to hear from all who have had family members, friends, etc. that have faced the same thing. Thanks to all who are offering up prayers. Derick and I are stong in our faith to the Good Lord for we know without him we have nothing. I look forward to being able to update you all with encouraging news next week. Seven days seems like forever!!!!
Renea

[Scott]

You've got lots of good wishes from these quarters during the week of waiting and beyond, Renea and Derick!

[Renea Rosson]

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and support. This is a great group of people. Derick took his daughters to church this a.m. with me and it was great to have them there. So many people in the church are praying and supporting him and his family during this difficult time as well. Derick wants to get back to work and have this life return to normal and I'm not sure he understands the road that is ahead of him at this point. I'm trying to focus on Friday, gather all the info Dr. Roth has requested, get some rest and have my feet firmly planted on the ground so we are ready to hit it running in whatever direction Dr. Roth guides us in. Robert, I am still not able to get the other web site to open. I thought it was just my work computer but I have tried here at home as well and for some reason it just keeps saying it is not available. I have been receiving emails from individuals on that site and even when I try opening the site from the email it says the same. I have tried entering the address in my web browser and have it saved the favorites and no matter how I try opening the site, it says site unavailable or website not found. I'll keep trying but just wanted you to know because I haven't been able to post anything or respond to anything from that site at this time. Okay everyone the days are clicking down and I'm anxious for answers. Last night I found myself looking at the disks of Derick's scans on my computer (like I really know what they show). That was probably a bad thing because all I saw was what appeared to be tumors everywhere. When I got off the computer, I had a very unsettling feeling. Guess it's one of those Mom things. I wanted to look because I thought I might actually see or know something, pretty silly huh? Anyway, we're ready for this fight!!!! Thanks all and I'll keep you all informed. Renea

[ivannabanana]

Hi Renea Rosson

Im sending you and your son get well wishes also.... My husband was DX wyth TC in August 06 and has undergone the 4 BEP and for now is just being monitored..But when he was in hospital there were a few guys your sons age and they all doing fine now... All different side effects and stuff but they got there in the end...I know as a mum you will always be there for your son, and i hope that it wont be too long before he is on hys way to returning to hys normal ways of life.... lyke everyone says, try stay strong, we all thynking of you.... bless Yvonne (Scotland)

[drom]

Renena,

Hang in there. The support of family and friends, even ones you don't know in cyberspace is the best medecine in the world.

Everyone here is pulling for you and you will make it!

Domenic

[Lori]

Renea, my thoughts are with your son and your family! Waiting is the hardest part but soon you'll have a plan of action!

[All4UADAM]

Hi

for starters i would like to say sorry to hear about your son. 3.5 years ago we found out my 18 year old brother had testilce cancer as well. he had his left testicle removed and then started teh whole journey. he did 5 days a week straight of chemo for 4 months. his markers started to show that his cancer went into remission. he was scheduled for surgery in teh month of october to get his left kidney, tumour, stomach and back muscles removed. which was due to leaving his cancer for 2.5 years before he said anything to the family that there might be something wrong. now my brother had a bad turn out and god rest his soul..he passed away 6 months after finding out he had testicle cancer. now i am replying back to you from a daughter to a mother, and watching what my brother went through and as well as my mother.. our family is now in the process of trying to make TC more aware to young men and the side affects. and my mother loves to help out other mothers that could possibly need the help. please contact me back with any questions at all by email... Best of wishes to your son, and your family.

Val

[ivannabanana]

Val

So sorry to hear of your family's loss.... And well done for trying to make guys and family's more aware of thys type of cancer... Any loss is hard but someone so young is just so tragic... I do hope that some positivness has came as a result of losing your brother... And thanks for sharing your family's experiance.... bless you, Yvonne

[jdunn]

Val,
I am too, so sorry for the loss of your precious brother. 23 years ago my brother and family were affected by TC. With the grace of God my brother survived and is living today. I can only imagine the heartache your Mother and family has endured. I never thought in a million years that my young son of 20 would also have to suffer. Thank goodness he had the knowledge to get checked out early. Awareness and education is the key for sure. Thanks for sharing with us.

Renea,
Thought and prayers are with you too for your son's complete recovery!

[Chris'Mom]

Val, so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother so young....it just drives home the reason we must get the word out about self exam to young guys, and speaking up if something doesn't feel right...even though my son Chris told us quite soon after he felt a lump, he still needed chemo and RPLND surgery because it traveled to the lymph nodes.....take care....keep up the good work...Mary Ellen

[Renea Rosson]

Thanks Val for the kind words of support. I am so terribly sorry to hear of your loss to this disease. Yes, early detection is the key. Although with Derick, there was never a lump. Actually, he had an testicular exam in June of 06 due to extremely high testosterone levels by an endroconogolist at Vanderbilt. She noted no testicular lumps or masses. It wasn't until several months later when he had severe back pain and a lump in his neck that they ran a testicular ultrasound which showed that his disease had already advanced to Stage III. There were however two lumps in his breast area that were felt during that June 06 visit and they were diagnoised as gynoclamastia again being misdiagnoised for these were actually active tumors. We have looked back now several times and knowing what I know now, I would have persued testing more adamantly but we often leave things to the doctors and they too make mistakes. I'm just praying these mistakes aren't too late for my son. Renea Rosson

[Renea Rosson]

Well the words from Dr. Roth this afternoon were not exactly what we were hoping to hear. It appears that Dericks tumor marks are increasing. Dr. Roth is going to pull the markers again this Friday but he feels that if the numbers are going up at the rate which is already being reflected, Derick is looking at a stem cell transplant. I know there are many out there who have already gone through the transplant, could you please enlighten me on what to expect. What is going to happen? How serious is this part of the treatment plan? I'm reading everything I can get my hands on but often times it is so much more helpful to get it for people who have been there. Thanks, Renea Rosson

[Lori]

Renea, I'm hoping you got better news with the next round of markers. If your son has to go through HDC and stem cell, please feel free to reach out to me or my husband. Jon went through tandem hdc/stem cell in aug/sept at IU. He would love to talk with your son or you about his experience. It is very scary and I still get an awful feeling in my stomach when I think back to the doctor's appt where we were told that treatment was our only choice. But the whole process was really okay. Chance of all the same side effects as regular chemo, white and red blood counts will take a dive but the stem cell transplant will restore them. I can go into a lot of details if you would like, but until then, just know that it will be okay.

Lori

[Renea Rosson]

Finally got results from the most recent tumor markers. The AFP is actually down from 2.8 to 2.1 which is excellent but the Beta HCG has gone up from 12 to 131 in a week. Dr. Roth at Vanderbilt had asked to have these markers pulled one week apart so he could see how rapidly the tumor growth might be. We are waiting for his call to see what is next. The last time we met with him he talked as though we would be looking at a stem cell transplant depending on how the numbers were growing. He said anything over 50 and as we can see we are over that. Lori, I would love to speak with you, if you want to send me your phone number via my private email at [email protected] so you don't have the number posted here, that would be great and I will give you a call. Robert, I need to speak with you as well. I have you number and will be calling you sometime this week. Everyone on here has been so supportative and full of information and it has been really helpful. Please give all the feedback on this info anyone has. Thanks, Renea

[Renea Rosson]

Update

We got the word yesterday from Dr. Roth at Vanderbilt. Monday the 19th, Derick has testing at 9:00 a.m. another test at 11:00 a.m. and then we will be meeting with Dr. Roth (who usually doesn't see patients on Mondays) but he is coming in to meet with Derick, myself and the transplant doctor. Because of Derick's most recent tumor markers, Dr. Roth feels it is imperative that we move forward with the stem cell transplant. My understanding is that things are going to get very aggressive very fast. I'm scared to death and I know Derick is as well. We are currently trying to get everyone well around him who have colds and such because we know he will soon have no resistance. Please keep Derick in your thoughts and prayers as I know the days ahead are going to be rough. Thanks Robert for all your great info and I'll be calling you. We need to meet. I'm sure I can use your encouragement. Renea Rosson