Testicle Removed Today

[Fed]

A diagnosis of seminoma is actually not bad because it's the easiest form of TC to treat. Is there any reason your doc is recommending adjuvant radiation off the bat? If your tumor was small, you had no markers, no lymphovascular invasion, and all your radiology is clean (i.e. staged at pT1; this will be in your path report), then surveillance may also be an option because there is an 80% chance that the orchiectomy alone has cured you.

Regardless, it sounds like you have been getting good news so far. The path report will certainly fill in the blanks that are left.

[Matt_24]

My DR called today. From the "wet read" it appears as though the tumor was semitoma. Again, he has to get the full path report - but that is good. He said that if I want to, they will also do a PET scan. I understood that to be still kind of experimental in how it can read testicular cancer --- but he said it couldn't hurt, so I'm up for it. He said that if the final path (not just the wet read) shows semitoma, that we will do a course of radiation therapy next. He didn't get to in-depth as to the "why", and I didn't ask. I was just happy with the initial "wet" results. So..again...so far, so good.

[dadmo]

The waiting is the for results is awful. Jason is almost 3 years out, his labs were yesterday even knowing they are fine we still get anxious.

[Fed]

I have not taken a single Percocet today. The pain has been, at a solid 4 out of 10...and I prefer that over the odd way the medicine makes me feel. I'm kind of a control freak (we make great patients, right?)...and don't like feeling like a space cadet.

I hear you about the meds... when I was diagnosed, I had a prescription for oxycontin, and I refused to take it because it made me very loopy. I still don't understand why people that are hooked on it actually enjoy feeling stoooopid! After the I/O they gave me vicodin, but I stopped taking it after a couple of days because of constipation.

The waiting does suck, though, but that's the worst part. Try to keep yourself distracted any way you can so you don't dwell on feeling down. Hang in there. The week will go by before you know it.

[Matt_24]

Today was good. I removed the bandage and now there are only 4 pieces of clear tape over the incision. There is just slight swelling. The shower felt great --- but I still just feel kind of...weak and odd.

I had my first BM since Tuesday...it came out easily - thankfully - but not very...gratifying..LOL.

I have not taken a single Percocet today. The pain has been, at a solid 4 out of 10...and I prefer that over the odd way the medicine makes me feel. I'm kind of a control freak (we make great patients, right?)...and don't like feeling like a space cadet.

So - I'm trying to be patient until next Thursday. The wait is agonizing and I still have a week to go. Oh well. I'm trying to remain positive - but this does make you feel a bit down until you know something for sure. I was more upbeat yesterday.

Thanks - just wanted to write in an update.

[dadmo]

Don't stay away from the forum just don't sweat things that don't seem as if they will happen.

[Matt_24]

I'm the king of jumping the gun. Just trying to mentally prep myself for what "could be". Ok...I'll lay off the forum until I find out results for sure. Don't need to drive myself crazy with TMI. I appreciate the info though.

[dadmo]

With no indication of spread and the nodes not involved it seems unlikely but you're getting way to ahead of yourself.

[Fed]

Do you think I'll have to do the RPLND?

You're jumping the gun here. That will depend entirely on your path report and the remainder of your bloodwork (AFT and LDH) in conjunction with the radiology. RPLNDs are, for the most part, done when the pathology includes nonseminomatous elements. In your case, it's too soon to tell whether that will apply.

[Matt_24]

Do you think I'll have to do the RPLND? Just curious as to "why" one would have that done.

[dadmo]

The doctor is doing just about everthing possible to let you know that he thinks your ok. Like the rest of us he does has to wait for the full pathology report before he can put you on surveillance.

[Matt_24]

So far your labs are sounding great. The last pieces of the puzzle will be your AFP and the path report; and, as Rover said, the waiting is the worst part. Hopefully your recovery from the I/O is going smoothly.

It's huge that you caught this early. You have thus far been doing a fantastic job in monitoring this, and the early detection will pay off. Guys have a tendency to let things like these fester, and TC is something you definitely don't want to let get out of hand.

Is your family holding up well? These things take their toll on family, so just be sure to heed this, as well.

The labs are sounding good --- but it is interesting. The DR will give me a good piece of news, but he is still incredibly cautious..which is good...but doesn't make me feel 100% YET. For example - he said that the CT results looked good...but to understand that this was only 75%...they only scan in at 75%...or something along those lines. It is like he shares the good news, but doesn't want my hopes to be too high yet (if that makes sense). I guess I can understand it, but he way I see it - it is still good news.

My family is worried, but I'm briefing everyone as soon as I get news. That keeps me busy while I'm laying down kind of bored. I'm feeling very positive, and especially after one tiny little piece of good news after another, well..at least it isn't bad news yet, right? Makes my fam feel even better as well. I think that it was caught early...so hopefully it didn't go anywhere!

So results so far:

HCG: Normal
Chest X-Rays: Normal after a "wet" read with radiologist. Official reading will be in report.
CT Scan: No signs of enlarged lymph nodes (but again, he said this only reads @ 75% or something like that...I wasn't quite clear).

So, now I just have to wait until next Thursday for my appointment to hear about the pathology results. Hopefully everything will be ok!

[dadmo]

Fed is right about the strain on the family. When you get a chance do something nicer for them then you usually would.

[Fed]

So far your labs are sounding great. The last pieces of the puzzle will be your AFP and the path report; and, as Rover said, the waiting is the worst part. Hopefully your recovery from the I/O is going smoothly.

It's huge that you caught this early. You have thus far been doing a fantastic job in monitoring this, and the early detection will pay off. Guys have a tendency to let things like these fester, and TC is something you definitely don't want to let get out of hand.

Is your family holding up well? These things take their toll on family, so just be sure to heed this, as well.

[Matt_24]

With a clear chest x-ray the only thing left is the blood work. Boy I wish that odd feeling could be quantified some how. My son described the same thing, it was simply the fact that he noticed that it was there, in a normal day you forget you even have them, at least at 56 you do .

I'd just say, "When in doubt - get it checked out!"