Here's my path-report

[Lottoball]

Hi,

I had orchiectomy two weeks ago and just got my path-report. (I already knew the cancer didn't spread). I'll try to translate this from Dutch to English.

The report is speaking about 'seminoma, stage pT1'. There's no blood-invasion and no invasion in or beyond the tunica vaginalis.
I don't know what this means, can anyone give an explanation?

On the TC-scan they saw a lymph-node that's a bit bigger than normal and therefore 'suspected'. My urologist wants to give me a minimum of fifteen sessions of radiotherapy, directly aimed at this node.
Because of this node he says the TC will be defined as 'seminoma II-A'.

My question: what's the difference between 'seminoma pT1' (which is written in the path-report) and 'seminoma II-A' (which my urologist told me)?

Does anyone of you had experiences with this stage of TC and what about recurrence?

And what about the follow-up of 15 radiotherapy-sessions? Will this be enough?

A lot of questions, but any advice is welcome!

[Scott]

My question: what's the difference between 'seminoma pT1' (which is written in the path-report) and 'seminoma II-A' (which my urologist told me)?

Seminoma is very sensitive to radiation therapy, and it sounds as though you're on the right track to be cured. "pT1" means that the primary tumor is confined to the testicle and epididymis with no vascular or lymphatic invasion. It's only part of the staging information. Stage IIA means metastasis in a single lymph node, up to 2 cm in diameter. You'll find all the details on this TCRC page about staging and the NCCN guidelines.

[Karen]

Lottoball,
If there is a suspicious node you will need RT. Going by the guidelines in the US, the most common treatment for IIA is radiation to the para-aortic lymph nodes. The dog-leg or hockey-stick field includes the pelvic lymph nodes. That is a less commonly used field lately in the US. 15 days of radiation (absorbed dose of 25,000 rad or 25 Grey) to the para-aortic nodes (all of them) and then an additional 2 days to the suspicios node is common treatment in the US. Seminoma is very sensitive to RT and to chemo and you ar early syage with an excellent prognosis.

[Fed]

The report is speaking about 'seminoma, stage pT1'. There's no blood-invasion and no invasion in or beyond the tunica vaginalis.
I don't know what this means, can anyone give an explanation?

To complement what Scott and Karen have mentioned... the tunica vaginalis is an anatomical structure that surrounds the testis. It's like a shell, if you will. It is extremely sturdy, as well. If the tumor does not go beyond it, then your primary tumor is at pT1. The presence of the node, though, does make you IIA (and I think your classification would be pT1 N1 M0 S0 assuming you have no other mets and your markers are within normal ranges). Zapping should take care of it, so it looks like you will be in great shape.

On the side... my wife lived for several years in Hilversum, and last year we traveled there with our daughter. Really beautiful country (and I gorged myself with saucijzenbroodje!)

[Lottoball]

On the side... my wife lived for several years in Hilversum, and last year we traveled there with our daughter. Really beautiful country (and I gorged myself with saucijzenbroodje!)

Hi Fed,
I lived in Hilversum too, between 1990 and 1998!
I can recommend the saucijzenbroodje, which I think is typical dutch. However, you should also try the 'Tom Poes' (which is a kind of cake, you can buy on almost every streetcorner, here), but we're moving away from or subject.

Which is a good thing. In these days all friends and familymembers want to talk with me about the TC. It's a great relieve to invite a good friend and just chat about other things!