Waiting

[kgaskie]

Hi
I was diagnosed on 5/30 with testicular cancer, and had a left orchiectomy on 6/5. I got the pathology report:
mixed malignant germ cell tumor approximately 4 cm in diameter and containing embryonal carcinoma-75%, choriocarcinoma-5%, and seminoma-20%
no invasion of the tunica albuginea
no invasion of the epididymis.

I have no idea what any of that means except that I have cancer. The urologist told me that I will most likely be looking at a RPLND and/or Chemotherapy. Also, there is now, I don't want to say growth but I don't know how else to put it, something in my scrotum. I know this is gross but I had the urologist look at it and he told me that was normal. Now that something is getting bigger and is now about the size of me right testicle if not larger. I don't go back to the urologist for 2 more weeks (is this normal?) The last time something started growing in that area he told me I had cancer. Should I go have him look at it again?

I also recently got out of the military and have not been with my current employer long enough to receive health benefits, so I am paying out of pocket for everything, and this is getting very expensive. Pretty much what I had saved up to have when I got out of the Navy is gone now, and the urologist keeps talking about more stuff that is going to have to be done.

If anyone has any information that would help on any of this, please let me know? Anything would be more than I have right now. Sorry for being kind of graphic, I didn't know how else to put it.
Thank you,

Keith

[Fed]

Hey Keith,
Welcome to the Forum. First off, it's good that you already have pathology data in. Any word on your tumor markers? It would be helpful to know what your blood markers were before and after the I/O, since they can give an indication whether there has been any spread. Also, you didn't mention in your pathology data whether there was any lymphovascular invasion and if the surgical margins were free of tumor. These are also indicators of potential spread. These details will help determine what the appropriate course of action may be (chemo, RPLND or surveillance). I have to run off to a meeting, but I'm sure people will chime in some more. Keep us posted,

[NavyHoldi99]

Hey Keith -

Sorry you had to find us. Fed and some of the others can speak to the medical side of things much better than I can...so I'll leave it to them. But since you just got out of the Navy...have you checked on the VA for benefits? Because of everything that has gone on I'm staying in for 20. I'll see if I can track down some info regarding VA benefits.

Take care.

[NavyHoldi99]

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp

I know this is a pretty general start...but hopefully it will get you pointed in the right direction to see if the VA can supplement any of the costs. It might even be easier to call and speak to someone directly and see what they have to say.

[Margaret]

Hi Keith, sorry you have to be here but glad you found us.

The growth you are feeling is normal, but I am sure it is unsettling to find that the testicle they removed is almost bigger than the side they left in tact. It took months before my husbands swelling went away. And don't worry about being too graphic...the more you tell this group, the better they can help you. I hope you will find this group to be supportive and caring. Everyone here will stick by you until you are cured.

Good luck and hang in there.

Margaret

[oscar666]

Hi

Hi Keith

Regarding your post- I/O concerns, you could check for details some other forum threads. Sometimes the place of missing testicle collects liquids.
But this is temporary effect. A lot of people reported that you could touch and feel there the "grape" - some kind of cut end of the spermatic cord.
I had something like dull pain in remaining testicle, weeks after I/O.
Most of these things are "normal".
But always is good to ask your urologist.
Like Fed said, get the info aboit "vascular invasion", "lymph invasion", as well as your blood test tumor marker results (AFP and bHCG). It is impotrant to know their values before I/O and, say, 2-3 weeks later.
Did you have a CT -can and chest X-Ray results yet?

[Scott]

Also, there is now, I don't want to say growth but I don't know how else to put it, something in my scrotum.

As you've heard from others, this is probably a hematoma, just a collection of blood. It will go away over time.

[kgaskie]

Va

Thanks, I had already submitted everything for the VA's disability compensation, but I did call them and they told me I could send in all the paperwork from the doctors and that sould be added to my claim, which I didn't know they could do. So I signed the paper for the urologist to release all of the documents from the beginning and then all I have to do is mail that to the VA and they will determine if that can be added. Thanks
Keith

[kgaskie]

blood markers

For all that were wondering and asked, my CT scan showed no lymphatic invasion and pre-surgery AFP-313, HCG-206, I'm not sure about the post-surgery numbers but i should be able to get those tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the information that I've been getting here.
Keith

[Fed]

It's great that you have the bloodwork results. Now the important thing to see is whether those numbers have dropped post-I/O. If they have, then things will be looking good, especially since you have no signs of lymphadenopathy.