Reflux

[TCLEFT]

Well, from ponytail, to stubble, to scalp. A small price to pay to get rid of this tennis ball in my chest. My Cancer Sucks T-Shirt came in the mail this Saturday. I'll be wearing it today to start cycle 2. So I have a shiney head, I still have my attitude!

[dadmo]

Good luck with round 2.

[TCLEFT]

Thanks. Day 1 of the 2nd round done. 1 piece of good news. LDH went from 1340 to 204. In othr words normal. Doc thinks the mass is already about 95% gone. I can do another 5% and down to the last cell. Once again, thanks to everyone out there!

[Mom]

Sounds about right. My son's markers were normal during his second round of BEP. Doesn't it make you feel good??? Even though you are probably feeling lousy?? You're old enough to remember that PACMAN game, just think of that little guy just gobbling up all of those cancer cells! Dianne

[TCLEFT]

Yes, I'm afraid I do remember the game when it came out. Still, the normal markers do make me feel good. Thanks for saying, it helps validate it.
Cheers to All,
TCLEFT

[Sans rt1]

I am a newbie to this support forum. I just finished RT last week. I opened this thread to see about reflux after radiation treatment, but got a whole lot more. Through my short ordeal, I have found that the doctors don't tell you everything - and if you have not been through it before, you don't know the right questions to ask.

I understand that because of our cancer and treatments, we are at greater risk for "stuff" in the future. I now see that we need to be aggressive in our future healthcare, as it may not be obvious when something is a possible reoccurence or a result of our past treatment. Not that I want to become a hypochondriac, I just want to not feel like one when I think I need to get something checked out. I guess I should be over that as I did wait quite a while to go to the doctor when I noticed something on my right guy.

Good luck with your treatment and keep us informed of your progress - and thanks for sharing your experiences.

But, I still would like to hear about any other experience with reflux after radiation, and how long the periodic queasiness should last.

I had the occasional heartburn before, but nothing during radiation. But in the past few days since ending the treatments, I have had several good bouts of heartburn. Perhaps it is because my queasiness is not constant and I am trying to eat "normally" again, or because I am now able to stomach a cup of coffee in the morning or glass of wine in the evening, or because I started taking my vitamins again. I guess I will monitor what seems to cause it. I will definitely mention it to my doctor without hesistation and look further if it does not improve.

Thanks everyone.

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, Roger. I'm glad you found us!

[TCLEFT]

TC2 but still keeping 1

Sorry I haven't been on for a while. Chemo is beating me up a bit. All in all, I'm on schedule and should be done with cycle 4 (last cycle), next week. Now for the strange part of my diagnosis. The Doctors believe this is not a recurrence, but TC2. Luckily, the second one didn't attack my remaining testicle. It attacked residual embryonal tissue in my chest from when I developed as a baby. I know it's possible to get TC, and not in the testicle. I'm more than a little scared that I have a tendency to get Cancer now. TC3, perhaps or secondary cancers from radiation and chemo. Has this happened to any of you guys? If yes, how long ago? I'd really like to hear about it and maybe get a perspective on what might be in store for me.
Thanks,
TCLEFT

[huckchef]

I don't have any info for you. I just wanted to pass along my thoughts and prayers for you. I hope you have a speedy recovery from the chemo. Hang in there and stay positive!!!
Brian

[Scott]

The Doctors believe this is not a recurrence, but TC2.

Interesting. Do you know why they think it's a new cancer?

[TCLEFT]

Thank you Huckchef !
Scott,
They believe it to be a second instance because of where it is. The mass is in my posterior mediastinum. This isn't the normal path for a Seminoma travelling upward. It is, however, the path of developing embryonal gonadal tissue in a fetus starting from the pineal gland in the brain, down the body and ending in the scrotum. Residual tissue, although unusual, have been known to remain in adulthood. That's whay it's possible to get TC in tissues other than the testicle.

[dadmo]

How has the cancer been responding to the chemo? Your markers were dropping quickly which is a good indication that you will beat this.

[TCLEFT]

Actually, that's what prompted a second opinion at Fox Chase. My primary Oncologist was concerned that the LDH was fluctuating a bit. The Oncologist at Fox Chase said if you took out one result, all the other numbers make sense. So, their opinion is that I'm on schedule and appear to be responding. They'll do a PET scan a few months after the end of the last treatment to see if there is any viable Cancer left. So, so far, so good. I'll be glad when this is done.

[Eric]

TCLEFT

I had the same as you(recurence in the mediastinum). What you are saying about TC2 is frightening me. My doc told me that it was a micrometastasis that had grow there during 4 years. But also it's not impossible that i had the same thing as you. That mean cancer can reapear in the mediastinum in 4 years again? I hope that i won't have to treat seminoma 3 times (for me 2 is enough). Anyway my doc told me about 5% of recurence so 95% to stay healthy, i hope this time i will be in the 95%. That's why i will continue to eat anti-cancer food and a lot of exercise(biking tennis soccer)

[TCLEFT]

Hi Eric,
Would you mind asking your Doctor's opinion on this? The Doctor who suggested this as a separate occurance was from Fox Chase in Philadelphia. I personally would rather it be a recurrance myself. This whole thing scares me as well. I'm interested in finding out if there are more like us, and what the consensus is for what the Doctors believe ot to be. I've learned the hard way to get more than one opinion.
Thanks,
TCLEFT