Likelihood of surgery?

[Individuation]

My boyfriend's last day of chemo is tomorrow.
His doctor stopped by to see him today and said in 1 month he'll have a cat scan and if there's any cancer left they'll have to do surgery.
This is the first he's heard of this (although I knew it was a possiblity from this group).
He's really freaked out about it. He asked the doctor if he thought he'd need surgery and he said "I don't think so but I can't rule it out."

James's cancer was 95% seminoma and 5% carcinoma (that's what he told me today). Other than his testical that was removed they found one lymphnode in his abdomen that was 1-2 centimeters bigger than it should be. That's it.

He's undergone four rounds of cisplatin and etoposide.

How likely do you think it will be that he'll need surgery?

[Scott]

In the very unlikely event that it should turn out to be necessary, he will have the strength to get through it.

I fully expect the chemotherapy will be sufficient treatment.

[Individuation]

In the very unlikely event that it should turn out to be necessary, he will have the strength to get through it.

I fully expect the chemotherapy will be sufficient treatment.

I know that we can get through everything, but the idea of him having to go back under the knife makes me cry. He's been through so much. He's sicker tonight than he usually is at this point. He's been sleeping since 6:30pm and will probably sleep through the night.

I'm just hate watching him suffer. It kills me.

Thanks for being hopeful Scott. From the doctor's response I'm hopeful too, but I'm just freaked out.

[Don]

Just keep telling your self it will all be over soon.... Soon both of you will resume you happy lives together... Best of luck to both of you DON

[Scott]

I'm hopeful too, but I'm just freaked out.

It would be unusual not to feel that way. Close your eyes for a minute and let all the worry in front of you just sweep past. Take yourself to a point in the future with all this behind you and let yourself smile. He and you are going to be OK.

[dadmo]

In the event that the RPLND is needed do you know if you have any local experts.

[Mom]

If it makes you feel any better, my son did not need the RPLND after his 3xBEP. He had one lymph node involved (possibly) and it was because his markers did not go down they did chemo. He even had teratoma in his tumor mix but nothing has shown up on follow ups. It is now 17 months post chemo. He only has 2 CT scans a year and I think those are because of the teratoma. How are your b/f's markers? Did they return to normal? Jeff's doctor said the same thing to him. They would have done the RPLND only if something showed up in the CT scan. You both will get through it. Dianne

[huckchef]

you both are in my thoughts and prayers. i'm wishing you the best of news with the outcome. stay positive!!!!!
brian

[Individuation]

In the event that the RPLND is needed do you know if you have any local experts.

Well, he's at the University of Chicago hospitals and they have one of the best cancer centers around... so I'm pretty sure they'll have experts. His first surgery was done by the cheif surgeon of the surgical oncology unit - and while he was kind of an *** - he was REALLY good.

[Individuation]

If it makes you feel any better, my son did not need the RPLND after his 3xBEP. He had one lymph node involved (possibly) and it was because his markers did not go down they did chemo. He even had teratoma in his tumor mix but nothing has shown up on follow ups. It is now 17 months post chemo. He only has 2 CT scans a year and I think those are because of the teratoma. How are your b/f's markers? Did they return to normal? Jeff's doctor said the same thing to him. They would have done the RPLND only if something showed up in the CT scan. You both will get through it. Dianne

That is REALLY good news. All his doctor has said to him is "your bloodwork looks good." He hasn't said it's back to normal, and we don't really 100% understand the numbers we're looking at. Because I work full time I haven't been there when the doctor has come to visit him during chemo or I'd talk his ear off with questions. He comes by every Thursday and by Thursday James is so ill that he forgets to ask things -- even if I write them down for him. I think he's got a bit of the "chemo brain" fog going on too.

With James, they said they could tell from his blood work (pre-chemo) that something not so good was going on because his HcG levels were very high even after surgery, so that's why they chose to go the chemo route.

I'm just hopeing and praying for him.
We're looking a rough weekend, as he's sicker than he usually is right now. I don't think he's going to be eating much this weekend so I'm going to just try to keep him super hydrated and hope he can keep that down as well as his anti-nausea drugs.

Thanks for the note
I'm a bit calmer today than I was last night - but then I'm a high school teacher and I am now officially on summer break -- so that's always reason to cheer!

E

[Individuation]

you both are in my thoughts and prayers. i'm wishing you the best of news with the outcome. stay positive!!!!!
brian

Thank you so much Good luck with the birth of your new daughter!!