Unravelling the stats

[Tatt]

One thing I'm not clear on, and i know this is sounding fatalistic when i'm trying to be positive about it all - but just what are the long term statistics for TC? Most survivorship figures are taken 5 years down the road. At 28, 33 still seems awfully young to be living with a potential timebomb... Are there any studies that look at long term survival, recurrence, or impact of BEP on increased risk of other cancers?

I'd had an offer accepted on a house to move in with my g/f before i was diagnosed. THings are looking like the house sale will go through towards the end of the 3xBEP. What i'm scared of, is dragging my g/f through the chemo with me (starting 2 weeks tomorrow, which is a terrifying thought!), and moving in together, when my prospects may not be great inthe long term. I dont want to start a home and potentially a family with her if in 10-15 years time, while we're both still young, i might have more problems

[Scott]

Your odds of having cancer again are slightly -- but not dramatically -- higher than the general population's. Specifically, about 1.5x.

You should expect to live a full life!

[Mom]

Live your life as if TC is a nuisance. Go forward, stay postive, bank sperm. My son was diagnosed 6 months before his wedding. His doctor said to not change his plans. My husband had TC 26 years ago. He didn't change his life, I changed mine. Do what you have to do to get through this. My son had 3 x BEP. Eighteen months post chemo he has no residual effects and is regaining his sperm. Hopefully, we will be grandparents some day. It is great that you have a relationship with someone who is there to support you. Don't disappoint her because you are afraid of your future. Plan your future together. Advice from Mom.

[keysi]

Hello there, look my fiancé (35) just finished his Radiation Therapy two months ago, we are looking forward to get marry next year, I am 23, and I fully understand your thoughts, I look at all statistics and I think about what is going to happen to to him 10 and 15 years from now, will he get another type of cancer? Will he have a recurrence? But you know what? I decided not to think about that anymore, I don't know if you believe in God but I do, and I think that if he is doing well so far is because of something, is because God is giving him another chance, and that he has an opportunity to take care of himself and to live fully his life. Don't think about what is going to happen, I used to do that and it was killing me, but the truth is that nobody knows what is going to happen the next 10 or 15 years, nobody can tell you, not statistics, or doctors, and not only for people with cancer, it applies to everybody, nobody can guarantee that you are going to live or get sick, whether you have cancer or not, so live your life!! Enjoy it, get marry, have family and take care of your self.

[engage]

Live your live as munch as you want too. As Keysi said live your life to the fullest, and then some.

[Sans rt1]

I know you are going through a lot right now, but stay focused on the fact that the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. When I was choosing treatment and studied the various statistics, I did not get a warm fuzzy feeling either, because in my book anything above 0% chance of anything in the future was not good enough. Everybody, not just TC survivors, have an uncertain future. Yes, we have a higher chance of something in the future, but just as Scott said just a few percentange higher than everyone else. Not enough to be pessimistic about.

Don't make any hasty decisions during this tough time because of a little uncertainty. You are going to get through this and be healty again. Remember, this is just a bump in the road.