Five Years of Surveillance: What is next?

[johnseed]

Hi Everyone,

I am now five years past the end-point of chemo, and six years past the discovery and diagnosis and orchiectomy for TC (pure seminoma.)

For the past five years I have been getting CT scans, having blood work x-rays, etc. and there is no sign of recurrence. I will turn 50 this July.

So, here is my question. After five years is there normally any surveillance recommended? I have had plenty of scans over the years and do worry about the exposure to radiation.

Should I maybe ask my doctor for an annual scan, or should I just consider that I am out of the danger zone and treat my health as "normal?"

Thanks for your advice,

JS

[Scott]

Congratulations on that milestone! Great news!

Standard follow-up from here forward is blood tests for tumor markers and a chest x-ray annually.

[dadmo]

The norm is a yearly follow-up for life.

[Bubba]

The norm is a yearly follow-up for life.

This is great advice. I had my first bout in December of 1992 and then my second in March 1999. This is obviously greater than 5 years. Also, my best advice to anyone is that before you have your boys removed, go to the cryogenic lab before you have the surgery... even if your sperm count is low, the things that the IVF doctors can do now is amazing... don't even need to be swimming... just shaking back and forth and they can put them in the egg. I am 31 about to start my family and I am grateful for that advice I received from my doctor prior to my second surgery to remove my other testicle.

[dadmo]

Bubba:
Great to hear from you and welcome aboard.