Full Report

[Jens]

Hi Al.

I just tried to compare your values to my own, it didn't really make sense... different units, I guess. But I will say though, that allthough you may be somewhay anemic, bleomycin should be administered. I agree with Davie, that bleomycin dosen't affect yout bloodcells much, so it should just be poured in, as also suggested by Scott.

Getting your BEP is of greater importance than having a "somewhat functioning" immune system. And red blood cells can easily be supplied by transfusions.

How are you feeling? And do you have someone there to help you through all this?

Best wishes
Jens

[Alucard]

Getting your BEP is of greater importance than having a "somewhat functioning" immune system.

Yeah I agree, I'll talk to my doctor about this tomorrow.

I don't have anybody to help me with this but I guess it's something I have to do on my own. I take notes of what you guys say so I don't sound completely lost and become a lab rat or something like that, lots of information here.

Thanks,

Al

[Alucard]

25/04/2006 - 23:42

WBC: 3.6
RBC: 4.8
Hb: 13.4
PCV: 39.6
MCV: 82
MCH: 28
MCHC: 33
Platelets: 620
Neutrophilis: 25
Lymphocyes: 60
Monocytes: 15

They said that, according to this CBC test I can have the bleomycin today, finally.

-Al

[Jens]

That's great Al.

A couple of paracetamols will prevent fever-like symptoms.
And a good long nap is always a good idea while on BEP.

Best wishes
Jens

[Alucard]

Hi again,

Paracetamols really do help a lot in my case, even when my chest burns I just take a couple of them and 15 minutes later I'm cured. hehe

Had blood tests yesterday, AFP was at 1.3 and bHCG 639. I can't really understand what that means at this point (I am just starting 2nd BEP cycle) but I just thought I'd update.

Best wishes to everyone,

Al.

[Davie]

Al,

You seem to be responding superbly to chemotherapy. If you're just starting your second cycle, in 21 days you gone from a AFP of 23 to 1.3 and a bHCG of 111280 to 639.

I understand that in the first week markers can surge, so I believe they effectively eliminate this week, and begin counting the number of half lives from the beginning of the second week of the first cycle.

For chemotherapy your AFP concentration should halve every 5-7 days, and your bHCG concentration should halve every 2-3.5 days. Your AFP is halving every 5 days which is spot on, and your HCG is halving about every 2 days (if you rule out the first week when markers can surge) which is superb.

The chemo is doing it's job!!

Davie

[huckchef]

keep positive....sounds like things are going your way!!!! my thoughts and prayers are with you! brian

[Jens]

Hi Al.
You are doing just fine. Keep those numbers comming down!

Chemo is good, Chemo works!!!

Best wishes
Jens

[Alucard]

Hi again,

Thanks for the info and everything guys. I just came back from chemo and got my pathology report and some other info, I will post them.

-----

Surgical Pathology Report:

Clinical History:
Right Testicular Mass.

Tissue origin:
Right testis.

Gross Description:

Received labeled with patient's name and fixed in formalin is a testis 10.5x8 5.7x3cm with an attached spermatic cord 11cm in lenght. Sectioning shows a tumour 9x7.5x7 with hemorrhagic and necrotic cut surface that appears to replace the testicular parenchyma. The tumour does not invade the tunica vaginalis or the spermatic cord.

Diagnosis:
Right testis, orchiectomy: Choriocarcinoma, biphasic (See note).

Note:

The tumour is limited to the testis and epididymis with vascular invasion and Invasion into tunica albugenia (or something), however no invasion into tunica vaginalis or into spermatic cord is noted.
Tumour cells are positive for HCG and Cytokeratin. They are negative for AFP, CD30 and PLAP.

-------------------

This is just what I found in a paper with stuff about my chemotherapy..

Bleomycin: 30mg
cisPlatin: 34mg
VP16: 170mg

LDH = 371 (is that too elevated?)
allergies: NKDA
--

That's all!

-Al

[Scott]

...a tumour 9x7.5x7...

That's a good size tumor. Couldn't have been too comfortable.

[Alucard]

That's a good size tumor. Couldn't have been too comfortable.

Heh, it wasn't really a huge "ball", hehe, it was shaped like an evil potato or something.. hard to explain. The reason is that I was in the hands of a couple of retards who wanted to cure me with the most stupid tools ever and that delayed my treatment since I was diagnosed so it was growing in a weekly basis, very fast, horrible thing.. I'm glad it's gone now.

Scott, the report says "Choriocarcinoma, biphasic" and I didn't find much about this here in the forums.. any idea what that is? I thought I had non-seminoma..

-Al

[Scott]

Scott, the report says "Choriocarcinoma, biphasic" and I didn't find much about this here in the forums.. any idea what that is? I thought I had non-seminoma.

Choriocarcinoma is one type of non-seminoma, along with embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac, and teratoma. I'm afraid I don't know the significance of its classification as biphasic versus monophasic.

[Alucard]

Chemotherapy

Finished second cycle yesterday and I don't feel so bad! Can't wait to start the next cycle, 25/5/2006.

-Al

[Jens]

Hi Al.

How are you doing?

Best wishes
Jens

[Alucard]

Hi Al.

How are you doing?

Best wishes
Jens

Hi,

I'm doing ok, thanks. I went to the hospital today for blood tests and tomorrow I'll probably get a BEP round. Not a lot of side effects, they give me Zofran and it's perfect. Just getting too worried sometimes since I had to delay studies and other stuff because of chemotherapy.. I have a problem with anxiety but I'm getting over it. Thanks for asking.

-Al