Great news follow up results and test results

[IowaBrian]

Went to the Oncologist today and he gave me some good news:
BHCG is back to under 1 which is down from 9 pre-surgery so he was very happy.
Also looked over the scans and xrays and was please to see just a normal scan.
The only bad news as for test results is the path report which I was smart enough to ask for a copy this time.. (but I already knew the results so it wasn't a shock)
-embryonal carcinoma 1.3 x 1.2 x 1.0 cm confined to testis
-minute microfocus of yolk sac tumor
-focal intratubular embryonal cell carcinoma
-focal large vessel invasion by carcinima
-no invasive of epididymis, sperm cord or rete testis
-all specimen margins free of tumor
-marked atrophy
Histologic Type:Embryonal carcinoma. pathologic staging (pTNM) Primary Tumor (pT): pT2
Venous / Lymphatic (Large Small vcessel) Invasion Present.

He wants to take over my care from the Uro after my next Uro appt Monday as he believes that I am still a very good canidate to just wait and see no need to jump into anything unless I want surgery which he stated would be good to get it over in the next couple weeks if I want it.

He gave me the talk that with vessel invasion and embryonal my odds fall to maybe 50 - 50 for no more treatment needed which was a little better then what the Uro had stated but nothing is known for sure might be OK or might need treatment only time will tell. He does want another CT that will look a little higher then the first one, he seemed a little upset that they didn't scan as high as he would like but I am sure that they did what the Uro ordered and nothing more.
Another preg test in 2 weeks and then blood test and chest xray every month and ct every 3 months.

He did stage me at Stage 1 and seemed happy to follow someone that wasn't at stage 2 or 3.

It was nice to have a Doctor say it was ok to wait and see.. if it pops up we will kill so don't worry he stated "let me worry for you as I am OCD it is my job to worry for you and kill it if it comes back" (got to love that).

Time for some good luck and crossing my fingers and toes that it is gone for good!

Ok Dadmo and Scott and the rest of the board tell me what you think was he blowing smoke or telling me the truth

Brian

[dadmo]

Brian:
With a normalization of your markers surveillance seems like a great option. With embryonal carcinoma it may skip the nodes and go directly to the lungs so I don't know that jumping at an RPLND would be cureative. I think your doctor is right go with the surveillance but don't miss any appointments.

[IowaBrian]

Don't plan on missing anything the girlfriend, Mom, Dad, friends, co-workers would kill me
I asked for extra blood test(every week if needed) but he sort of laughed said good idea but not needed I would pay my co pay every week for life if it means no more treatment since I, like everyone just doesn't want any more treatment if it can be helped. One surgery is plenty for my life Besides I am too busy at work to miss any more time gone for a week and it will take three weeks to catch up So NO chemo this is gone gone gone!!!!
Thanks for the reply dadmo..

[Fish]

Brian:

I also think surveillance is a good choice. When I had my first TC in 1988, RPLND was fairly standard treatment for non-seminomas. However, as Dadmo said, doctors now know that embryonal cell carcinoma can often skip the lymph nodes, so taking them out is not always helpful. Your doctor sounds great, and he's right, if anything shows up, you'll catch it early and get rid of it.

Best wishes,

Jim

[huckchef]

i agree with them!! make the most out of the days to come and things will be better for you soon!!! my thoughts and prayers will continue for you! best of luck and stay positive!!! Brian

[Mom]

Great news, Brian. Your doctor makes sense. Don't miss any appointments esp. the blood work. You have the right attitude to handle surveillance. We've got some guys here that have done really well. Dianne

[petep]

brian, read my thread...

http://www.tc-cancer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3015

very similar...but good chance for you that you will be able to avoid chemo...I did not, but I'm done with it as of 3 weeks ago.

good luck with everything...

[IowaBrian]

I have read your other post thanks for the support. Sorry to see you had to do the chemo (that SUCKS) hope I never have to do it but advice that you posted as to how to cope is welcome. There are things that I never thought I would have to think about 2 weeks ago but if the chemo is ever needed post like yours will help guide me to make it seem like just a short time of my life. (I would have bet my gun collection that I wouldn't be thinking about if chemo is needed or would I want a port or not, will I be able to work on the off weeks etc....just 3 short weeks ago.)

[mikeygti]

Brian,

I agree that suveillance is a good choice. However with primarily E/C,and V/I and L/I present,don't make any summer vaction plans that can't easily be cancelled. And for sure as other posters have said,DON'T MISS YOUR TEST APPOINTMENTS !

Best Wishes

[Scott]

Brian, surveillance is a fine choice. The uncertainty can be troubling, but you always know the chemotherapy safety net will catch you if the time comes, and there's a good chance it never will.

[petep]

glad I could help brian...I check back in often and will offer any solutions I can...the odds are significantly in your favor....but my experience with chemo was quite positive...the worst side effect from 5-7 years ago and earlier was the nausea, which leads to all other problems...most of the nausea issues have been solved by all the new meds...

I told others starting out that we've all had the flu before...and if someone ever told you a week ahead of time what you'd be experiencing you'd be scared to death...chemo is much longer than the flu, but I'd tell you that I've felt 10x worse with flu's I've had...chemo for me was just feeling very tired, weak and odd...

but this weekend on sat I did 2 hours of yardwork, went swimming again, took my son to the shooting range and hit some golf balls with him...I feel fine now...and I finished just several weeks back.

On your gun collection, during my home time, I cut down a couple stocks and added pachmayr F990 pads which I grinded down for a nice fit...been wanting to do that for a year....always something positive to look at I suppose.

[IowaBrian]

URO visit today 5-15-06

Doctor said everything looked good and that surveillance sounded like a good thing at this point. I go back to see him in 3 months and will now be followed by the Oncologist for the blood test, xrays and ct scans and follow ups.
For now things are rolling along

[Mom]

Good luck to you, Brian. Make sure you keep those appointments! Dianne

[IowaBrian]

Back to Uro and question to post I/O members

Back to the Uro today due to pain on the left side of the groin not anything bad but every once in a while walking up stairs I would get a milder version of the pain that I got on the right side. Uro nurse thought it would be good idea to let doctor take a look and he believes that there is a cyst but it isn't attached to the lone testical so that is good news I hope. I do have to go for another ultra sound next week just to make sure something isn't going on but from the tone of the doctor he thinks all is well. It sure wasn't like 6 weeks ago when it was non stop testing and different doctors for 8 hours only to be told you are having surgery the next business day.

Question to those after the I/O did you seem to have any mood changes it sure seems that I have turned into a giant jerk with the patience of a gnat. The doctor believes that it is stress and things will get better after a few more months of good test results. I asked about T levels and he said even if it was low he wouldn't start me on anything for a while since it shuts done the testical and that isn't a good thing if you want any children. He belives that level sould be going up after the I/O but it might take a little while for it to get going 100 %. I think what he is saying is go home drink a beer a relax... but he couldn't really
Brian

[dadmo]

Brian:
Yes he's telling you to relax but i"m not sure about not having your "t" levels checked. I think you should at least know what they are. As a side note I'm a jerk a lot and I wasn't even sick.