Do I need to keep getting check ups after 6 Years??

[RealDeal]

I had stage 1 non-seminoms TC in July of 2000.I went through 2 rounds of BEP.The Doctor's reccomended that.My Doctor told me after 2 years of being Cancer free from Non-Seminoms TC that it was highly unlikely I would get a relapse.I usually have 6 month appointment's with the various blood test's.The scan's are yearly if i remember correctly.Im just wondering if I can just put this behind me or is it just not wise to stop going to the 6 month appointment's

[Fish]

Check out the NCCN practice guidelines for testicular cancer:

http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp

It appears to me that after 6 years, they recommend testing once a year.

You can also look at:

http://www.tcrc.acor.org/surveil.html

The have a surveillence protocol that goes to once a year after 5 years.

Is your doctor still insisting on every 6 months? or just stuck in the old pattern?

If it were me, I would feel comfortable going to once a year after 6 years.
After my first case of TC in 1988, my doctor told me the same thing, after 2 years, the chances of recurrence are very small.

Just don't forget the self exam on the remaining testicle.

[RealDeal]

Check out the NCCN practice guidelines for testicular cancer:

http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp

It appears to me that after 6 years, they recommend testing once a year.

You can also look at:

http://www.tcrc.acor.org/surveil.html

The have a surveillence protocol that goes to once a year after 5 years.

Is your doctor still insisting on every 6 months? or just stuck in the old pattern?

If it were me, I would feel comfortable going to once a year after 6 years.
After my first case of TC in 1988, my doctor told me the same thing, after 2 years, the chances of recurrence are very small.

Just don't forget the self exam on the remaining testicle.

Im just stuck in the old pattern I think.He just continues to give me a script for the bloodwork to get done every 6 months and says he's sure i will be fine.I may go back after 12 month's from now on.As far as the self exam on the remaining testicle.I got a big scare last summer when I found a lump on my other remaining testicle.I automatically thought it was Cancer but after a visit to the Urologist is was diagnosed as an Epidermal Cyst.I remembered that in 2000 it was a hard Lump while this is a soft Lump that has not gone away 14 month's later.I heard that these Cyst's are common in guy's that have had TC.I don't know if that's true??It doesn't get to big so I don't need surgery thank God.From what I read there is a 4% chance of getting TC in the remaining Testicle.Good odds or bad odds.It depends on who is the 4%.Thankfully even if it happens in both testicle's it is almost alway's curable.That's important for all of us to remember.