RPLND surgery date coming up 8/17

[Scott]

(Pssst, Robert: Ken's surgery was on 8/17/2006. )

[dadmo]

Ken:
Keep those all clears comming.

[Scott]

That's great news, Ken! May there be many more "all clear" reports to come!

[rosewoodblues]

A 6 month check in

Hi all,

I have had life come crashing in with all its glory! 6 months seems to have flown by and I had my CT scan/blood work done. Though I spoke over the phone with the doctor (goofed up and didn't set an appointment) the CT scans came back clean and bloodwork normal!
I just thought I would share my elation with this forum. I put more of it on my website www.kenhawkins.net but thank you all again for your support through this. With luck next august will go the same!

peace and love,
ken;

[rosewoodblues]

Hi scott,

it seems to be more just around the incision area and getting better every day. I called it bloating though it can be characterized as leftover swelling. I lost about 18 lbs. as well so I seem to have a little pooch of a stomach now.

ken;

[Scott]

How bloated? Seeming to get better or worse?

[rosewoodblues]

Thanks again one and all and I am glad to hear that I was not alone in the solid food pain department. I had my staples taken out yesterday 54 and feel like I can move better however I'm sure it is a combination of the staples out and the sugar pill effect of getting them out. I am still overwhelmed from time to time about the nodes coming back clean. The clean nodes and the surgery means for me that I have a CT scan in 6 months then if it comes back clean another in 1 year. Some people I'm sure are better at monitoring however myself, I still wouldn't trade the pain of surgery for the peace of mind afterwards. Now I have about 4 weeks before I can start to run again and try to get myself back in shape. This will be a frustrating time I'm sure but I am truly blessed to not have to endure chemo after this or other surgeries related to a positive pathology report.
On the scar front I am still a bit lumpy and it seems like my stomach is still bloated a bit. Dr. Carney says that this is normal and the timeline for this to subside is relative to the patient. Anyone have any insight into getting the swelling down?

[Dave V]

Congratulations, Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Dave

[Davie]

Ken,

I know in your earlier messages you ummed and arrghhed about whether or not to go through with the surgery. It was courageous of you, and whilst the sugery is not pleasant, you now know you're cured. I think that peace of mind is worth any pain of surgery.

Great news!......Davie

[dadmo]

Ken:
On of the few times I have ever seen my son cry was when his post RPLND path report came back with an "all clear". What a relief!! Congratulations.

[retroperitommy]

mind the dates

Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the operative feasibility, clinical outcomes, and complications of laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND) after chemotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical records from 7 patients who underwent laparoscopic RPLND after chemotherapy was performed. Five patients presented with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor after orchiectomy. One patient was diagnosed with pure seminoma and one with epididymal small cell cancer. All 7 patients received multiagent chemotherapy for clinical Stage IIA or higher disease, followed by laparoscopic RPLND for findings of a residual retroperitoneal mass on computed tomography or a prechemotherapy mass size greater than 3.0 cm. The mean tumor diameter was 3.07 cm before chemotherapy and 1.91 cm after chemotherapy. A modified laparoscopic left (n = 3), right (n = 3), and bilateral (n = 1) template was used. None of the patients had received radiotherapy before surgery. RESULTS: Postchemotherapy laparoscopic RPLND was successfully completed in 5 (71.4%) of 7 patients. Two patients required a conversion to open surgery. The overall complication rate was 57.1% (4 of 7), with a major complication incidence of 42.8% (3 of 7). No mortalities were recorded. Of the 5 patients who presented with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor after orchiectomy, 3 were found to have retroperitoneal lymph nodes consistent with mature teratoma, 1 had necrotic tissue, and 1 had residual viable tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic RPLND is a feasible operation in patients after systemic chemotherapy. This technique remains challenging at this time and should be reserved for patients with limited residual disease and should only be performed at institutions with considerable laparoscopic expertise.

Tat article was from 2002 - 4 years ago. In some fields thatis a long time. Always lookat the time when researching articles.

[Fish]

Glad to hear things went well. I also had a lot of pain when I started eating solid food.

That's fantastic that your nodes were all negative .

Take it slow and don't rush your recovery - especially NO heavy lifting - by that I mean nothing heavier than your arms.

Best wishes.

[Kev332]

THats great news Ken! Glad things went smoothly for the most part. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

-Kevin

[Mom]

Wonderful news, Ken. I am sure you are relieved and now well on your way to recovery. There is something to be said for "peace of mind." Take time with your recovery. Don't try to do too much too soon even though you probably will think you can take on the world now since you've beat cancer! Dianne

[rosewoodblues]

Out and about! Hi all I am here again though it has taken me a while. The long and short is that the surgery went fine. Dr. Carnery removed 26 lymph nodes. I was in-patient for exactly 1 week (7 days). I had to spend a few extra due to a problem with my lower intestines. They did not want to wake up and work on their own right away. All I can say is WOW any doctor who can do a surgery like this one is truly a miracle worker! My surgery (table time) was 4 hours though it took a bit over 6 hours to prep and post me to get me into a room afterwards. The nurses had me up the next morning an moving to chairs and by the afternoon I was scooting in the hall way a bit. Could be epidural and the drugs that helped out for the first few days.
I got to try my first real food again on Tuesday evening and it did not go well. I wasn't sick but was in some serious pain stomach and intestine wise! And the lymph nodes? All 26 came back negative! I cried in the bed as I was so happy to hear the news! I new that my risk was low and that I could have opted for monitoring however, I went ahead with it due to all the circumstances with my diagnosis. I am so glad that I did!
Many, MANY thanks to everyone here! You have all been an inspiration and a rock in the storm of this diagnosis for me! I will still be here and posting on progress etc. however, Dr. Carney has told me I am looking extremely well and should be as healthy as I possibly can be. Oh and what a scar it is too! My brother asked me why they couldn't cut a straight a line to which I responded they didn't have a flat canvas to start with

peace and love to all!
ken;