Has anyone had the RPLND done by a Chicago Surgeon?

[ElmoGrover]

My signifigant other is facing the RPLND. (his tumor was 90% embrynal, so it has been recomended that he have the RPLND). Anyhow, we saw a urologist here that came highly recomended in terms of skill. In person he was a total jerk. He explained our options and then got up, and told us if we had any questions to call his secretary. So then we went and saw on Oncologist today and she highly recomends going to Indiana University for the surgery. My boyfriend doesn't want to have it done there becuase it's 4 hours away and to get back for follow up would be a pain, and then to drive back a few days after the surgery wouldn't be very fun. At this point it seems like we have to stick with the recomended Chicago doctor who is a jerk, go to Indiana, or find another surgeon in Chicago. Does anyone have experience or a recomendation for another Chicago surgeon that you think is good in terms of doing the RPLND? Or has anyone had the RPLND done at IU by Dr. Foster or Beck and think we should just have it done there?

[dadmo]

ElmoGrover:
I would certainly have it done by Dr. Foster. A four hour trip is nothing compaired to a poorly done RPLND.
Can you give any info on your friends cancer treatment so far? Did he have chemo, are his nodes swollen. The fact that he has embryonal carcinoma isn't enought of a reason to have an RPLND.

[Mom]

You should never let inconvenience determine your course of treatment. If it is not done correctly and by someone you can trust, you might be inconvenienced for the rest of your life. We all know you will be in good hands with Dr. Foster. Who is suggesting the RPLND and why? Dianne

[Kman99]

Click the attached link for info on TC experts in Chicago - http://tcrc.acor.org/experts.html#chicago

Hopefully this gives your signif other another alternative in Chicago. An RPLND procedure (if that is really the recommended outcome), in my humble opinion, should be done by a urologist/surgeon who has lots of TC experience, regardless of convenience. Even if that results in the travels to IU. As you can see, I completely agree with what the others suggest.

I travel from outside the US to Dana Farber in Boston quite a bit, which is very from from convenient. And I've been one of the lucky one to endure surveillance so far. Not to make light of surveillance, as it has challenges. But the RPLND and/or Chemo requires much more and if I relapse, you can bet I'll be at one of the expert facilities!

Do you have more info on your signif others primary tumor (exact %'s, size) from the path report, his blood work (AFP, HcG) and CT Scan?

[ElmoGrover]

cander info

The tumor was 90% embrynal, it penetrated the yolk sac, but did not go through, was not present in the spermadic cord, and had "multi-focal penetration into the lympmnodes." We have had two second opinions, have read all the information we can get our hands on, and are pretty sure that we want to do the RPLND. THe doctors say we can go with surveillance, but my boyfriend wants to try and avoid chemo. He is very afraid of the side effects of chemo, and doesn't think he can deal with the stress of surveillance. Both doctors we have been to have said that because of the specifics of his cancer, the likiehood that he will need additional treatment is close to 40%. We will go to Indiana if we cannot find someone here in Chicago, but we'd prefer to stay close to home if we could find someone good.

[Scott]

I think "it penetrated the yolk sac, but did not go through" is a misunderstanding. Be aware that having RPLND surgery, especially with embryonal carcinoma which sometimes skips straight to the lungs, won't guarantee that you avoid chemotherapy.

[Lori]

My husband and I thought we would stay close to home for his treatment as well thinking that the support system and being in our home would provide much needed comfort. However, we are now temporarily living in Indiana under the care of Dr. Einhorn and feel deep in our hearts that we are in the absolute best place to be. We have befriended another TC patients family who are also from out of the state and they too believe they would not be getting any better treatment anywhere else. In fact, we have decided that we will fly back here monthly for our survellience. My husband will be undergoing surgery here, but we haven't met the surgeons yet so can't help you there. But I highly recommend you really consider IU. If you make the trip and there is anything I can do for you (we will be here till the end of January) please reach out to me.

[Davie]

This is not wisdom teeth removal, this is serious surgery. I'd struggle to put my life in someone who I considered to be a jerk.

My analogy would be the traveller who always flys on a plane with 4 engines. Asked why, the traveller replied that he can't find a plane with 6 engines. Minimise your risk.

I'm up for a post-chemo RPLND sometime this month, and my surgeon has done 350+ of these surgeries. He told me he has trained another surgeon who can do this surgery. I didn't care for this, as I want the best. I told him I'm happy to have this surgery as long as he does the whole surgery including opening and closing me up.

I'm based in the UK, and even I've heard of Dr. Foster's reputation. There's quite a few blokes who've had their surgery with Dr. Foster, and I'm sure they'll post their experience.

Insist on the best.

[dadmo]

ElmoGrover:
I'm far from qualified to give any medical advise but I can give my opinion. I would get the chemo first, you need to kill the cancer, that is the beast that can steal your future the quickest. It's these issues that you need to discuss with a true expert not your local oncologist.

[indiana9]

Elmogrover,
Dr. Foster performed my RPLND at the IU medical center. The man is a genius who performs RPLND surgerysseveral times a week. Without his expertise I likely would have lost my kidney, not to mention that ALL of my plumbing works spectacularly. You are 4 hours away from the best testicular cancer treatment the world has to offer. The RPLND is expensive so I can understand looking hard inside your insurance network to determine if there is someone local who is an acclaimed RPLND surgeon, but if the IU medical center and its staff are included in your insurance network, you should strong consideration to taking advantage of their expertise. Good luck!
Brian