Son is scheduled for RPLND Wed

[worried Mom]

Its been a while since I have been to this site. My son was diagnosed with agressive advanced testicular cancer Dec 12 last year. The cancer had moved into his brain and caused some loss of site...was in his lungs and abdomen. He was rushed to Ohio State and the treatment began immediately. His testical was removed ( he hit the record books for the largest mass). The treated him with 15 rounds of rediation and 4 rounds of chemo that included Bleo. We battled depression, Ecoli blood infection, 3 blood transfusions, bloot clots in both lungs.
He has many specialists that treat him. They have recently admitted to him that they did not give him much hope the first day they saw him...and decided to treat him so agressively as they didnt feel he had much to loose.
The good news is...he bounced back from it all. Diagnosed Dec 12th and returned to work, full duty in April!!! His hair grew back, all his weight and coloring returned. Since they immedialy put in a port, his arms and veins went undamaged. He was told he was a responder...and he truly was. His tumor markers quickly started to drop and never climbed back. He went back every 6 weeks for followup treatment...saw a lung specialist that advised him that his lungs are permenately damaged, but since he never smoked they will continue to "heal"...but will never be 100%
So.....we thought we could put all this behind us....

Last month the Drs at Ohio State advised that he continues to have suspicious lymph nodes in his abdomen and after 2 consultations the decision has been made to rmove his lymph nodes this Wed 11/15.

The Dr was very clear how serious this surgery is, but since they are worried that these lymph nodes contain teratomo cancer cells, we all want them out

My question....how is this surgery going to affect him....what should his wife and I expect to see and what should our expections be for his recovery short and long term??.

[indiana9]

Dear Worried Mom:
Your son has been through a heck of a lot already, but it sounds like he may have this one last step to go. Everyone has a little different experience with the RPLND, but the bottom line is that your son is going to come through this with flying colors. My only residual affect is some numbness in my feet (peripheral neuropathy) and a very interesting scar from the base of my sternum to below my belly button. After surgery I only had a catheter and a neck IV for delivering pain medication. I was given an epideural block which allowed me to awaken with feeling no pain whatsoever. I was up walking 6 hours after surgery, had the catheter removed the following morning, was released from the hospital 48 hours after surgery, and returned to work three weeks following surgery. As long as I laid still, I was not in much pain, but had deep stabbing pains for a few days when going from a prone position to standing. I would encourage your son to walk as soon as he is able and to continue walking. I was jogging/cycling again 3 months following my surgery
Best wishes to all of you as you travel down this path.
Brian

[DianeE]

Hi Worried Mom,

I was a worried Mom too a few months ago, so I know what you're
feeling. My son had the I/O and the RPLND and believe it or not, he
said the I/O had a more painful recovery time than the RPLND!!

This is a major surgery, but I've read on this site that the mortality
rate is somewhere near 0!! Honestly, it's bark is much worse than
it's bite.

My son had his RPLND done on a Friday, and he was walking around the
next day. He said it felt great to walk!! Once the tubes were out
of him, which was within a day or two, he was able to function again.
The important thing is to pass gas as soon as possible and keep
the intestines moving.

My son is BREwing on this site. If you have any questions, please
PM him. I know it's hard not to, but try not to worry too much
about this surgery. Your son has already gone through the hard stuff!!

Diane

[Vinny]

My question....how is this surgery going to affect him....what should his wife and I expect to see and what should our expections be for his recovery short and long term??.

The recovery is somewhat similar to having a c-section, if that gives you any frame of reference. He'll need to take things slowly, walking as much as he can as his strength returns. I was gone from work for several weeks and after coming back it took a few months before I was close to 100%. No heavy lifting for a while, nor driving, until the abdominal muscles have a chance to heal.

During the procedure they cut through the abdominal muscles, so breathing, coughing, crapping, rolling over in bed can be extraordinarily painful if not properly medicated. The good news is that your son will have plenty of meds available, from interthecal/epidural to morphine pump to high quality narcotics.

Good luck!

[nlferraro19]

How did it go?

Hi worried mom,

Just wondering how the RPLND went. Hope all went smooth and your son is on his was to a speedy recovery. My fiance may be having a RPLND to remove a residual mass left after chemo. Just trying to gather any information I can from personal experiences with this procedure. I understand you are probably pretty busy taking care of him. Again, best wishes.

Lisa-
(nlferraro19)

[worried Mom]

update after the surgery

Thanks to all for your feedback!
Surgery is over and he did great. The surgery did last about 7 hours. The Dr advised us that his lymph nodes were very very sticky due to the results of his chemo. In recovery he felt really nasty but the improvement started immediately. He had the same feeling....felt OK when laying still, but if he tried to sit up or turn over...big pain. He would not get up and move as he should so his recovery took about a day longer that it should. Once the Dr gave him a stern lecture and he got up and walked and walked and walked...he made a remarkable improvement. We were at Ohio State during the Michigan game and the visit from the football players was fun.
He was released from the hospital 1 week after his surgery. Was able to walk upright without much pain...his bowel function is still an issue, but I think that is normal.
He stated this surgery was much less painful than he expected. His lab results came back negative and the Dr feels he is "cured".
This ordeal started Dec 12th of last year...not even 1 year...and he is in remarkable shape. He has bounced back from 15 rounds of radiation, 4 full rounds of chemo...blood clots in both lungs, ecoli in his blood stream, removeal of his testical and now this surgery. He was able to return to work in June...his hair and weight all returned....and is expectiong to return to work again within 2 months. The clusters in his brain, they feel, are gone and his sight has returned. The only issue he will still have to deal with is the damge the bleo did to his lungs. But since he was never a smoker the hope is they will continue to heal...but will never be 100%
This site is really a great comfort....thanks to all who post!!

[indiana9]

Dear Worried Mom:
That is AWESOME news!
Brian

[dadmo]

Worried Mom:
Bowel problems are common after an RPLND. When the intestines are handeled they go into shock and it takes a while for them to return to normal. Congratulations on the all clear and thanks for posting.

[DianeE]

Hi Worried Mom,

I hope you'll be changing your screen name now to Relieved Mom!!

Your news is wonderful to read. Your son and you have been through
so much and it is great that the lab results were negative.

Enjoy this holiday season!!!!

Diane

[Lori]

Wonderful, wonderful news!!!

[nlferraro19]

Worried Mom,

That is great news! Here is to a much better year! Happy Holidays!

Lisa & Nick

[timothye]

This site is really a great comfort....thanks to all who post!!

This is just brilliant news . I hope i didnt HI jack this thread . i read all the posts and it is just INCREDIBLE ..
GOOD LUCK all the best
Cheers T

[Chris'Mom]

Dear worried Mom, I just read your posts, so glad things are going well....he has been thru alot.....my son Chris went thru chemo and RPLND, and I don't think you ever get over being a "Worried Mom"......take care...Mary Ellen