The Verdict

[Scott]

I saw the doc for my post-op today, and he has hooked me up with a radiation oncologist who happens to work in the same building I do. This should work out great. I could go to work in the lab early in the morning and hop on the elevator right before going home to go get the treatment.

Well, it doesn't get much more convenient than that!

[Fed]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the replies. Needless to say, I did look at all of my options carefully (that was what I did the whole time I was recovering from the I/O; it's great to have PubMed access at home!). I also had lengthy conversation with my best man, who happens to be the Chief Resident in urology at New York Presbyterian (and who has trained under Joel Sheinfeld at MSKCC), so I am confident I am well-informed. Besides, I sometimes have the tendency of stressing out too much, and I know I don't deal too well with uncertainties, so I would rather try to minimize them as much as possible. I feel prepared for what comes next, and I'm ready to fight this.

My buddy also told me soon after my diagnosis that I should get a CD with all of my radiology films for my records and in the event I ever need a baseline scan. I received the copy in the mail today, and the geek in me came out and I started looking at the films. They are wicked cool. I was totally amazed at the level of detail you can get with these scans nowadays.

I saw the doc for my post-op today, and he has hooked me up with a radiation oncologist who happens to work in the same building I do. This should work out great. I could go to work in the lab early in the morning and hop on the elevator right before going home to go get the treatment. I'm sure I'll be asking about tips regarding management of the treatment and side effects due to the zapping. There are plenty of experienced people around here so you'll keep hearing from me. Thanks in advance!

[41FromMI]

I knew that you cannot drink during RT, but I also did not know you had to wait for a while after. I'm not much of a drinker but boy oh boy I am looking forward to a huuuuge celebratory outing after this is behind me. Also didn't know I should wait to start running again . Are there guidelines on how long your body needs to rest before you can resume "normal" activities after RT?

[cbuysse]

Good deal man. I know that feeling of elation all to well. The radiation will be three weeks and done no biggy really. I can say that now that it is a few months behind me. Make sure after the radiation is over they check your liver enzymes, mine were off the charts afterwards but are getting better now. I say this only because my Rad Oncologist neglected to warn me about not drinking for a while after treatments. I went on Vacation with my family and my college roomates family and drank all week. Which in hindsite was foolish but i was just so stoked to be done with it all and was never told to not drink etc. I am not sure that you even drink alcohol but that is the one thing I wish they would have asked me about and warned me about as well.

[djmac]

I was in similar situation. Also wanted to be done with it, so I opted for RT. I'm in my second week of RT. Feels like I have the flu is how I describe the effects. Belly aches, lower backache, blah feeling. I'm on Kytril, one tab a day to keep the nausea away. Can't wait to be done so I can get back to life, running and getting back in shape. This thing has kicked my butt for over a month now, I'm anxious to be done with it. Good luck.

I would avoid running for some time after the radiation.

djm

[41FromMI]

I was in similar situation. Also wanted to be done with it, so I opted for RT. I'm in my second week of RT. Feels like I have the flu is how I describe the effects. Belly aches, lower backache, blah feeling. I'm on Kytril, one tab a day to keep the nausea away. Can't wait to be done so I can get back to life, running and getting back in shape. This thing has kicked my butt for over a month now, I'm anxious to be done with it. Good luck.

[Already Bald]

Second opinion on Path

Good Luck, I think I would habe chosen the radiation as well.
As far as the non invasion, TC is pretty rare and a many pathologists have little experience with this type of tumor. Might consider a second opinion on the Path. I had mine read three times, and the first one was wrong- they concluded no invasion. Then I went to PENN and Sloan-Kettering who both agreed that there was invasion, and indeed I'm stage III now. All good though- still highly treatable- I don't mean to scare you, but this is important...

[dadmo]

This is one of the toughest and most personel decisions anyone can make. I'm sure with your backround you considered everything. Congratulations on the desision and remember you really had no bad choices.

[Scott]

Radiation therapy is a fine treatment choice, but I hope you gave surveillance serious consideration, since there's at least an 80% chance you're already cured. Whatever your choice, you will indeed beat cancer!

[djmac]

Hi Fed,

Congrats, You'll beat this thing! I was in that weird place a couple of months ago, where you're actually celebrating that you have a specific type of cancer .

Regards,

djm

[Fed]

I got the call today at 10 a.m. from the urologist. The verdict: stage I pure seminoma without lymphovascular invasion (staged at pT1 NX MX). The doc outlined two courses of action:

a) I am a candidate for surveillance. Cure rate >98% with 5-year recurrence of 15%.
b) Go for the kill with adjuvant radiation. Cure rate >99% with 5-year recurrence of 3%. Side effects quite likely.

My immediate thought was, "If I have a shot at beating this for good, now's my chance." The doc is setting up a meeting with the radiation oncologist. I'll be spending a few days in Florida with my kid and my wife (I'm not taking any work along), and we will likely start zapping the living daylight out of any leftovers late this month or in January. If I have to endure a couple of weeks with nausea and fatigue to spend more quality time with my family, bring it on.

As soon as I hung up, I called my wife Brooke to break the news to her. With my voice cracking with elation, she could tell that I was stoked. Now I am more confident than ever that I will beat this.

Thanks for listening. I'll keep with the updates.