RPLND vs. surveillance

[Scott]

Did your doctors indicate what factors about your particular situation they used to estimate the likelihood of recurrence?

Be sure to read this TCRC page about considerations when deciding for or against surveillance and page TEST-6 of the NCCN guidelines.

[dadmo]

My choice would be surveillance. Using the odds that the doctors gave you you have a 50% chance of getting treated when you don't need to. Chemo can cause real problems, I would save it for when I'm sure it's needed. As you may know embryonal carcinoma can skip the lymph nodes so going an RPLND may not be a cure.

[zoltar]

so---

officially, stage 1 non-seminoma (embryonal carcinoma/yolk sac) (clear CATS and no lymphatic invasion) and i'm wondering about people's experiences with making the decision between watchful waiting and RPLND.

i'm basically at the point where i'm trying to make a decision. it would seem odds are against surveillance at this point as my urologist/oncologist said there's a >50% chance that it would reoccur. i'd love to hear people who took either route and their experience...esp. am curious about people who took the surveillance route.

so...any good resources (aside from here) about making this decision? did everyone get a second opinion? anyone treated at USC, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

thanks.