help with diagnosis

[zzac]

Hi! I'm 34 years old and had lower groin 5 months after a hernia repair, so I return to the surgeon who said the hernia was fine but you need to see a urologist.
Went to the urologist who orderded an ultrasound 8 days later the results came in (I know a very long wait) the report said and varicele in the scrotum and a mass in the testicle (the doctor said a black spot on the ultrasound). He ordered and AFP, HCG and LDH which I had done the next day and he called be again 4 days after the bloodwork was done and said it was all normal. He suggests waiting 4-6 weeks to repeat the ultrasound and then if it is the same size or larger he will remove it. Do this sound right? How many times are the markers normal and it is still cancer? Are there any problems with only having one testicle? Thanks for your help

[Eric]

ZZAC

You will have to keep an eye on this. There is 2 kind of testicular cancer. Seminoma and non-seminoma. Most of the time seminoma does not give positive markers. But at this time it's too soon too conclude. And yes it's possible to live with only one testicle because the other is suposed to produce 1 1/2 time it's capacity when the other one is gone.

[dadmo]

zzac:
It's my non-medical opinion that your docgtor is making a big mistake. It's quite possible that if you have seminoma your blood work will be normal. Any solid mass in the testicle should be examined and the sooner the better. As you get older the chances of being diagnosed with seminoma increase.

[Scott]

A solid mass in the testicle is almost always cancer. It's important to have a follow-up conversation with your doctor or get a second opinion. If it is cancer, you don't want to give it a chance to spread.

[Fed]

As the gentlemen before me posted, this is something that warrants a second opinion. A solid mass inside a testicle is malignant 95% of the time. A lack of tumor markers does not necessarily mean that everything is OK (I didn't show any).

On the side, the issue of medical delays due to the lack of tumor markers is really upsetting me because it seems to be popping up more and more. I understand that seminomas are not as aggressive as other types of TC, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous if not treated promptly.

[Margaret]

please do not wait the 4-6 weeks. Go see your doctor asap.

[boyce]

Get it gone

Regardless of whether it is cancerous or not, the most likely treatment option will be an orchiectomy (just call me uno!)

Don't wait..my tumor was doubling in size each week..they were soon to call me the man with 3 heads!

Seriously..get to a new doc and get that bad nugget gone. We'll all pray that it is non-cancerous, but nothing good can come by waiting and hoping it will get normal again. It won't.

[dadmo]

This happens far to often. With Lance being such a high profile survivor you would think the doctors would have more awareness when it comes to tc. A big sigh from me too.

[fuse929]

My first trip to the urologist was for a painless lump in the testicle. Like you, I had a dark spot on the ultrasound and my blood work came back completely normal. The doctor told me to come back three weeks later for a follow-up ultrasound. Long story short.......it was a seminoma (cancer).

For time's sake and also for your own peace of mind, it is my opinion from experience that waiting and doing research on-line about cancer, and all the worry that goes along with it, was far worse then the surgery and pathology apprehension. 4-6 weeks is way too long. For me, 3 weeks was a lifetime. Get your next check moved up.

Bobby

[zzac]

Thanks

WOW thanks you so much for sharing all your knowledge. I made a appointment at the Karmonas Cancer Center here is Detroit and will be seeing a urological oncologist on the 19th-soonest appointment available but I guess better than 4-6 weeks.

[dadmo]

You did a great job moving it up by 4 1/2 weeks but if you could improve that date it would be even better. Did you tell them that you have a confirmed mass in the testicle?

[Kev332]

Call the new doctor's office everyday to see if they have any cancelations or open spots... Try to get copies of your ultrasound report and any other reports you can get your hands on to have with you when you go,,, although i'm sure the new place will do all new x-rays, labs etc.... (remember, you have the right to any and all of your medical records).

Good luck,
-Kevin

[Fed]

WOW thanks you so much for sharing all your knowledge. I made a appointment at the Karmonas Cancer Center here is Detroit and will be seeing a urological oncologist on the 19th-soonest appointment available but I guess better than 4-6 weeks.

That's a start, but you should keep fighting for an earlier time slot. Kev's advice is also sound. Nowadays you can get copies of all of your radiology on CD-ROM fairly quickly.

Markers. I had primarily EC and had none.

...and embryonal carcinoma (EC) is considerably more aggressive than seminoma. I rest my case.

[oscar666]

Check it ASAP

ZZAC

Don't wait!
Ask another doctor ASAP!
You should do this IMPORTANT step now! Nothing else!
This is the only thing that depends on you.

[wolken]

WOW thanks you so much for sharing all your knowledge. I made a appointment at the Karmonas Cancer Center here is Detroit and will be seeing a urological oncologist on the 19th-soonest appointment available but I guess better than 4-6 weeks.

i dont know how you can wait that long .I'm from Michigan , you should make another appt. Urology specialists of Michigan in Royal Oak can defintelly schedule one for you next week.Dont wait too long .