It's Been a While, but here I am again.

[Bob cp]

A check of my posts indicated I had not included anything since early April when it was decided to do surveillance. Since that time, I have had two blood tests which came back with no cancer markers. However, the latest CT Scan from July 12 indicated a 3.5 X 2.5cm growth on the lymph nodes.
I meet with the oncologist soon, and the type of chemo will be determined.
If I understood everything correctly from the docs down in Indy, there was a 50/50 chance this might happen in the first seven months following the orichotomy. They indicated if I made it past these seven months with no recurrence, then the odds improved dramtically for staying cancer free.
Well, it lasted almost 5 months. Even then, I understand that the success rate is something over 90%. So, although I am somehwat bummed, and even angry--thinking I should have decided on the surgery or chemo back in April instead of surveillance-- I am really not scared or fearful other than the unknown of chemo.

So, this is where it is now. The next few weeks will firm everything up as far as treatment.

Bob
diagnosed: 2/2007 right orch. 2/26/07 lab3/1/07:mixed-germ cell 40% non-seminoma embroynic carcinoma 60% seminoma stage 1B tc2 lymphatic invasion CT Scan 3/17/07: clear Blood test 3/15/07:no cancer markers.
surveillance 4/07 Blood tests in May and June:clear. CT Scan 7/12/07:
3.5 X 2.5cm growth on lymph nodes.

[Karen]

Bob,
Sorry to see you back with something besides an "all clear". Do you have your newest markers? Chest X-ray OK? The chemo will knock those TC cells back to where they belong.....dead! Let us know when you start and what treatment and we'll be here for you!

[Already Bald]

Tough news, Bob.
At least they had the CT from March as a base line. You will get through the chemo. Do you know if you had teratoma?

[Margaret]

Bob, sorry to hear this news. I am not a big fan of surveillance only because it leaves so many "if's" lingering. I will tell you that chemo was the biggest fear my husband had. The best thing he did was actually talk on the phone to a guy that had just finished getting all his treatments done. It was the best phone he could have made...actually hung up the phone smiling....when I asked him if the call made him feel better I got a BIG nod and smile.

He worked the entire time he was in chemo and he did 4 full rounds with bleo. He was tired and he needed rest, but it did not match the fears he had about what he thought it would be. If you would like to speak to him or me for that matter, we would be honored to take your call, just let me know. Lean on all of us...together we can all get through this.

Thinking of you,

M

[oscar666]

hi

Bob,
Don’t regret for your choice 5 months ago.
It was the most conformable for you at this moment, that’s it.
We all know, how difficult is to take any of these 3 ways after the initial diagnosis.
Now, it’s time to action. Try to get another opinion regarding your last results, confirm the next step, and go ahead.
Be strong!

Peter

[Mom]

Yup Bob, you are going to have to suck this up, stay positive and move forward. You will get through chemo. The hardest part is the anxiety before hand. The thing about TC is that it hits young men and the treatment is aggressive, but you are young and you can take it and you will recover quickly. You are probably too young to remember PacMan but while my son was going through chemo I used to visualize chemo as PacMan, just gobbling up that cancer. He will gobble up all of yours. Dianne

[ido3dfx]

you are your best descision maker

Sorry to here the news, but the rest of the post is positive. There is a plan, there is a very good success rate, and most all you have support and strength.

Never forget the people here they are some of the best, even just to read what is going on. Stay strong, stay positive and give a shout if you ever want to just talk.

[boyce]

You made the right choice

Hi Bob,

No time now to regret your choice. You made the best one for you at the time given the information that you had.

Chemo is no walk in the park, but it is short term and Very effective. Your oncologists will go over what to expect and all, but the people here have been through such a range of experience with Tc that it is really likely that you'll find someone who has been through the identical situation regarding chemo and any side effects to come.

Please, call or email me directly. I was a 4x BEPer and had pretty much every complication possible while in chemo. No horror stories though. Just a tough few months and the knowledge that those damn cancer cells hated it more than I did.

I'm all clear now, after chemo and RPLND.

You can do this, Bob. You Can do this. We believe in you!!

[dadmo]

Bob:
Your decision 5 months ago was a good one and looking back wont change anything. You'll get through this and we're still here for you when ever you need us.

[Bob cp]

You people are so awesome! With what I am facing, and what my wife has been through with her health,(I'll go into those details later) I was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed.

The thing about this whole process is how I came to even find out what was going on in the first place. As I said, I had the CT Scan on July 12, and was scheduled to see my oncologist on August 8 to discuss the results. Obviously, he did not think they would find anything at this point. In the meantime, I saw my primary care physican for a general checkup, and since I was complaining of pain not only at the incision site from the oriechtomy(4 months later) but back pain, he ordered a copy of the CT Scan as well. On Monday of this week, my oncologist's office called and told me they needed to change my appointment from August 8 to July 30--the day my oncologist returns from vacation. I asked why, and they said he wants to go over the CT Scan results with me. You can imagine the thoughts that began going through my mind. Then I remembered that my primary care physican was also receiving the report from the CT Scan. I contacted him. In fact, I stopped in his office. He sat me down and told me the results about the growth on the lymph nodes. He started to say I should not delay in seeing my oncologist. I then explained to him the whole vacation bit. And he said there are other oncologists in that office, and maybe I should see one of them. Then he backtracked and said, "your oncologist knows your situation better and will be more knowledgeable about what course of treatment would be best." He then put his arm around my shoulder and told me not to worry and that two weeks will not make that much of a difference. So this is why I even know the info about the CT Scan results. I will not know the details or anything else until the 30th. Until then, I guess I just go on living each day and keep my faith.

Thanks again for all of your words of support. I will update everyone and might even take up some of the invitations to call after I know for sure what awaits.

Bob

[Karen]

We are here for you Bob...no worries there. It never seems to fail that when you really need to see your doc they are on vacation! Can your GP get bloodwork ordered to check the markers and get a chest X-ray? that way when your onc gets back he'll have more info.

Hang in there!!!

[Mom]

Bob, I just noticed that you are from Indiana. That is where Dr. Einhorn is located (Indiana University). He is the foremost expert in TC. You might think about contacting him regarding your reoccurrence.

[Scott]

I'm sorry to hear that you'll need more treatment, Bob.

You made a fine decision, with chemotherapy as your safety net. It's there to catch you now. "Forget regret or life is yours to miss."

All my best to you and your wife both. We're here for you.

[Fed]

Hey Bob,
I just caught on with your post. As many have said, don't look back: your best call is to face things head-on. As always, we are here for whatever you need. Hang tough and keep us posted,

[Margaret]

We are all standing beside you Bob, and if you need someone to talk to, there are many here that can walk you through what treatment will be like. Let us know what the doctor says and if you can think of any ways we can help. I know it is a scary time for you but I know you can do it!!!!