I am happy: All clean.

[sldl1106]

Oscar -

So glad to hear the happy news! Great numbers!!

[DAWN82]

keep up the good work oscar!!!!

[Savin16]

GREAT NEWS ! I'm so happy for you.

[mstlyn]

Excellent news Oscar.. Im glad to hear that you are doing well

[Fish]

Glad to hear the great news Oscar!!!!!

[oscar666]

Thanks

Thank you!

Ad Mans Mom asked:
My question for you when you say " Dont get to crazy with the CT results"
Why did 3 Drs. recommend the RPLND. You did no chemo/radiation, and is the RPLND done always prior to any Chemo/Radiation?

CT: The main purpose of CT-scans in case of TC is to try to “see” abnormal lymph nodes. How it works – something like this: If they are able to “see” enlarged lymph nodes AND there is some other matching signs, say blood tumor marker(s) are not returning normally after the last treatment, they may contain cancer.
I was told that the important for TC are the “retroperitoneal” nodes. My CT scan showed no “retroperitoneal” anomaly. However, on my question about the “other” enlarged lymph nodes, found on my CT scan, the doctors just answered, “Could be anything”. I expected "This is not from TC"

RPLND: Why?
- Guidelines.
- My doctors suggested RPLND. All were surgeons
- I wanted to do something. Not to worry every month’s CT findings and every day’s uncertainty.
- One CT scan is like 100’s X-rays.

Just one last thing, Ad Mans Mom.
Be careful when you read the forum threads. They are wonderful source of information but every case is specific!
Prepare your questions and ask doctors.
Only TC specialists could make conclusions.

[Fed]

Oscar this is fantastic! Time to open up the celebratory wine!

[Margaret]

wonderful news Oscar!

[Scott]

Ad Mans Mom: You'll also find a ton of great information at the Testicular Cancer Resource Center.

Note that radiation therapy is only applicable for pure seminoma (any other cancer cell types, and it's automatically treated as non-seminoma). RPLND surgery is only done with non-seminoma. The NCCN guidelines provide a great guide to help understand what treatment options are right in what circumstances.

[Ad Mans Mom]

Hi Oscar,

Great news for you, I read with great interest all you've been through. I hope you a clean checkups forever!!!!

My question for you when you say " Dont get to crazy with the CT results"
Why did 3 Drs. recommend the RPLND. You did no chemo/radiation, and is the RPLND done always prior to any Chemo/Radiation?

My son waiting for his first results from surgery yesterday and I'm finding more knowlege on this forum than from anywhere.

Thanks.

Ad Mans Mom

[Already Bald]

Terrific news, Oscar!!
It is good hearing from you!
I envy your 4 month appointments, I'm still every two...

[Scott]

10/23/2007: First 4-month follow up: ALL CLEAN!

Congratulations, Oscar, that's excellent news! Keep on enjoying life!

[oscar666]

Here is the story:
04/16/2007 Ultrasound: 4cm mass in left testis. Tumor markers: AFP:96.1 bHCG:2880 LDH:228
04/17/2007 Chest X-ray clear; CT scan: NOTHING abnormal in retroperitoneal area.
04/18/2007 I/O surgery. All OK post surgery period, 5 days off and back to work.
05/07/2007 Pathology: 60% Embroynal Carcinoma, 35% Seminoma, 5% Teratoma
Blood: AFP:4.9; bHCG:6;
All = Non-Seminoma TC in left testicle
05/16/2007 Second CT- Scan. Generally NOTHING abnormal in retroperitoneal area.
Other “FINDINGS”, I was concerned:

”There is a tiny dot size hypodensity in the segment VII of the liver probably incidental and there is another one in segment III. I suspect those are not highly significant. They should be compared with the previous study.
Gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands are normal.
There is no sizeable retroperitoneal adenopathy identified. However we see some mesenteric nodes. Some of them are not size significant. I , however, measured the most important ones: one of 8mm (image#), one of 10mm, one of 7mm and one of 8mm in the ileo-caecal region. Although they are not in the lymphatic drainage of the testicle, in the clinical context, they have to be surveyed I believe.
GI tract unremarkable.
No inguinal adenopathy. There are a post-surgical changes in the left inguinal region. There is slightly elongated left iliac node lateral to the external iliac vein to compare and survey on the next appointments.”

ON RPLND, ALL THESE “FINDINGS” WERE CHECKED. NOTHING WAS FOUND ABNORMAL! DONT GET TOO CRAZY FROM SUCH CT REPORTS
May 2007: Struggle to get “second opinion ”for next tr.. Impossible. No so many TC doctors here.
May 2007: Decision: RPLND. (As all my 3 doctors suggested). Chemo not discussed.
May 2007: Big struggle to get an earlier RPLND date. Earliest: 2-months post I/O. Agreed.
May 2007: Sperm banking,
06/07/2007 Blood: AFP:1.8; bHCG<1;
06/22/2007 Left side, Nerve Sparing RPLND. Dr Steinberg, Montreal, Canada. All GOOD!
RPLND Pathology: ALL CLEAN!
Next check-up schedule: Every 4-months (for 2 years). Blood & Chest X-ray only.
Post RPLND: Very good! About 3 weeks, almost like new.
July, August 2007: Enjoying the Life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10/23/2007: First 4-month follow up: ALL CLEAN!
Blood: AFP:0.8; bHCG<1; LDH:160
Chest X-ray: OK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next follow-up Feb-2008.

I am so happy! I wish everybody get cured!

THANKS

Note: Some of my blood test result's values might differ slightly from previously posted ones, because I posted what I remembered after my appointments. Finaly I received a copy of my file from the hospital.