TC Seminoma

[mindtilt]

Hi, I want to share my history (until now)...

I've noticed for some time that my right testicule was harder, but since It was smaller (since birth, I guess) and little different from the normal one ... I didn't became very worried....
I started think about go to doctor to talk about this problem... but since my doctor died ... I decided by my own to do blood test (just to see my cholesterol).
I went to get my results 22/11 and saw some strange results, I started wonder if I had any problem .... after some internet searchs ... BINGO ... I'm sure I've TC.
Next day I made an appointment with an Urologist (lucky, He had an desistance), and told my problem ....
After 10 minutes I was doing an Ultra Sonar, He told me I probably had an testicular Cancer ... Sent me to do CT scan and bllood tests.
2 hours after my appointment I was doing 4 CT scans .... scary ... (luckly one more time, I didn't eat since lunch , It was a guess....)
Results: CT clean Blood No markers .... next operation date : tomorrow
So I had my operation done day 23 at 11o'clock, right testicle removed, I stayed at clinic 3 days.
Last tuesday I went to see my doctor, and he told me that it was a pure seminoma with no vascular and no lymphatic invasion.
I felt lucky at this point ----
We started talking about my options now, chemo or radio ... I think I'm going to choose chemo (carbonplatin) ... any advices ? also I long should I wait until do sports (run, snowboard )? thanks everyone

[Krokar]

Hi,
it would be good to know how big was your tumor and in which stage you are ?
If you need some information about Carboplatin you can find some discusions in this forum, mainly under my nickname Krokar or Lunge, who also has experiance with Carboplatin.

Here : http://www.tc-cancer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2846
and Here : http://www.tc-cancer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2780

[mindtilt]

I'm not sure about the size, 4cm I think.

[Krokar]

You will probably compare options. If you have no rare testis invasion,lymph invasion... and you are stage pT1 I would suggest surveilance if this is exceptable for you.
If you need some specific information about Carboplatin you can contact me, I was trough this.

Good luck.

[mindtilt]

Thanks, I'm going to talk to my doctor tomorrow, but I think I prefer to go throw chemo now, than be waiting and see. It seems the best option for me ....
Yes it's a Stage I Pure Seminoma

[mikeygti]

From looking at your blood/ CT results (clear),and no V/I or L/I,I would say your choices would be limited to either surviellance,or radiation.


Best Wishes

[GAH]

Hey Mindtilt,

Welcome. We have very similar stories. Mine was the left - always smaller, always different (I had a hernia and hydrocele at birth which was corrected at age 5 by surgery).

I noticed it started getting larger and harder. Put if off a bit because I had already gone twice in the previous few years to have it checked, but this time it was for real.

I elected surveillance. When I researched, I saw that around 75-80% of my (your) cases have no 5 year reoccurrence. And of those who do, radiation or chemo can take them to 95-plus percent cure rates.

Getting radiation now (on your lymph nodes, I believe) will statistically take you to 95+%, some say 98+%. But, you have the effects of radiation (which I'm not sure are all that severe anymore now that they've focused the treatments) and the longer-term increased likelihood of another cancer because of the radiation.

The downside to surveillance is you have to go get tested regularly. I was monthly on blood (AFP, HCG, LDH) and chest x-rays and CT scans every other month, but last meeting my Urologist realized he put me on a more aggressive surveillance schedule than was necessary and now has moved me to 2 months/4 months.

You have to keep up with that, and also deal prospectively with added stress of whether the cancer will return. I didn't give the latter much thought until I got close to each surveillance appt. It does go through your mind and when that doctor walks through the door it is an anxious moment, but we've all had those already, haven't we?

I just found a research article from 2000, so it's a bit dated and wanted to get people's opinion. This link is the abstract but it's the whole thing with really bad formatting. They had a $1 view one time option but it didn't work. Otherwise, I think you have to be a subscriber to the site. In any event, you can get the feel for what they were doing with this study of Stage 1 TC patients on surveillance. The results look encouraging.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/ejc/article/PIIS0959804900001404/abstract?pubType=related

Anyone have a comment on this study or a properly-formatted version?

Anyway, do as much research as possible, try to get an Oncology consult, preferably with someone who's familiar with TC and make the best decision you can. Let me know how I can help.

Glenn
________
Honda CB350F specifications

[Lunge]

From looking at your blood/ CT results (clear),and no V/I or L/I,I would say your choices would be limited to either surviellance,or radiation.


Best Wishes

Again the same. Please accept in USA & Canada that here in Europe (mindtilt is from Portugal, which is part of Europe) Carboplatin chemo is more and more used as standard treatment option for Seminoma ST.I with no V/I and no L/I.

[mindtilt]

Thanks to all, I'm going to take all opinions in mind.