Fatigue

[merc]

Hello,

Just to sum up:

Diagnosed TC 3rd Sep 2005
Right I/O 6th Sep 2005
10% carcinoma, 5% seminoma, 50% mature teratoma, 35% Yolk-sac tumor
AFP: 20 Oct 05: 3; 9 Dec 05: 4; 12 Jan 06: 6
CT scan: nodes adjacent left renal hilum, 6/7 mm (Dec 05)
Surveillance

The trouble is that I am suffering from:

* Fatigue (never experience before). It started at the beginning of January
* Lower back pain. I always had it a little bit, but it's increased drastically in the last 3 months

My AFP is still quite low. Since being diagnosed, I also tend to be a little hypocondriac.

However... can the fatigue and the back bain be cause by the cancer? (It's so not me...). The AFP is very low, even though it *seems* to be rising (3,4 and now 6). Does that mean that if there is any cancer left, it would be negligible and the fatigue would be triggered by something else?

Bye,

Merc.

[merc]

Anybody?

Hello,

I guess everybody here went "OK, he definitely is an hypocondriac".

However, a few days later my lower back pain got worse. I don't have a test until the 24th of February (CT scan + blood test).
I am in a very "uncertain" state of mind.

Ideas?

Thanks a million,

Merc.

[AdrianB1971]

.

Fatigue may be caused by low testosterone level. Maybe the remaining testicle cannot compensate the lost one. About the low back pain....it's a serios alarm sign of TC. But may be caused by other causes too. But, given your TC history, you must urgently visit an oncologist for more detalied tests.

[merc]

Thank you for your response!
I checked my testosterone levels not too long ago, and they were 100% fine. However, I guess I should check them again.

As far as the back pain... my oncologist won't listen to me; he says that the markers are too low (AFP is only 6) and that I have to wait for my next CT scan, which is on the 24th of February.

Shall I wait?

Thank you again.

Merc.

[mrb1980]

Fatigue

Merc,

I can only relate what my situation was and is:

Post-diagnosis and pre-I/O, I felt fine, no pain.
Post-I/O and pre-chemo, I felt fine, no pain (except for one night after the procedure).
Post-chemo, I feel somewhat fatigued all the time. Like you, whenever I have aches and pains, I immediately think of cancer, even though my blood tests and CT scans are all clear.

I'm like you, I guess. My oncologist believes the cancer is cured, still I worry all the time.

mrb1980

[AdrianB1971]

.

There are a 20-30% chances for one to have TC without markers elevation. So, the normal level of markers DOES NOT RULES OUT THE PRESENCE OF CANCER !!!!. I sugest you to not listen your onc and make an abdominal CAT scan with contrast substance. If there are all ok then you can stay and wait and have another CAT after 6 months. If not, you can start aditional treatment until is not to late.
Your case it's mine too. My onc refuses sistematicaly CAT scan because "markers are in normal ranges". Even after 6 months after the chemo completition she insist on this position. I told her that there a 30% chances to vahe a TC recurrence without markers elevation and, therefore, blood test + radiographyc scan is recomanded.

I decided and I done CAT scan on my own. Fortunately, all it's ok.
If you have low back pain and TC history you MUST do an abdominal CAT scan to clarify the situation.

Good luck

[merc]

Adrian: I had a CT scan at the beginning of December, and I am due to have one at the end of February.
My oncologist, fortunately, is not refusing to do CT scans!

I guess I just have to wait :-|

[AdrianB1971]

.

Well, if you had Ct scan so recently and normal markers is another situation. Indeed, cat scan is usless so soon. I guess your low back pain is not caused by TC. Even TC tumor cannot grow to much in 1.5 months to causes pain.

Wait and see the markers evolution every month from now on and do a CT scan after 4-5 months if all its ok

[Scott]

I think you'll be fine waiting for your next regular surveillance check since all was normal in December. (Your surveillance routine should include an abdominal CT scan every two or three months in the first year.)