Recovery was about 2 weeks for me. I was up and walking almost normal after 10 days. On a cancer forum I read that some people were back at work after a week. Even having sex, but I was told I should wait 4 weeks before attempting such an activity.
The staff at Charing Cross Hospital were very good. They really looked after us during the op. I received a call on the Sunday after just to see how I was. The following day the oncologist called with the pathology report. He said it was good news and wanted to give me all the details face to face rather than over the phone, so we made an appointment the next day. I was relieved. For more information about pathology reports please read http://tcrc.acor.org/pathology_report.html or how testicular cancer is diagnosed at http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Testes/Symptomsdiagnosis/Diagnosis.aspx
Back at the hospital with the oncologist he explained it was a Stage I Seminoma. Read more about Stage 1 at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/testicular/Patient/page5#Section_93
Basically, the tumor appeared to be confined to the testis. The scans showed no other tumors in my body. So I'm cured? Maybe. The doc went on to explain that the scans can see pea size tumors, but anything smaller is invisible. Therefore there is a 20% chance there could be something still floating around...
He gave me two options:
1. Surveillance
2. Single dose of chemotherapy
For a quick overview on treatment for testicular cancer look at http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Testes/Treatingtesticularcancer/Treatmentoverview.aspx
Surveillance
http://tcrc.acor.org/surveil.html
Chemotherapy
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Testes/Treatingtesticularcancer/Chemotherapy.aspx
I was told the chemotherapy I would receive is Carboplatin http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Individualdrugs/Carboplatin.aspx
Information regarding Carboplatin and Radiation here http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/summary/2004/testicular0604
What to do? The doc was leaning to surveillance. After some research and talking to friends I decided surveillance was the go.
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