5 questions before treatment

[kris]

Dear new friends,

My husband is due to start chemo 28th of June (see stats below). The oncologist (we live in France) has chosen 4 cycles of 3 weeks (3 days, four hours first day, one hour 2nd and 3rd day). Out patient basis.

Question: Should I ask him what chemicals he is using? I think cistaplin and bleo-something, but I'm not sure. Does it matter? Shouldn't I just trust him?
Question: Does this amount of treatment sound appropriate? On what basis are these things decided?

Oncologist also mentionned a 10 per cent chance of surgically having to go in after chemo. I imagine this is the RPLND procedure.
Question: Does this percentage seem correct?
Question: Would anybody be kind enough to ask if for me one of their surgeons if the French are any good at the RPLND procedure? I know technically USA is more cutting edge, and I'm worried they don't know how to do it here.

Question: What other questions should I ask the doctor?

Here are his stats:

Age 48
Before removal of left testicle on 2 June: AFP 842/HCG 425
One week later: AFP 625/HCG 35
Cancer composition: 10 percent tetranoma, 10 percent seminoma, 80 percent embryo-carcinoma.
Before surgery, MRI ab scan showed 3 lymph nodes enlarged (but all under 2 cm)
Appears no other organs touched, but is having another scanner today (lung x-ray showed nothing).

Many thanks, Kristen

[dadmo]

Kris:
I have attached a link to the Testicular Cancer Resource Center ( http://tcrc.acor.org/ ). On that site you will find answers to almost all of your questions. But the short answer is yes ask lots of question. You must become your husbands health advocate. certainly find out what chemicals are being used, that will determine the treatment cycles. From what I know the treatment cycle they plan for your husbands is not what I have come to understand as normal. Get in touch with one of the French experts listed here ( http://tcrc.acor.org/experts.html#france ).