Chemo post RPLND

[Itsadeepbluesea]

Had anyone hear of doing chemo post RPLND when they find only Teratoma. My doctor was on vacation this week so I was seeing the nurse practitioner and he tried telling me I would have to do a round of chemo 6 weeks after the surgery as this is what the doctor on duty told him. My understanding was that teratoma is not sensitive to chemo. Any thoughts by anyone?

Matt

[Fed]

What was the pathological staging from your RPLND path report?

[Itsadeepbluesea]

that I'm not sure of all I know is 3 of the 8 lymph nodes from around that aorta were positive for mature teratoma

[Fed]

For starters, chemo won't do jack to mature teratoma, so I don't see why you would need the extra chemo irrespective of staging. You do need to make sure that there were no extranodal extensions and all surgical margins are free of tumor. All of this information should be in your nodal pathology report.

Are your docs in Maine consulting with others in the area?

[Already Bald]

Matt, we know that Teratoma can "piggyback" on other cells in order to travel through the body. I would ask your doc if he suspects a "host" cell that is a mixed germ cell.

Do you think you can get him to recemmond a second oncological opinion?

[Itsadeepbluesea]

My doctor gave us the impression that we wouldn't need chemo as they thought the chemo should have taken care of the cancer which the teratoma would have piggybacked on. But my doctor is on vacation and all of a sudden these other doctors sprung more chemo on us. It was quite a surprise as we were under the impression there wasn't a need for chemo. I just wanted a post to see if I was right to question this sudden change. I'll just have to call my Doctor when he is back to make sure he still feels there is no need for more chemo. Thanks guys.

Matt

[Itsadeepbluesea]

Originally I had chemo before the RPLND because my markers where raised but my markers came back to normal after the chemo. When the tumor showed up the suspected teratoma which is what it turned out to be.

Matt

[MRMRSU]

Hey Matt...they did confirm that it was teratoma, right? I'm with you...I don't understand the need for further chemo, as mature teratoma is unresponsive to it. I'll be curious to know what your doctor says once he's back from vacation.

[tina]

my husband had rplnd two days ago ,right now he is doing fine he walked litle bit today and the dr came today and explained again things to us and he thinks that its teratoma and he sad the u dont need chemo for teratoma so we hope that this tumor its 100 % teratoma so he doesnt need chemo we are waiting for pathology report
good luck to you

[Aegean]

Matt,

Why don't you send Dr. E. an email with all your vitals and questions. I am willing to bet you get an answer back some time Monday.