RPLND Photo Request

[Already Bald]

RPLND Scar and Hernia

No more Fishy Business!
Here are photos taken this morning of the scar, 29 months post RPLND.
Also, a side shot of the hernia, 2 days prior to that repair.
Joe

[Mrs Moggi]

Why do I suddenly have this song running through my head - "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my navel..."

[boyce]

Where do we stuff the dollar bills Joe???

[AdrianE]

Wow, I had no idea that the surgery required such a large incision! I suddenly don't feel so proud of my itty bitty I/O scars. Thanks very much for posting everyone.

[Aegletes]

I know what you mean, Adrian. I remember going to my first appointment at Sloan-Kettering and was so nervous, having seen some of the RPLND photos and heard the stories. The first thing I asked Dr. Bosl: "Am I going to need an RPLND if I relapse?" Looking back, I must have sounded like such a wimp.

[Already Bald]

Why do I suddenly have this song running through my head - "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my navel..."

Jen,
The nurses removed the bandage today- I was wondering- I have a big formal dance coming up...
Do you think I can borrow your diamond studded BELLY BUTTON Jewelry?
I'm still an inny!

[Mrs Moggi]

So I guess this puts you out of the running for sexiest man alive? Although I'm sure that Majbritt might argue differently.

Glad to hear that everything went well and I hope that this is the last time your family sees the inside of a hospital for a very long time. Surveillances excluded of course.

[Already Bald]

RPLND Hernia Repair Photo

Here is a picture of the repair 4 days post-op.

[starjayroman]

Already Bald,
Thats scary. They do that to everyone who has to get one of these? My man is going to have an RPLND in about a month and he already has a huge scar like the ones shown here from having his appendix removed back in 1980. I loved it, the scar. I have one too from having my spleen taken out at 4 years of age. Still that picture is scary. You didn't go home like that did you??

[MRMRSU]

Oh those JP drains bring back some memories! Did you go home with those Joe?

[Already Bald]

You didn't go home like that did you??

Yes,
Star- I did go home with those drains. I hope to have them removed on Tuesday in a post-op clinic visit. Last week I had a VERY RARE RPLND Complication (Hernia)- and what you see is the repair of an incisional hernia. My actual RPLND was more than two years ago.
It looks a lot worse than it feels, Getting stronger each day. I'll be ready to play Santa again by Christmas!

Don't let the surgery scare you- He will do great provided he has an experienced surgeon, and good nurses during the hospital stay- (This is where you can help- be his advocate in the hospital).

[Scott]

This photo from six days after surgery was sent by e-mail, with a promise for follow-up shots down the road.

I promise I'll get some of these posted on the RPLND page of this website soon. If you're willing to submit more "long after" shots, they'll be appreciated.

[starjayroman]

Those staples look scary. I worry about the staples not keeping him together when he gets home, I worry about our 10 year old 120 pound boy jumping on him and causing problems. I worry about the complications because he already has been opened up 29 years ago and are they going to open him up in the same spot or do another scar? Are they going to take his kidney? Do I want to see him hooked up to all that crap again but worse then when he was in ICU last time? What about the neck surgery afterwards? What if he has to have the one in his chest come out? What if they find more cancer? Will he need more chemo? What if its all good and the cancer comes back next year, the year after that, the year after that? What if the spinal stenosis paralyzes him? What if they screw up during any of these surgeries? What if he gets TC in the other testicle? What if?? What if?? What if he dies?? What if? The what if's drive me crazy. I don't want to think about them but they are there whether I acknowledge them or not. Sorry for going on, on this thread yet I still worry obsessively, what if? What if our son gets TC, he had undesended testicles when he was a baby? Enough.

[dadmo]

Everyone one of those what if's is reasonable but just take them one day at a time and you'll be pleasently surprised to see them start to go away.

[Fed]

The "what if" speculation boils down to not being able to control what happens. When it comes to medical stuff, it is what it is, and all you can do is take things as they come and manage them accordingly. Something did stand out in your post:

What if our son gets TC, he had undesended testicles when he was a baby?

Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) does increase the risk of the development of germ cell tumors, but as with all medical statistics, these are odds and not a guarantee that a germ cell tumor will develop. The best you can do for your son is, when the time comes, to educate him on how to do self exams and be aware of everything that goes on with him.