worried about seminoma relapse

[JesperDK]

Hi guys

I'm writing to share some worries.
Originally i was diagnosed in 2011, 100% seminoma, no invasion, normal bloodwork, nothing on my CT - stage 1 - I was putted on surveillance.
In 2013 I had a rare relapse. A swollen lymph node in my groin. It was removed and I was given adjuvant RT (18 days/36GY/dogleg).
I finished my treatment in may 2013 and everything have been good ever since (4,5 yrs).

14 days ago I was at a tjek-up (physical + bloodwork). Normal bloodwork but doc found a swollen node in my left armpit. Not a big one (about 7mm she said). She said that everything under 1 cm was not alarming, but since I am a cancer pt, they don't take chances.
I can't remember being sick or have done something to my arm/hand that can explain the single node. I can't even feel the node myself....

Still i'm a bit worried. I have also felt a soreness for a while near the buttom of ribcage in right side, not in front but in the side, and a feeling of pressure from the "area". But when the doctor pushed at my lever area, especially in the front, there was no pain. Only at the ribcage and this strange "pressure feeling", when I sit or lean to the right. The doctor was more concentrated about the node in my armpit than the other thing.

What do you think? My last CT was a year ago I guess. It was clear. Is it long time enough to cause this pain/uncomfort from area near the liver - and make a single node in armpit a little swollen?. I don't know what to think.

Tomorrow i'm going to the hospital to get an ultrasound and maybe a biopsy of the node if it still is present.

Regards from Jesper

[Trekga]

Did you get an ultrasound? Keep us updated.

[JesperDK]

Hi again :-)

Update - I went to hospital today to get the ultrasound of armpit. Result = No enlarged node in my armpit - they were all normal. Doc also looked at the other armpit and I asked if he could look at the buttom of ribcage in right side because of the weird pain I have had. He said my kidney and liver was looking fine and concluded that the uncomfortness in the right side probably was muscle-related :-)

It's going to be a good weekend :-))

[LawnMM]

That's great news, an early Christmas present!

I have some pain on the right side and around on my back a few ribs up from the bottom. Probably muscular, maybe relates jogging, who knows...hard not to think your old nemesis is back, though!

[Davepet]

..hard not to think your old nemesis is back, though!

That is probably the biggest problem once a cancer is beat. Even though human beings experience various aches & pains that are not serious throughout their lives, once a cancer has been encountered, we tend to think every one of them *HAS* to be caused by the cancer returning..With TC, this is very rarely the case.I think, as a group of survivors, we need to start understanding that better.

Dave

[Davepet]

..hard not to think your old nemesis is back, though!

That is probably the biggest problem once a cancer is beat. Even though human beings experience various aches & pains that are not serious throughout their lives, once a cancer has been encountered, we tend to think every one of them *HAS* to be caused by the cancer returning..With TC, this is very rarely the case.I think, as a group of survivors, we need to start understanding that better.

Dave

[JesperDK]

Yes - spot on Dave. Through the years I have waste lots of precious time, being worried now and then.
In the Danish follow-up protocol after seminoma - that has been adjuvant treated, there aren't so many scans after the first 2 years, so you don't need lot of fantasy to imagine all scenarios, when a pain shows up in periods

[JoeTheAstronaut]

Congrats, Jesper, what a relief!! Cancer messes with your head, I start imagining all sorts of nasty things the closer I get to a checkup… That’s part of our reality now, worry!

[JesperDK]

Thanx Joe :-)..
Btw, does anyone know the relapse-rate for seminoma after almost 5 yrs?.. When i recieved adjuvant treatment, they said rate was braught down to about 5%. But it was then - right after the treatment was over.

[Trekga]

Hard not to let your mind think of relapse. Keep us updated.