possible relapse - post chemo after 12 months

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  • metroman
    Registered User
    • Jul 2018
    • 25

    possible relapse - post chemo after 12 months

    hello guys,
    Needed some wisdom. So briefly i was 3a stage(non seminoma), good proginosis with small lung metastasis(left lung only) no lymphs involved. Completed 3x BEP last year and also completed all clear 11th month with all the residual nodes shrinking away.

    But then 12th month , CT scan pick up 3mm nodules on right lung(doc said its too small to comment). Blood work was normal (bhcg<0.1 and it has been the same for past 4-5 months)

    Then the next month(13th) bhcg jumps to (2.9)
    Im pretty sure the cancer has returned, because of new nodule and bhcg increase.

    I will get it checked next week to see if it has dropped or rising.
    Can you guys help me out!?

    painless lump rightside over 5 month
    tumor markers- afp-14.9 hcg-773
    06/2018- right i/o

    path- teratoma/yolk sac/chorio

    afp down at 2.3 hcg-3303

    ct- no lymph involvement, lung mets (stage IIIA)

    07/2018- start of 3xBEP +1EP

    changed to 3xBEP

    complete response

    07/2019- 9 months all clear(bhcg<0.1 or undetectable from 5 months)

    10/2019 - ct picked up small nodule on other lung (3mm) blood work normal
    (one year mark after chemo)

    11/2019- afp-0.7 bhcg-2.9
  • billandtuna
    Registered User
    • Feb 2018
    • 69

    #2
    Hi Metro - I'm glad you're getting it looked into. Wishing you well!
    Painless lump 5/18/2017
    Orchidectomy June 2017 (4.5cm, rete testis involvement)
    Chemo Summer 2017 (2x7AUC carboplatin)
    No evidence of relapse since, but plenty of anxiety about it.

    I'm also an epidemiologist, and a professor at a medical school (with NO training in oncology), oh, and gay, too.

    Comment

    • Davepet
      Registered User
      • Mar 2010
      • 4459

      #3
      That is not really a very high # for bhcg yet, obviously it should be monitored, same for the nodule, but it's really small still, so too early to worry about. I'm curious, why are you getting monthly scans? That is not the recommended schedule.
      Last edited by Davepet; 11-12-19, 04:17 PM.
      Jan, 1975: Right I/O, followed by RPLND
      Dec, 2009: Left I/O, followed by 3xBEP

      Comment

      • metroman
        Registered User
        • Jul 2018
        • 25

        #4
        thanks for replying guys.. CT's are scheduled every 3 months for the first year. Blood work is being done monthly for the first year. Docs decided this because of lung mets thing probably, i dont get abdomen ct only chest ct to monitor the nodules.

        any other guys face bhcg elevation!? even slightly? because i was expecting a rise in hcg due to the new node. its giving me a scare.
        painless lump rightside over 5 month
        tumor markers- afp-14.9 hcg-773
        06/2018- right i/o

        path- teratoma/yolk sac/chorio

        afp down at 2.3 hcg-3303

        ct- no lymph involvement, lung mets (stage IIIA)

        07/2018- start of 3xBEP +1EP

        changed to 3xBEP

        complete response

        07/2019- 9 months all clear(bhcg<0.1 or undetectable from 5 months)

        10/2019 - ct picked up small nodule on other lung (3mm) blood work normal
        (one year mark after chemo)

        11/2019- afp-0.7 bhcg-2.9

        Comment

        • FBCoachC
          Registered User
          • Oct 2019
          • 6

          #5
          I'm a new guy in this, but I have read that other things can make your hcg rise, such as smoking marijuana. Hopefully it's a non-cancer related cause!

          Comment

          • billandtuna
            Registered User
            • Feb 2018
            • 69

            #6
            I had a bHCG bump after smoking marijuana, freaked me out! Turned out to be nothing in the end, but it had me very concerned at the time.
            It sounds like you are already being very intensely followed. I know how hard it is to live in the uncertainty of one test to another to another, all I can say is that you will get better at it.
            One practical tip I learned the hard way - I don't touch the patient portal until I'm literally in the waiting room like an hour before my meeting with the oncologist - that way I can't ruminate about some weird finding in the results for days or weeks before it gets explained to me.
            Good luck & keep us posted on how things are going for you!
            Painless lump 5/18/2017
            Orchidectomy June 2017 (4.5cm, rete testis involvement)
            Chemo Summer 2017 (2x7AUC carboplatin)
            No evidence of relapse since, but plenty of anxiety about it.

            I'm also an epidemiologist, and a professor at a medical school (with NO training in oncology), oh, and gay, too.

            Comment

            • Derjayger
              Registered User
              • Jun 2018
              • 8

              #7
              Originally posted by billandtuna View Post
              One practical tip I learned the hard way - I don't touch the patient portal until I'm literally in the waiting room like an hour before my meeting with the oncologist - that way I can't ruminate about some weird finding in the results for days or weeks before it gets explained to me.
              That's very good advice.
              My docs had multiple serious health related suspicions, which turned out to be benign after months of testing. All the panic was for nothing :-)

              Good luck!

              Comment

              • Derjayger
                Registered User
                • Jun 2018
                • 8

                #8
                Originally posted by billandtuna View Post
                One practical tip I learned the hard way - I don't touch the patient portal until I'm literally in the waiting room like an hour before my meeting with the oncologist - that way I can't ruminate about some weird finding in the results for days or weeks before it gets explained to me.
                That's very good advice.
                My docs had multiple serious health related suspicions, which turned out to be benign after months of testing at specialized centers. All the panic was for nothing :-)

                Good luck!

                Comment

                • metroman
                  Registered User
                  • Jul 2018
                  • 25

                  #9
                  guys im so happy to share the news
                  week later bhcg is 0.5 im so relieved..
                  painless lump rightside over 5 month
                  tumor markers- afp-14.9 hcg-773
                  06/2018- right i/o

                  path- teratoma/yolk sac/chorio

                  afp down at 2.3 hcg-3303

                  ct- no lymph involvement, lung mets (stage IIIA)

                  07/2018- start of 3xBEP +1EP

                  changed to 3xBEP

                  complete response

                  07/2019- 9 months all clear(bhcg<0.1 or undetectable from 5 months)

                  10/2019 - ct picked up small nodule on other lung (3mm) blood work normal
                  (one year mark after chemo)

                  11/2019- afp-0.7 bhcg-2.9

                  Comment

                  • TCfight
                    Registered User
                    • Jan 2019
                    • 23

                    #10
                    I am soo happy for you!! Congratulations on your 1st year

                    Comment

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