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[Davepet]

It seems doc E has trained us well

[Davepet]

Well than, you are at the low end of normal, are 31 years old, and have complaints consistent with low testosterone. I would be asking about TRT. Expect to have to push for it, many docs just don't get it.

Dave

[Davepet]

With a scan scheduled in 20 days, I'd just wait, there is little chance you will get it any sooner at this point. How high were your AFP numbers?

Dave

[Davepet]

How long between finishing chemo & the last scan?

Dave

[Davepet]

Markers are only useful when either positive or going down. If your tumor didn't produce markers before it was removed, a lack of markers now tells us very little. As eodtech said, lung nodules are common, many here have reported having them, but only rarely do they turn out to be TC. Don't worry about...

[Davepet]

3" is actually pretty normal, never heard of a y I/O being less.

Pain & swelling should NOT be increasing at a week post I/O they should be decreasing to next to nothing. I would contact my doc & let him know as soon as you can, do not let this slide, your description sounds...

[Davepet]

The thing about hair coming back is that it seems to be the biggest variable from guy to guy. I recall needing a haircut, just to even things up, at around two months. Mine came in so curly I bought a hair product to help straighten it some, it helped, but it was two years before it was close to what...

[Davepet]

I do my own shots, one every 3 weeks. I still feel a tad nervous before each shot, even though I rarely even feel it since the needles are so sharp. I did need to see a nurse for the first month or so to get my injections & then for several months to learn how to do it myself. It is easier than...

[Davepet]

I'm finding it incredible that the CT scan could miss a 1.8CM node. They can normally pick up sub-CM nodes. Normally, I would be in favor of surveillance, however, if I were in your place I would do the 2x chemo.

Reason one: Your tumors have never produced markers, so blood work is unlikely...

[Davepet]

Small fluctuations in hcg are normal.

Dave

[Davepet]

Wow 11 years clear & now a recurrence. I trust they did an U/S on righty to rule out a second primary?

Dave

[Davepet]

Hcg of 44 is elevated, but not extremely so. Probably means there was some cancer that could not be detected by CT that had spread to the lymph nodes. They should schedule another CT scan to see what's going on for sure, but it is kinda likely to show one or more enlarged retroperitonial nodes. If the...

[Davepet]

Switchng to another dose of EP seems to be done if the last 3 weeks of BEP can't be completed. In Scotty's case, he got through all 3 rounds of BEP (total 7 weeks) & only missed two doses of bleo. I suspect that is why they did not include another round of EP.

Dave...

[Davepet]

First, 3xBEP is *slightly* more effective than 4xEP, and very few guys experience serious lung problems from 3XBEP. I had it at age 55 & while I had shortness of breath during treatment, it resolved within a month or so once I was done.

Second, get the port. It makes life much easier....

[Davepet]

Some guys have reported fairly long waits for results, where are you located?
Also, what did your doc have to say on 5/10?

Dave

[Davepet]

Do you have your lab's reference range? The "normal"range is different at each lab so without that, the numbers are kinda useless. The *most* important thing is how you are feeling.Even if you are in the low normal range, if you have symptoms, you may need help. That "normal " range...

[Davepet]

Well don't resad too much into my case, I am highly unusual in having 35 years between TC 1 & 2. While getting TC twice is quite rare, we do have an good number of guys on this board who have dealt with it, so everyone needs to keep up with monthly exams, just to be safe.

Dave...

[Davepet]

Actually, you could stop therapy to avoid additional side effects, but I would want additional bloodwork showing a continued decrease in markers before doing so.

Dave...

[Davepet]

I've posted my "story" on here several times, but nowhere I can point to. Basically, I had TC at age 20, back when it was a death sentence if not caught early, mine was. If you pay attention to the ages of folks on this forum, you will find less than a handful that had their first at 20 &...

[Davepet]

The ER is the most expensive health care available, avoid the ER unless you will die within hours if not treated promptly. I would go to a urologist, because a primary care doc is likely to send you there anyway, might as well not pay the primary just to do a referral.

Now as far as your...