Abdominal recurrence after RPLND?...

[CraigStrain]

Been having back/kidney pains exactly like I had before diagnosis. I was stage 2c, had 3XBEP and RPLND by a dr of excellence listed in the pushpin here, all clear 9/30/2010. It feels exactly like it did before I was diagnosed, but I know the chances of relapse in abdomen is highly unlikely. Tumor markers clear Dec 1...no CT scan since RPLND.

[CraigStrain]

Anybody? Anything? Was hoping for some kind of comments.

[Paul54]

I guess it depends on your definition of "highly unlikely". I can't put my finger on the stats for relapse after both chemo and RPLND, but I would guess your relapse potential is less than 5%. And considering the timeframes, it's very doubtful you would have had a relapse with growth large enough to be felt or impact other organs. My son had all sorts of strange, periodic abdominal pains that turned out to be a kidney stone. When are you due for another CT scan?

[CraigStrain]

Well my RPLND Doc (one of the Dr's of excellence in the pushpin here) said not to for 6 months post surgery, so I am scheduled to see him in a couple months. The pushpin on the TCRC even says no need for CT's after clean RPLND so I'm unsure about protocol for CT's.

[Fed]

But no baseline CT? You need a baseline after surgery (don't know how long after the actual surgery), and from there, abdominal/pelvic CT scans are only given if clinically indicated. Your surgery was almost 4 months ago, so I would think you'd be having a baseline CT by now.

[CraigStrain]

None since surgery no. He said they 'took everything out' meaning all lymph nodes I assume. Masses were teratoma, all cells were clean.

I assume this is something I should call and ask about?

[Already Bald]

Have you reported this new pain in to your surgeon and following oncologist?
I would call it in for sure, at least report it to the nurse.

[CraigStrain]

Well the pain in lower back, kidney area (either side of spine) is still there, so I'm having a CT scan tomorrow at 9am. I will find out the results immediately, as Im friends with the owner of the radiology clinic here in town who will be doing the scans. My surgeon is out of town but his nurse talked to him and says it could be scar tissue, etc...yadda yadda yadda. Everytime someone says 'it could be this or that' when dealing with this cancer the last 8 months it always HAS been the worst case scenerio, and not what it 'could be'....I'm fully expecting to hear it's back tomorrow.

[distance1323]

Craigstrain,
How did everything go with the CT scan? I am 2 months out after my RPLND and I am getting some pain in my lower left abdomincal area lately. My back sometimes hurts, but I nothing like it used to before treatment.

Eager to find out how everything is going.

[andoryuu]

I've never heard of a baseline CT AFTER RPLND. Both my surgeon and Dr. Vaughn said that your abdomen is too much of a mess after RPLND to get anything helpful off of an RPLND. i had mine about 4-5 months after surgery (standard is 6 months out). Even if you had no teratoma in your pathology, it can still show up, so it's good to still get 1 @ 6 mo, 1 @ 1 yr and then yearly after that until your 5th year. If you had markers to start Dr Vaughn said that you'll have elevated markers on a relapse (and vice versa).

I had pain from my RPLND and still do have a little discomfort a year out. It can be scar tissue or even the tiny clips they used.

Keep us posted...

[julesTO]

If you had markers to start Dr Vaughn said that you'll have elevated markers on a relapse (and vice versa)..

I don't think this is necessarily true if your original tumour had a mix of various non-sem types. For example, if you presented with EC + teratoma you would have elevated markers from the EC, but if you had a relapse of teratoma only, your markers would not be elevated.

Craig, hope the CT scan shows all is well!

[andoryuu]

if you had a relapse of teratoma only, your markers would not be elevated.

This is true in the case of mixed nsgct with teratoma. In that case, this rule wouldn't apply. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[distance1323]

the pain comes and goes, but its just scar tissue.
i think our brain plays tricks on us and we start thinking of the worst.

im coming up to the 1 year anniversary of my RPLND and nothing has ever really bothered me, apart from the occasional scar tissue disturbances.