Reply With QuoteAdvances like the use of a Da Vinci for this surgery are certainly a welcome sight. Best of luck with the surgery. I will be looking forward to hearing updates on this novel and exciting procedure!
Registered User
Hi everyone,
My husband is having his RPLND done using DaVinci Robot at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday morning. I know there is a lot of controversy about whether or not robotic is the way to go, but we were extremely impressed with Dr. Castle, who assures us that the procedure will be just as curative as an open would be. He also said he is fully prepared to switch to an open procedure if he feels it necessary to get the job done.
Please keep my husband Marc in your prayers on Monday! We are both extremely nervous!
-Samantha
Samantha
Husband Marc diagnosed on 10/11/11
Left orchiectomy 10/12/11
Embryonal carcinoma
CT scan - enlarged abdominal lymph node
Small questionable mass on chest scan
BEP x 3 maybe 4 started 11/7/11
Registered User
Advances like the use of a Da Vinci for this surgery are certainly a welcome sight. Best of luck with the surgery. I will be looking forward to hearing updates on this novel and exciting procedure!
"Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller
11.22.06 -Dx the day before Thanksgiving
12.09.06 -Rt I/O; 100% seminoma, multifocal; Stage I-A; Surveillance; Six years out! Final follow-up: 07/2014.
Please support my fundraising efforts for the 2013 Austin LIVESTRONG Half Marathon!
Registered User
Thoughts and prayers for quick healing!!!
Doug
"There's no dollar sign, on a piece of mind, this I've come to know" Zac Brown Band
Registered User
Hi Samantha,
I've been following your husband's story and admire the positive outlook you both share. It sounds like you are in good hands and hopefully this surgery will take care of the TC for once and for all.
Wishing Marc a smooth surgery and recovery. He's lucky to have you at his side!!
Diane
Cook/Maid/Chauffeur/ATM Machine/Personal Asst. to Austin
12/07/11 I/O AFP: 291 hCG: 151
12/08/11 CT Scan, Xrays - clear
12/15/11 Non Seminoma Stage1-B
EC, Teratoma, Yolk Sac, Intratubular
Surveillance
4/21/12 Relapse- Start 3XBEP
6/25/12 Finished BEP
7/02/12 Markers and CT Scan normal
7/11/12 Port Removed- back on Surveillance
10/3/12 3 month post-chemo check-up - All Clear!
2/28/13 8 month post-chemo check-up - All Clear!
Registered User
Wishing you nothing but the best wishes for tomorrow. God is in charge of miracles, and they do happen. I'll be eager to read your good report when it's done. Lynn
Dane after Dr. Einhorn told him his tumor was gone. (4/10/12)
2/9/10 - left oriectomy. Tumor 3.8 cm; focal lymphovascular invasion.
EC - 35%; Teratoma with immature neuroectodermal elements - 35%; Seminoma - 20%; Yolk sac - 10%;
3/16/10 - Left RPLND at IU. All clear. Surveillance for 18 mos.
12/16/11 - LDH 476; AFP 1.1; HCG 6. CT scan: tumors in lymph node and on renal artery
2/27/12 - BEP x 3
4/11/12 - Surgery cancelled at IU. Cancer (seminoma) is gone.
Registered User
its great to hear that they are creating such innovations. my rplnd was no walk in the park and if i had the option i would have elected for new robotic surgery. best of luck and i hope the best for you two! but your husbands missing out on a pretty badass looking scar.
Kick testicular cancer in the balls
9/2010 Pure Embryonal Carcinoma
10/2010 right orchiectomy
6/2011 HCG up to 3006/27/2011 3XBEP
7/2011 HCG up to 1500
8/2011 HCG down to 6
8/25/2011 mass in abdomen
9/23/2011 RPLND
11/2011 HCG up to 37 masses in lungs and lymphnodes 11/2011 1X TIP
12/2011 HCG up to 400
12/2011-1/2012 2x HDC carbo/etopiside with Dr. Einhorn 3/2012-5/29/2012 50mg oral etopiside
1/2012-present HCG >0.5
Registered User
Good luck. It will be good to hear how everything goes since it isn't commonly done this way.
7/15/11 Right I/O
90% EC, 10% Seminoma, LVI, CT scan and Chest x-rays clear
8/22/11 RPLND, all clean
Registered User
Thank you all for the kindness and support! Marc had his physical done at Mayo today, and we meet with the surgeon again on Friday to discuss the procedure and what to expect in detail. Surgery will be Monday the 16th! We are so nervous, but can't wait to get it over with!
-Samantha
Samantha
Husband Marc diagnosed on 10/11/11
Left orchiectomy 10/12/11
Embryonal carcinoma
CT scan - enlarged abdominal lymph node
Small questionable mass on chest scan
BEP x 3 maybe 4 started 11/7/11
Moderator
Samantha,
So glad you are comfortable with Dr. Castle and the procedure and I can't wait to hear how successful it is!
Thinking of you,
T
Tracy
Cancer pharmacologist, caregiver blog here
Wife to Kel, dx 12/30/11 Stage IIIc (poor) embyronal, AFP 13700, 10x11 cm retroperitoneal mass, 1 cm^2 lung met
Left I/O 12/31/10.
4xBEP 1-4/11, AFP=22, 5*7 RP mass, tx failed
1.5 x VeIP 5-6/11; tx failed, AFP/b-hCG rising
Salvage RPLND @Indy 6/29/11, metastatic mixed germ cell tumor with yolk sac, seminoma and teratoma
Remission! AFP steady since 9/2011; 1.5 years ALL CLEAR
Registered User
Marc's surgery was Monday and went very well. We got the pathology report today and everything they took was clear!! We are sitting in the hospital now awaiting discharge orders.
The surgery lasted six hours. Dr. Castle was able to remove the large mass that was fused along the entire aorta and renal artery, and also cleared all the lymph nodes on that side. His intent was to do the other side as well, but he had to stop the procedure because Marc's kidney function took a dive in surgery. He said if anything tested positive he would go back in and complete the job in a month, but with an all clear on what was removed, they are opting for surveillance.
Marc is sore, but I know it is nothing compared to how he would feel if it were an open procedure.
I can't wait to get him home!
Samantha
Samantha
Husband Marc diagnosed on 10/11/11
Left orchiectomy 10/12/11
Embryonal carcinoma
CT scan - enlarged abdominal lymph node
Small questionable mass on chest scan
BEP x 3 maybe 4 started 11/7/11
Moderator
Fantastic news Samantha! I've been hoping for a good update this week. And already discharged at 2 days? Wow, the difference between the procedures.
Heal well, Marc, and congrats on the all clear!
T
Tracy
Cancer pharmacologist, caregiver blog here
Wife to Kel, dx 12/30/11 Stage IIIc (poor) embyronal, AFP 13700, 10x11 cm retroperitoneal mass, 1 cm^2 lung met
Left I/O 12/31/10.
4xBEP 1-4/11, AFP=22, 5*7 RP mass, tx failed
1.5 x VeIP 5-6/11; tx failed, AFP/b-hCG rising
Salvage RPLND @Indy 6/29/11, metastatic mixed germ cell tumor with yolk sac, seminoma and teratoma
Remission! AFP steady since 9/2011; 1.5 years ALL CLEAR
Registered User
Great news! I know that you must be elated with such good results. Now you can get back to living and enjoying life. Lynn
2/9/10 - left oriectomy. Tumor 3.8 cm; focal lymphovascular invasion.
EC - 35%; Teratoma with immature neuroectodermal elements - 35%; Seminoma - 20%; Yolk sac - 10%;
3/16/10 - Left RPLND at IU. All clear. Surveillance for 18 mos.
12/16/11 - LDH 476; AFP 1.1; HCG 6. CT scan: tumors in lymph node and on renal artery
2/27/12 - BEP x 3
4/11/12 - Surgery cancelled at IU. Cancer (seminoma) is gone.
Registered User
What a relief to have it over! Wonderful news to hear! Hope you can take Marc home and just relax for a few days....or weeks!!
Happy Healing!
Diane
Cook/Maid/Chauffeur/ATM Machine/Personal Asst. to Austin
12/07/11 I/O AFP: 291 hCG: 151
12/08/11 CT Scan, Xrays - clear
12/15/11 Non Seminoma Stage1-B
EC, Teratoma, Yolk Sac, Intratubular
Surveillance
4/21/12 Relapse- Start 3XBEP
6/25/12 Finished BEP
7/02/12 Markers and CT Scan normal
7/11/12 Port Removed- back on Surveillance
10/3/12 3 month post-chemo check-up - All Clear!
2/28/13 8 month post-chemo check-up - All Clear!
Registered User
Thank you all! Yes...I am amazed at the speed of is recovery! Six days after surgery and he is driving himself to see an arena football game tonight! Marc is still a little sore, but well enough to get around and even return to work tomorrow!
I am delighted about the all clear results! Of course I will be on pins and needles at his next scans. The fact that they didn't clean out the lymph nodes on the other side worries me some. I am so hopeful that we never see any signs of cancer again, but I know you all know how that feels!
Samantha
Samantha
Husband Marc diagnosed on 10/11/11
Left orchiectomy 10/12/11
Embryonal carcinoma
CT scan - enlarged abdominal lymph node
Small questionable mass on chest scan
BEP x 3 maybe 4 started 11/7/11
Moderator
So glad to hear Marc is doing well! And driving himself? To a game? Wowsa!
Bilateral procedures are not common because bilateral spread like that is uncommon without showing up in other places ... i.e. if it is going to jump to the opposite side, it will 'stop along the way' and set up shop and a bilateral RPLND will not be any more effective. Kel's was a left side template only, and that is with viable cancers in there, so don't worry too much about the 'one side' part.Originally Posted by AZWife
T
Tracy
Cancer pharmacologist, caregiver blog here
Wife to Kel, dx 12/30/11 Stage IIIc (poor) embyronal, AFP 13700, 10x11 cm retroperitoneal mass, 1 cm^2 lung met
Left I/O 12/31/10.
4xBEP 1-4/11, AFP=22, 5*7 RP mass, tx failed
1.5 x VeIP 5-6/11; tx failed, AFP/b-hCG rising
Salvage RPLND @Indy 6/29/11, metastatic mixed germ cell tumor with yolk sac, seminoma and teratoma
Remission! AFP steady since 9/2011; 1.5 years ALL CLEAR
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks