please help

[zesasmom]

My 22 year old son had orchidectomy three days ago
His markers normal except afp 98. Chest clear liver all organs clear but ct stated several prominent paraorta lymph nodes up to 1cm. Today he had a headache. I'm terrified this may mean its met to brain. Please any advise appreciated

[RyanSeattle]

My 22 year old son had orchidectomy three days ago
His markers normal except afp 98. Chest clear liver all organs clear but ct stated several prominent paraorta lymph nodes up to 1cm. Today he had a headache. I'm terrified this may mean its met to brain. Please any advise appreciated

No he most likely does not have brain mets. Headaches are normal and we all get them. He just had a surgery so this is most likely the cause. TC would be in his lungs before it made it to his brain. And his ct scan showed no lung mets. The 1 cm spots in his abdomen however may be mets and if they are he would be considered stage 2. TC is the most curable forms of cancer and he would still have a excellent prognosis.

[1lessball2answr]

I think it's always good to bring up this kind of stuff with your doctor, just so that they are in the loop and can offer their trained opinion. I will say though that I had headaches after my surgery and had the same concern you are having. I had an MRI done of the brain and of course it was normal. His body is going through an adjustment period now and he could be having a headache from testosterone levels shifting, being stressed (this is a very stressful situation!), being fatigued or any of a million other reasons. Sometimes a headache is just a headache. But, if you're deeply concerned about it, ask the doctor what they think.

[zesasmom]

Thank you both so much for your replies. Did talk to dr s nurse and she suggested continued pain meds and pass info onto dr. Did not seem to think headaches linked to brain mets as said saw nothing to indicate that but would pass info on to dr. I'm an incredibly worried mom and so appreciate your help and this forum.

[zesasmom]

At this point the dr has said if afp markers are not normal within three weeks he will.ben chemo. Waiting for pathology. Again much thanks
At times I feel so alone and afraid and am so grateful for the experience and kindness of this forum

[Paul54]

To Mom from a Dad:
I am so sorry your son and you have to go through this. Each new case breaks my heart. If there is anything to be grateful about, its that parents like you join the battle since things like this are such a shock to young adults. It isn't supposed to happen to kids.

You and your son are not alone. No matter what else happens, plenty of families here have gone down the same path. As you and the doctors pull all the puzzle pieces together, get copies of all reports and post the results and your questions here. We will help you make sense of this, and give guidance on seeking the best care.

I agree that headaches are usually just headaches. Ordinary aches and pains take on new urgency while going through this. They could be caused by stress or sensitivity to small changes in hormone levels. In my case, I had backaches that I swore must have been massive tumors until the CT's showed absolutely nothing unusual.

Waiting can be the worst part. In the meantime, your son should consider sperm banking just in case. There is no drive-thru window for that. I know, that not the kind of conversation mothers and sons are supposed to have. Welcome to new territory.

We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Chances are great that your son will get through this just fine, reclaim normalcy, and move on to a long and prosperous life.
Paul

[zesasmom]

Paul....thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. I will discuss sperm banking with my son ...definitely new territory. Waiting is the worst I suppose and my son is now in florida attending college but is coming home with his gf on Friday! Again thank you so much for your support.

[Wesmom]

You will find a lot of support here. Several people here can help with any questions you may have regarding the pathology report. You will want to get a copy for your records. Keep us posted on how things are going.

[zak0691]

Yeah look into sperm banking since he's gonna have to do chemotherapy. I did 2xBEP and I had my sperm analyzed about 10 months afterward and was then still mostly infertile.

Also don't worry about the headaches...I get headaches all the time so the doctors had an MRI done of my head just to be sure, which led to more testing as the MRI was clear. Turned out I have some weird eye muscle condition called superior oblique palsy (which has nothing to do with the cancer or treatment, btw).