Hello again

[Abram's]

So I finally found some financial help, to see a oncologist after my o/i on 5/18/2012. Had my first ct scan on 6/28/2012 and got the results today witch was a all clear, my first bit of good news in a while, so I'm happy but my doctor wants to do a pet scan tomorrow mainly because I was diagnosed with 100% embryonal carcinoma without L/I . It seems so far and hopefully that the cancer was confined to the testicles without metasis but he wants to do 1 to 2 cycles of Bep for preventive purposes and does not recommend surveillance. I'm going to see what my pet scan results are before I decided what to do but I'm hoping on surveillance so I can keep my mind on work and not go insane thinking of every strange feeling being cancer related (anxiety hopefully), as well as avoiding the possible unnecessary toxicity of chemo but if I do chemo I will try to keep it to a minimum as possible. My birthdays in 7 days and I'm hoping for good news, sorry if my writing is bad, I'm using an Android phone with swipe. Thank you everyone for all your help, Dave, Scot, Kat ect. this is a bump in the road that I must over come

[Abram's]

Im also concerned about the amount of radiation I will be exposed too.is it common to get a ct scan and pet scan in a short amount of time and if my pet scan turns out clear is surveillance a good option?

[Geoff]

The addition of the PET scan seems a bit odd to me, but it may be fine. Although surveillance may not be your doctor's first choice, it is a choice that you should think of and ask questions about. You will have fewer CT scans with the chemo approach, but deal with any possible side effects from chemo.

[Davepet]

I had a pet scan shortly after a ct scan as well & it confirmed that what seemed "suspicious" in the CT was in fact active cancer.

Dave

[cbvance]

My CT showed an enlarged lymph node so a PET was ordered. The PET showed "up take" meaning the node was not cancerous and likely just reactive to surgery. I have my first follow up CT in a few weeks, hopefully it's clear.

[Davepet]

My CT showed an enlarged lymph node so a PET was ordered. The PET showed "up take" meaning the node was not cancerous and likely just reactive to surgery. I have my first follow up CT in a few weeks, hopefully it's clear.

"Up take" usually means cancer, as cancer cells tend to soak up the radioactive sugar based solution in greater amounts than non cancerous cells. Did your report perhaps say "no uptake"?

Dave

[Abram's]

Thanks for the reply's guys, it hard to decide what path to choose but if all my test remain to be negative, I don't see a reason to need treatment and choose surveillance but of course I will have to wait to see my doctor and see my results on tuesday. Hope both of are scans turn out clear cb

[Abram's]

I Feel very LUCKY! my pet scan came back all clear and I feel very Greatful at this chance at life. I choose to get 1 adjuant round of Bep as a preventive in 2 weeks. The perfect birthday gift, I couldn't be happier

[DBR82]

Congrats brother! You'll have this thing beaten into the ground in no time. Kind of like in Transformers where Opitmus Prime rips a decipticon's head off. It's pretty cool.

[TC Destroyer]

Great news man, pat yourself on the back for catching the disease early.

[Abram's]

Thanks, you guys are great! If it wasn't for the pain and swelling I would have never known until a late stage in the diseases. I feel extremely fortunate

[Abram's]

I've got a work related question and I know everyone responds to chemo differently, I just want a rough idea. How long after 1 round of Bep, can I feel better to go back to work? my job isn't a office job or anything like that, I work with my hands, sometimes moving steel for fabrication ect. I'm just hoping that It won't be a long time, because I've got bills to pay but I also understand that I have to be careful. My job doesn't know I had/ have cancer, I don't want to tell them. They just know I'm on medical leave, they will probably find out because, I'll be bald but I do wear a hardhat most of the time.

[Davepet]

As I recall, by the end of week 3 of my first round,I was feeling pretty good, certainly not normal, but not awful. I started round 2 the following week, so no idea when I would have been good to go back to work after the first round.

Might be good to tell your boss what is going on, they may be able to get you back to work on light duty a bit sooner that way, plus, if it's too intense they will at least not be left wondering why you need more time off.

I understand every employer is different, so use your own judgement on that.

Dave

[bryce-ord]

Well, I am a steel fabricator. I finished chemo 6 weeks ago (BEPx3). This is my second week back at work (straight back to full-duty). I felt like I could have gone back to work 3 weeks ago, but did not rush it. Each person is different, but I would not expect to be off work for too long. The main difficulty I had with returning to work was not fatigue, but sore feet (lol, from not wearing boots for 3 months).

[TonyTigger]

I could have worked the third week of the first cycle of BEP and I actually did a lot of work around the house. I had one day during the 2nd cycle and work in the yard for a couple of hours. Just finished the long week of the third cycle and I cant imagine when I will feel good again. Everyone seems to be different though.

[Abram's]

Thanks, Dave, Bryce and Tony, you guys have been very helpful Yeah I can't wait to wear jeans and boots again, iv got a pair of timberland pit boss boots that I can wear all day . I work in a shop but sometimes I work outside in the field not sure if the sunlight is bad for you after a round of Bep, I should be back to work around early September hopefully. Depending how I feel, I will consider letting my boss, know the facts but I still haven't started my 1 adjuant round of Bep but might be this week, depending if my insurance has aproved the treatment yet, I know chemo therapy can be very expensive.

[nciungan]

I could have worked the third week of the first cycle of BEP and I actually did a lot of work around the house. I had one day during the 2nd cycle and work in the yard for a couple of hours. Just finished the long week of the third cycle and I cant imagine when I will feel good again. Everyone seems to be different though.

My 3rd round long week was the pits too Tony. Didn't feel normal until middle of my 2nd week. I technically finished 4 days ago and I feel pretty damn good. Went out last night and had some beers. Never tasted so good. Hang in there you're almost done.