Final Step

Well it looks like I have beaten this cancer and I can now start to return to a normal life. Yesterday and today I met with two different oncologists to get their opinion on what I should do next. The first oncologist I visited was the same one I saw before the RPLND procedure. He feels that with my pathology report only detecting 3 infected lymph nodes that going under surveillance would be the best option for me, as long as I keep up with appointments to have my blood checked and x-rays done. Today, I visited the same oncologist that James visits each year for his annual checkup. He agreed with my first doctor and showed me some documentation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network which describes the procedure for someone with testicular cancer. The recommendation from the NCCN is to go under surveillance. Now if sometime in the next few years something does show up on a CT scan or x-ray, there is a 99% chance that 3 rounds of chemo would cure me just as good as if I did the chemo now. The only difference between doing the chemo now would be it would only take 2 rounds instead 3. So this is good news for me, I really did not want to undergo chemo as I have seen the effects it takes on someone. As the years past the chance of reaccurance will decrease and after 5-6 years I will be in remission. Once I reach 10 years, I should be able to discontinue the annual visits. My next doctor visit is on August 29th with my urologist for my final post-op before returning to work. After that I will meet again with my oncologist to setup the appointments every 2-3 months to have my blood work done and x-rays done. This will continue every 2-3 months for the first 2 years. In the 3rd and 4th year I will go every 4 months, in the 5th year every 6 months, and then once a year until the 10th year.

Amazingly enough it's been about 2 months since I first went to the doctors office with this problem, and with all the support from my family and friends, the amazing care I recieved from my Florida doctors and the doctors in Indiana, I am now on the road to a complete recovery. I want to thank everyone for all your support, prayers, phone calls and get-well cards. Jenn and I could not have made it through this without all your support.