Dear Testicular Cancer

The probability that the removal of the testical has healed me completely is about 80-90%. Another doctor gave me a relapse rate of 70% and 80% because of the size of the tumor being slightly larger than average. It’s all statistics anyway and it boils down to whether I’m a half full or a half empty kind of person:

Treatment of no treatment ?

I was given two options for post surgery treatments to lower the relapse rate to ~5%:

Option 1) 10 Days of Radiation Therapy or

Option 2) Chemo Therapy : 2 Dosis 700mg Carboplatin (=Paraplatin)

Interesting Video found on google talking about the chemotherapy option

[...]the latest research shows an early stage of one type of cancer—seminoma–can respond just as well to a single dose of chemotherapy after surgery, rather than needing a three week course of radiation therapy. (source: www.empowereddoctor.com)

Honestly I am a bit overwhelmed with having to make this decision. I am worried about exposing my body to toxic medicine that could potentially cause more damage. On the other hand I am not convinced that the tumor has not spread a little bit, it has been in there for quite a while after all…

I signed up with this online support group:

TC NET Support

I have received great help and mental support from them. I highly recommend signing up (free) and telling your story.

I have met with the radiotherapy specialist. The options for post surgery treatments of testicular cancer are all a little confusing and irritating right now. Every option seems to affect the probability of a reoccurence of the tumor and at the same time also the probability of causing another, secondary type of cancer further down the road (10-15 years from now). I will post more once my clears up a little and I have done more research.