Now the uncertainity begins

I have been diagnosised with testicular cancer. Tomorrow is surgery day. Then the waiting begins. Three to five days for the pathologists report. Then I find out for certain what type of cancer it is. Seminomas or it's faster growing cousin nonseminomas. After that is determined then it is time to find out what stage I am at. Has it spread or not. Then the referral to the oncologist, who will likely order a ct scan to determine what stage the cancer is at. There are three stages. thanks to the National Cancer Institute the stages are detailed below.

Stage one is described in the following section:

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. All tumor marker levels are normal. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

Stage I

In stage I, cancer has formed. Stage I is divided into stage IA, stage IB, and stage IS and is determined after a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IA, cancer is in the testicle and epididymis and may have spread to the inner layer of the membrane surrounding the testicle. All tumor marker levels are normal.
• In stage IB, cancer:
  • is in the testicle and the epididymis and has spread to the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the testicle; or
  • has spread to the outer layer of the membrane surrounding the testicle; or
  • is in the spermatic cord or the scrotum and may be in the blood vessels or lymph vessels of the testicle.
  All tumor marker levels are normal.

In stage IS, cancer is found anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or the scrotum and either:

• all tumor marker levels are slightly above normal; or
• one or more tumor marker levels are moderately above normal or high.

Stage two is as follows:

Stage II

Stage II is divided into stage IIA, stage IIB, and stage IIC and is determined after a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IIA, cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen, none larger than 2 centimeters.
  All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.
• In stage IIB, cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and either:
  • has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen; at least one of the lymph nodes is larger than 2 centimeters, but none are larger than 5 centimeters; or
  • has spread to more than 5 lymph nodes; the lymph nodes are not larger than 5 centimeters.
  All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.
• In stage IIC, cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • has spread to a lymph node in the abdomen that is larger than 5 centimeters.
  All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.

And finally Stage 3:

Stage III

Stage III is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IIIC and is determined after a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IIIA, cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and
  • has spread to distant lymph nodes or to the lungs.
  Tumor marker levels may range from normal to slightly above normal.
• In stage IIIB, cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.
  The level of one or more tumor markers is moderately above normal.
• In stage IIIC, cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.
  The level of one or more tumor markers is high.
  or
  Cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and
  • has not spread to distant lymph nodes or the lung but has spread to other parts of the body.
  Tumor marker levels may range from normal to high.

After the staging is determined then additional treatment options are discussed and decided upon.

This promises to be a journey that I never expected to take. One that I will try to document. If for no other reason than to give me an outlet for what is going on in my life, and how this all affects my moods.

Stay tuned, the journey begins.