Testicular Cancer

[Zeek]

I felt a hard lump in my left testicle about 3.5 weeks ago, quickly went to my GP who did ultrasounds and found a mas and so i went to a urologist who subsequently removed the left testicle 2 weeks ago. a biopsy was done which indicated that i had / have testicular cancer. He said it was a embryonal carcinoma and that they had gotten it all...(they removed the testicle) From reading online i am concerned that the lymoh nodes that drain the testis were not checked, i am concerned that no chemo was prescribed. I am concerned that it may spread, or may have spread undetected. My CT scans show nothing, and i will do my blood tests to see the alpha fetoprotein and beta HCG levels sometime next week.

How can i tell if the lymph nodes were affected? will the biopsy be able to give insight into this? Will the blood tests give insight into this? How do i know / how does the Dr. know whether or not chemo or radiation treatment is required??? i am trying to keep a positive attitude toward the whole thing, but i am very concerned about these issues.

[americanbulldog]

this may still be helpful to you. I was just diagnosed,had my left testicle removed and am awaiting major surgery called lymph node disection. This will determine if I need to have chemo or not. I have pure embrynal carcinoma which is only 3-4 % chance of getting and is said to be very aggressive. Maybe this will help. They tell me I will be in the hospital 1 week and out of work 6-8 weeks. To all who feel that pain or just a lump GO TO THE DOCTOR. It might be embarassing the first time you have it checked. But the next 50 times it aint no thing. just exagerating on the fifty times but it feels like that many. It spreads to fast , just please get checked.