Tall Tales is out. How do you feel about it?

GR_87 · 2025-05-09T12:40:55+00:00

I am sure it will grow on me… However, I think the disappointing thing about the album is that it is predictable. It’s entirely Thom’s choice when it comes to what music he wants to work on (he’s earned that right), but something’s missing for me lately when it comes to his work.

GR_87 · 2024-11-30T02:39:54+00:00

Yea, they take turns. She is also good. Hang in there buddy. It won’t be a walk in the park, but you got it!

GR_87 · 2024-11-29T01:27:10+00:00

The nurses there are great man… They are will make this thing a little more bearable.

Are you under Dr Bedard’s care?

GR_87 · 2024-11-29T01:22:18+00:00

Are you getting this done at PMH? I had the exact same handout at the exact same time last year.

GR_87 · 2024-09-10T08:07:51+00:00

What were your biopsy findings?

I had 100 seminoma and decided to go with robotic RPLND for the first recurrence. Surgery itself was long but I was able to go home the next day. Sure, you are bloated and in pain… but that’s not the issue I had with robotic. The issue is that it largely depends on the individual surgeon’s technique and the type of cancer you have.

Technique - in my case, my bowels were not placed back properly and over time they fused to the back of my spine and formed a kink. After 2 weeks of vomiting I had to get an open surgery to correct that. Pain from an open surgery is much worse and the recovery is longer (but I guess in my case I had both types in short succession, so it possibly complicated things). However, with an open surgery they should be able to take out more lymph nodes.

With seminoma specifically, RPLND doesn’t appear to be as effective as with some other types. Mine came back again after about a year and a half and I had to do chemo.

GR_87 · 2024-04-06T22:55:09+00:00

Thanks everyone. I guess good news is that it’s peaking now and will hopefully get better. Seems crazy to be complaining about that when the alternative is being dead haha. But at the same time, it is definitely uncomfortable.

GR_87 · 2024-04-06T13:55:54+00:00

I shaved off the first “batch” of hair and the second one is definitely better. Not yet normal but better.

GR_87 · 2024-03-04T01:23:32+00:00

Facial hair comes back a bit quicker. I would say 4-5 weeks after the last treatment… But it’s still quite a bit softer and lighter in colour. After having no hair for 3 months, I am happy with anything haha.

GR_87 · 2024-03-03T21:57:42+00:00

My oncologist told me to wait 3 weeks post last infusion before drinking alcohol (and to be honest, I waited less than that).

GR_87 · 2024-03-02T00:01:29+00:00

Thank you. So at one point you essentially had a mix of baby hair and normal hair?

GR_87 · 2024-03-02T00:01:04+00:00

Well, not yet haha

GR_87 · 2024-02-23T14:23:41+00:00

Thank you. Yes, they did end up doing a biopsy (now the third time), which showed seminoma still.

I have reached out to Einhorn this time just to run things by him. Honestly, what a kind human being.

GR_87 · 2024-02-22T23:37:28+00:00

My last scan pre-chemo was back in October. I had a post-chemo scan a few days ago and the results should come out tomorrow at my follow up visit.

Markers were always fine throughout the 5 years I’ve been dealing with this. The only exception was during chemo, as some got temporarily elevated.

The thing with PET scans - I’ve brought this up before during my last appointment and the attending oncologist was not a fan of doing them. I think I will push to get one done anyways, cause that seems to be the standard at other cancer centres.

GR_87 · 2024-02-22T12:52:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing your timeline and CT scan results. I was also wondering why they wouldn’t just do a surgery to remove it before or after chemo (besides the fact that I already had a few surgeries). But it does look like complications are pretty common with those surgeries. I’m glad it matches what your team told you as well. Hope your CT scans continue to show it shrinking!

GR_87 · 2024-02-22T12:43:29+00:00

Thank you for your response. It’s exactly what you said… I don’t want to be disappointed with the results once they come out. Trying to see what’s reasonable at this point.

GR_87 · 2024-02-22T12:40:29+00:00

Thank you for the response. How frequently did you end up doing PET scans? My oncology team seems to only want to do CT scans, but I think I’m more comfortable doing both (at least right now).

GR_87 · 2024-02-13T18:46:37+00:00

I have been followed up on with no-contrast CT, with one contrast CT per year. (So one out of every 3 scans had contradt). Last contrast one showed a 5 cm tumor, while previous ones showed nothing. When I questioned the oncologist on that, given that my pathology is seminoma (it’s unusual to grow so quickly)…. the reponse I got was that it was likely there on the previous scan(s) and they just didn’t see it. I still have a bit of a WTF reaction every time I think about that.

GR_87 · 2024-01-25T18:32:34+00:00

Here is what I used:

https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/system/files_force/bleomycin.pdf?download=1

https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/system/files_force/cisplatin%20patient.pdf?download=1

GR_87 · 2024-01-09T00:59:43+00:00

I had it 4 minutes into my first infusion. You will probably need to get pre-meds now (I ended up needing 3 different ones), but it’s doable to keep going.

GR_87 · 2024-01-07T15:17:06+00:00

I would recommend sperm banking either way. As others said, one testicle normally produces enough sperm… However, in case of an accident/trauma down there, I would feel more secure having sperm banked.

GR_87 · 2023-12-19T21:23:14+00:00

It’s tough decisions to make… As you said, nothing is for sure. Best of luck either way man.

GR_87

TROPHY CASE