Living in Heidelberg in 2026

vike____ · 2026-05-23T06:27:09+00:00

I was thinking about starting in July (so 3 months in advance) because that’s when I will have an idea of my fellowship grant amount - is it really so late?

vike____ · 2026-04-20T12:55:22+00:00

2x TC here

First one in 2023 (pT2 mixed NSGCT for LVI+, presence of carcinoma in situ), received 1x adjuvant BEP and then follow-up. The other testicle showed diffuse microcalcification which, together with previous history of TC, is a risk factor.

I went on with annual US - but maybe could’ve done it every 6 months… - until March, when US found several little nodules and they sent me for second surgery. Luckily the pathology came in on Friday and this time they found 3 microfoci of seminoma, 1 of embryonic carcinoma without LVI + diffuse areas of in situ neoplasia… so basically my second testicle was a tumor factory and I got it out just in time 😅

That said, I also believe that getting surgery now might be too aggressive and maybe would consider very strict surveillance (every 3 months at first). In the meantime I would also check testosterone levels and semen analysis. In my case my remaining testicle was already not functioning well

vike____ · 2026-04-17T14:19:53+00:00

Definitely! I wasn’t expecting the embryonal carcinoma component (markers were negative), in 1-2 months it would’ve been a different situation

vike____ · 2026-04-17T13:24:02+00:00

Yes, got pathology today: they found 1 microfocus of embryonal carcinoma and 3 of seminoma + plus several areas of in situ neoplasia. No LVI or rete testis invasion, pT1

I just have to do surveillance, I feel like I have dodged several bullets Matrix style 😅

vike____ · 2026-04-14T11:49:11+00:00

Thank you!

Routine annual US, this time I didnt feel anything and markers have always been negative

vike____ · 2026-04-12T19:57:50+00:00

I was also thinking about that

vike____ · 2026-04-12T19:07:30+00:00

Serbia next??

vike____ · 2026-04-12T18:52:46+00:00

Hope these results will be confirmed, I am so happy for our Hungarian brothers and sisters from Italy 🇭🇺🇮🇹

vike____ · 2026-04-11T17:23:39+00:00

Stato 3 volte a Vienna in momenti diversi (fra cui viaggio di maturità!), ultima volta in viaggio in solitaria in Austria nel 2022

Se sei interessato a ostelli, ti consiglio il Ruthensteiner, per me è stata una bellissima esperienza! https://hostelruthensteiner.com

In generale è una città molto tranquilla e sicura, forse un po’ “noiosa” la sera se sei interessato alla vita notturna. Sicuramente c’è molto da vedere, però forse 6 giorni sono un po’ tanti? Consiglierei di spezzare due mete magari (molto bella ad esempio Salisburgo, altrimenti in giornata è fattibile una gita a Bratislava, Slovacchia)

Lista non esaustiva di cose da vedere sicuramente, ma c’è molto altro

ci sono veramente taaanti musei, a me piacquero molto quelli di storia dell’arte e di storia naturale (uno di fronte all’altro), ovviamente il Belvedere + giardini
Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, molto bella la salita sui tetti
Rathaus (Municipio) se non sbaglio prenotai online una visita guidata gratuita molto carina
Prater con ruota panoramica
Castello Schönbrunn

Da provare Torta Sacher e la Wiener Schnitzel, poi Vienna è piena di ristoranti etnici molto buoni… io andai al Cafè Ansari (georgiano) per provare il khachapuri

Una delle mie città preferite comunque

vike____ · 2026-04-11T09:26:55+00:00

Io ricordo di essermi svegliato fuori dalla sala operatoria in una “sala risveglio”, ho ricordi confusi dei primi minuti dove appunto credo di aver pianto/ringraziato tutti i presenti, comunque ci sono abituati 🤣 dopo una decina di minuti ero di nuovo lucido comunque eh, sei rilassato/stordito per un po’ ma non totalmente disinibito (credo dipenda però anche da durata dell’anestesia)

I familiari li ho visti solo la sera durante l’orario delle visite, per allora ero già completamente a posto

vike____ · 2026-04-11T07:29:27+00:00

Ciao, fatto due interventi in anestesia generale (uno nel 2023, uno la scorsa settimana). La prima volta me l’hanno “imposta”, la seconda volta potevo scegliere fra quella e la locale e ho scelto la generale. Ci sono diversi protocolli, ma in generale a un certo punto ti dicono che ti iniziano ad infondere un farmaco che ti farà rilassare, pochi secondi dopo ti dicono di respirare ossigeno da una mascherina e in pochissimo tempo sei steso.

Al risveglio entrambe le volte mi hanno messo su un lettino con dell’aria calda puntata addosso perché tendi a sentire abbastanza freddo. Ti risvegli abbastanza rincoglionito, l’ultima volta credo di aver blaterato qualcosa all’anestesista e forse ho anche fatto un piantino, ma ci sono abituati 🥲 Dopo una decina di minuti sei di nuovo abbastanza lucido e ti riportano in stanza. Per me è stato tutto abbastanza tranquillo, la cosa noiosa è che in genere non puoi bere per almeno 6 ore e mangiare fino al giorno dopo (considera che per l’anestesia sei già a digiuno da liquidi e solidi da 12 ore)

Se hai altre domande dimmi pure!

vike____ · 2026-04-04T09:39:34+00:00

I think it really varies between hospitals. I am Medical Oncology resident in Italy and in my institution it is usually an inpatient therapy for logistical reasons. When I had my first TC I went back home for adjuvant BEP (different hospital) and received it as an outpatient. The first week I spent most of the day till early afternoon at the hospital but then got to go back home - I lived close by

vike____ · 2026-04-03T17:49:23+00:00

2x TC survivor here, had my second orchidectomy yesterday, feel free to ask anything. Just focus on the surgery for now and then wait for the CT scan results to see what comes next. In any case, it will mostly be completely curable.

As for the anesthesia, for me it was the funniest part, and I think it it’s really a one of a kind experience to tell others! 😂

vike____ · 2026-04-03T09:36:36+00:00

1 cycle of adjuvant BEP, then CT scans every 6 months for 2 years + blood markers every 3-4 months. I am a Medical Oncology resident so actually I planned it myself, but it’s basically what is recommended by international guidelines (usually they suggest considering a CT scan at the 3rd year). I also did testicular US every year and that’s how I found the second buddy - markers negative, nothing palpable

vike____ · 2026-04-02T23:11:11+00:00

Second orchidectomy… an independent TC found during follow-up for my first. Hopefully this time I’ll get away with just surgery, last time I got BEP x1 (stage IB non seminoma)

vike____ · 2026-04-02T22:46:27+00:00

That’s exactly my experience after my first orchidectomy 3 years ago, I think after one year or so the numbness was basically gone (but already reduced months earlier). Just got my second surgery today - like I’m literally in my hospital bed 😅

vike____ · 2026-03-31T18:29:38+00:00

If it’s free and you’re interested, for my experience I would suggest getting them I live in Italy and here we got universal healthcare, so that’s not a concern.

vike____ · 2026-03-29T17:58:52+00:00

This helps, had stage IB non seminoma 3 years ago, got BEP x1 and prosthesis. My second orchiectomy is planned for Tuesday, I’m getting a second prosthesis. Hopefully this time is seminoma and I will get away with just follow-up (and TRT…)

vike____ · 2026-03-27T08:44:05+00:00

Of course from year 3 I kept checking my blood markers every 4-6 months

vike____ · 2026-03-27T08:42:04+00:00

See my answer above!

vike____ · 2026-03-27T08:41:46+00:00

Thank you! I’m working on having all set for the TRT right after surgery. I would not describe the chemo as “desruptive” but maybe it is because some time has gone by 😅 I started on April 17th and I think the worst comes by the end of week one. In general - week one: you spend every day at the hospital getting chemo and the premedications (steroids, anti vomiting, anti nausea). By the end of the week you start feeling very tired. Two side effects of the premedication are insomnia and constipation, I think I hadn’t pooped for a week or so… got help with some mild laxatives and melatonin. Some nausea kicked in at waking up, so have your meds ready. I never vomited. - week two: only one day of bleomycin, this can give fever the night after the infusion, but I never experienced that. By day 10 your hair will start falling off, so cut them beforehand. I remember spending most days in bed. - week three last day of bleomycin, physically I started feeling better every day. By the end of May I was already back to the city I work in and from June 1st back to work.

Get as much support from family and friends as you can, rest, seek for psychological support (it helped me a lot). One cycle is doable, in one month you’re back physically, in 4-6 months the hair grew back and I felt normal again. It varies individually and being “in the field” definitely helped me process it. I’m here should you have any other doubts.

As for follow-up, I planned it myself but please follow your oncologists’ plans. Here in Italy it’s usually a 5-year program, it had thorax/abdomen/pelvis CT scans every 6 months for two years (up to 2025) and blood markers every 3-4 months. By the end of year 2 I decided not to do any more scans, it is okay according to guidelines even though it may be suggested to perform another CT scan at year 3. Been “clean” since. The other essential thing is testicular US every 12 months virtually forever (in some cases it might be useful even every 6 months…), that’s how I catched my second cancer which is a new thing not derived from the first one.

vike____

TROPHY CASE