#1 ·
Hello. About a year ago, I was diagnosed with a testicular tumor (embryonal carcinoma). Thankfully, I caught it early. The testicle was removed, and my markers were normal before surgery, but they spiked afterward, which is where my story begins. I saw an oncologist and was prescribed chemotherapy. The markers that rose post-op were AFP and B-HCG—they hit double digits, but nothing crazy like the 3000 or 500 levels you see in many cases. I’ve had two CT scans so far, both clear. My lymph nodes were 2 cm, but after the second scan, they regressed to 0.8 cm. Following all that, my first check-up was fine, no symptoms. The second check-up was also fine, still no symptoms. Now, I’ve just had my third follow-up, and the results look like this: three months ago, my AFP was 4 (range 0-9), B-HCG was . I’m in shock. I went to a urologist who suspected kidney or liver issues, but an ultrasound showed everything is fine. He also checked my remaining healthy testicle; no lumps or thickening. I called my oncologist, and she insists it must be a lab error because such a jump is nearly impossible for this specific tumor type. I’m doing a re-test for AFP next week. I had an MRI today, and the urologist suggested a PET scan if the AFP stays elevated. I want to know: is a Chest/Abdomen CT better, or should I go for the PET scan? I am part of a younger demographic. Also, I’d like to hear about your experiences—is it possible this is just a mistake, or what is happening? The urologist thinks there might be metastasis in a lymph node near the kidneys or lungs, even though both previous CTs showed nothing in those areas. Thanks in advance!
PS: I’ve started feeling a bit under the weather lately—sniffles and a slight sore throat. The technician at the MRI facility told my wife that AFP can actually spike due to a common cold...
PS: I’ve started feeling a bit under the weather lately—sniffles and a slight sore throat. The technician at the MRI facility told my wife that AFP can actually spike due to a common cold...