10/24/17 - Peter's RPLND Story

Thank you everyone for praying and keeping us in your thoughts. The support of our community truly has made all the difference. I can't say it enough! Thank you!

I have been and plan to continuing posting short updates on my facebook page, so feel free to keep checking that.

Here is the story of Peter’s RPLND surgery, 10/24/17:

Yesterday after a day of waiting and prayers, a day of intense advocating from Dr Hameed's team at the West Michigan Cancer Center and Dr Masterson's assistant Angie (they are amazing!!) our insurance received the proof they needed that two doctors the insurance suggested in Michigan could in fact NOT perform this RPLND surgery. (One of the surgeons' offices was even willing to get a dictated letter because he was performing a surgery at the time! Unbelievable favor coming our way.) The team was amazing compassionate and actually apologized to us about it--none of it was there fault. We are so thankful we were here in Indiana, and these people were on our side.

This news came about one hour before we needed to arrive at the hospital, so we headed over shortly after to get checked in. We met the team, and along the way different staff kept reminding us of people we loved: we were checked in by a girl so much like Dottie, our cousin, the anesthesiologist's mannerisms reminded Tori just a little bit of another cousin, Matt, a nurse (I think the circulating nurse?) reminded us of Bobbie, one of our favorite oncology nurses at Bronson--so much peace along the way. Tami and I prayed with Peter just before 4 PM, when he was then wheeled away to go to get anesthesia.

We went to the waiting room and got settled, and a nurse updated us that the surgery had gotten started at 4:30 PM, slowly but steadily. We received a few more updates that things were going okay until 8:30 PM, when all of the other staff left to go home. We were the only ones in the waiting room at that point.

Finally at about 11:15 PM, Dr Masterson came out and told us that surgery was successful, they removed all of the cancer, and that from his perspective most of the tumors looked dead (no official pathology report for probably 5 business days).

This is the crazy part, and why the surgery took almost 7 hours: one tumor and grown directly through his vena cava. (This is crazy and when I googled it it is super rare--I think it is 3% to 11% of testicular cancer cases possibly.) If you imagine a tube, the tumor went directly perpendicular through the tube. He said the blood was flowing around the tumor like you could imagine the on and exit ramps going around a highway. He was surprised Peter had not had any swelling in his legs. In his laid back, low key, understated way, Dr Masterson described how good it was we were here, because, “This would have been difficult for someone who hadn’t done many RPLNDs.” We’d talked to him enough to realize that meant this was a very difficult operation, even for RPLNDs. Out of the 6 nerves that would be affected, we knew 3 for sure would be lost. To preserve function, one or two needed to be spared. He repeatedly let us know they would try to spare them but could not promise it. Miraculously, two nerves were spared!! It will probably be at least 6-12 months before they heal, but this is very good news. We aren’t sure yet how many lymph nodes were removed, but all three tumor sites are cleared. Unfortunately they were not able to give the usual spinal pain medication, and did a different method from either side of the abdomen, and I am suspecting that is a big part of the intense pain Peter is experiencing right now.

Please pray for the pain to decrease and healing to come. Especially pray for his lung strength and respiratory rate--no more apnea. NO pneumonia. NO leaking lymph nodes now or in the future. But especially his breathing/lungs. That is one of the greatest risks of this operation combined with the chemo he has received. Wisdom for the doctors, and especially wisdom for Peter to have peace about the decisions he is making, ability to rest, and balance exercises to regain his strength. We are thinking we will probably be here longer than the usual minimum stay of 3 days. But we are all for a miraculous recovery!