On July 14th my wife Susan had brought our 11 year old son Patrick for his yearly exam. His doctor noticed an enlarged right testicle and referred him to a urologist, Dr. Mason in Syracuse, New York. Patrick saw Dr. Mason on July 15th and he immediately scheduled surgery the next day to remove his right testicle. Within a week biopsy results revealed that a tumor had encased the right testicle and he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Being a malignant tumor I contacted a couple of people I trusted would provide guidance to secure the best care. Being in central New York we were given contacts and called doctors at Dana Farber Cancer Center. Patrick’s reports were sent there and on July 31st we had a virtual visit that led us to Boston Childrens Hospital for surgery. Patricks treatment was mapped out: surgery to remove lymph nodes, chemotherapy for 24 weeks, and possible radiation therapy.
Surgery was performed on August 5th to remove enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen. Surgery was to be 4-5 hours. After a 14 hour surgery the doctor told us that the enlarged lymph nodes had formed a tumor-like mass and had wrapped and adhered itself to the inferior vena cava and aorta. After a prolonged and tedious surgery Dr. Richard Lee, head urologist at Boston Childrens Hospital said he felt he had gotten the entire mass. Meeting a couple of days later with head of oncology, Dr. Natalie Collins, Patricks treatment plan was adjusted. She said that a couple of the involved lymph nodes were at the level of the kidneys. Although the cancer had not spread to other organs, this indicated a change in treatment plans. Although Patrick’s cancer was roughly categorized as a Stage 2 his treatment would be for Stage 4 to ensure the complete effect of chemotherapy. Instead of these treatments going for 24 weeks that meant chemotherapy would now be for 42 weeks with maintenance care continuing another 6 months after that. During that period radiation therapy would be necessary and be given 5 times per week for 5 weeks at week thirteen of chemotherapy.
