Some Questions Answered

I got to ask all my latest questions here they are:

If you remove the cancerous tumor, why does someone need chemo?
- There are microscopic particles that could remain and could spread. Chemo will kill them.

Why a port as opposed to a catheter? Doesn't a port mean being stuck over and over again?
- The port is easier because the tube would stick out of Roland’s chest and make it easy to be pulled on. The port is not as bad as it seems. The area will become hard over time and they never stick without being swabbed with numbing gel.

How long will the surgery take?
- 2 hours. The first hour will be to get to the tumor and testicle and most likely remove them. The tumor will go to a pathologist and he will determine if it is malignant. (15 minutes) If it is it will mean Roland will have a port put in his shoulder which should take 45 minutes. Then it will be 7 – 10 days before we know what his chemo regimen.

I assume it is full anesthesia?
- Yes, he will be under for the entire time (2 hours)

What is the recovery like following surgery?
- He will slowly wake up but we should be able to take him home. He will have pain medicine as he will have pain in his groin and maybe his shoulder if a port was put in.

How and when do we get to meet with an oncologist?
- While he is in surgery an oncologist will come talk to us. They are not accepting new cases so the chemo will be done at Children’s or Ochsner.