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Has anyone had a spermatocelectomy?

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Has anyone had a spermatocelectomy?  
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Posted 11/2/2009 7:25 AM (GMT -6)
Next month I have to have a spermatocelectomy to remove a golf ball sized benign cyst from my testicle.  I have had this cyst called a spermatocele for 15 years and now it has grown to the point where it is very uncomfortable.  I am curious if anyone else ever had this type of operation or knows someone who had one because I would like to know if there is any pain involved in recovery etc.
 

Age 56, Biopsy 6/2007 - PSA 4.5, 2 of 12 with  <5% cancer Gleason 6

 

Surgery 9/2007 Uni of Rochester Strong Memorial NY with Dr. Jean Joseph (1300 plus surgeries)

 

Path - Negative margins, cancer in 20% examined tissue, Gleason 6

 

Post Op - No ED issues, full erections without drugs,  used 5-7 pads a day for 3 months. Now dry except for stress leaks now and then.

 

All post op psa's <.04

Posted 11/2/2009 7:38 AM (GMT -6)
I'm pretty sure there are several guys that have had it done and as I recall - it isn't as bad as you'd expect.

Age 54   - 5'11"   205lbs

Overall Heath Condition - Good

PSA - July 2007 & Jan 2008 -> 1.3

Biopsy - 03/04/08 -> Gleason 6 

06/25/08 - Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy

05/14/09  - 4th Quarter PSA -> less then .01

Surgeon - Keith A. Waguespack, M.D.

Posted 11/2/2009 1:35 PM (GMT -6)
I had one a few years back and the recovery was rather easy although it did require staying off my feet for a couple of days.

The cyst did eventually come back but not nearly as large nor as painful as before. I can easily live with it now.
62yo

V10.46 Dx Feb-09

RRP 5-5-09

No adverse SE

PSA 6-19-09 -0-

PSA 9-21-09 -0-

 

Thriving, not just surviving!

Posted 11/2/2009 3:21 PM (GMT -6)

I'm not sure what happened...but the post I made here belonged to a different thread....


Age 54   - 5'11"   205lbs

Overall Heath Condition - Good

PSA - July 2007 & Jan 2008 -> 1.3

Biopsy - 03/04/08 -> Gleason 6 

06/25/08 - Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy

05/14/09  - 4th Quarter PSA -> less then .01

Surgeon - Keith A. Waguespack, M.D.

Post Edited (Steve n Dallas) : 11/3/2009 6:55:23 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/3/2009 7:37 AM (GMT -6)
I had a small one removed when I was in my 20's because of concern that it might be cancerous (which it wasn't). The recovery wasn't bad, but I did have a lot of swelling of my scrotum for about a week, but little or no pain. I also had a small hole they left in the scrotum to allow drainage, and that took maybe 2-3 weeks to scar over and heal, but it never drained that much. From what I recall (it was a long time ago), after a week or so I was back to normal activities.

Maybe they do it differently now, but back then they made an incision in my groin and took the testicle out through the incision to remove the cyst then put it back. I know it sounds extremely painful, but I was out so didn't feel a thing. The scar in my groin also took some time to heal, though not nearly as much as from my prostate surgery.

After a couple of weeks I was pretty much back to normal and everything functioned as before the surgery, but I could always feel a little bit of scar tissue on the testicle. Ove the years, however, many other cysts have grown back on that same testicle, and I occasionally worry that it might be cancerous this time, so I've gone back for ultrasound tests and they always come back negative. Mine was never as big as a golf ball, though, more like a pea. I can't imagine one that big. Anyway, good luck with your surgery, it's not that bad.
Age 64 yrs
DX 5/2009
8 out of 12 cores positive
PSA 5.6
Gleason Score 3+4=7
Stage T2a
Da Vinci Surgery 08/07/2009
Upgrade Gleanson Score 4+3=7
Stage pT2c
Neg Margins and Nodes
Neg Extraprostatic Extention
Dry immediately
Waiting for first PSA

Posted 11/3/2009 10:00 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks for all the info.  I am having the same surgeon that took out my prostate, do this operation, so I know I got a qualified surgeon doing it.  I am just  some what  nervous as to what I would expect in recovery.  From I read here, it seems this is nothing compared to what we went through for prostate surgery, so I feel a little less nervous. 

One that  worries me a little is the size of my cyst.  Like I said it is almost the size of a golf ball. It is like a I have a third testicle in my scrotum. 

 

Age 56, Biopsy 6/2007 - PSA 4.5, 2 of 12 with  <5% cancer Gleason 6

 

Surgery 9/2007 Uni of Rochester Strong Memorial NY with Dr. Jean Joseph (1300 plus surgeries)

 

Path - Negative margins, cancer in 20% examined tissue, Gleason 6

 

Post Op - No ED issues, full erections without drugs,  used 5-7 pads a day for 3 months. Now dry except for stress leaks now and then.

 

All post op psa's <.04

Posted 11/3/2009 10:54 AM (GMT -6)
Odds are you won't be a wake and or care what size it is....Except for the being done part.  Its not like yanking out a severly impacted tooth. Your doc will do-> snip snip - stitch stitch - pay the Receptionist on your way out please...
Age 54   - 5'11"   205lbs

Overall Heath Condition - Good

PSA - July 2007 & Jan 2008 -> 1.3

Biopsy - 03/04/08 -> Gleason 6 

06/25/08 - Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy

05/14/09  - 4th Quarter PSA -> less then .01

Surgeon - Keith A. Waguespack, M.D.

Posted 11/3/2009 1:55 PM (GMT -6)
NY, if my prostatectomy was a 10 in terms of discomfort, the testicular surgery was a 2. I just saw my doctor today to get my PSA and it was <.1, so I'm feeling pretty good. I asked him about my testicular cysts, since they are giving me some pain in the general area, not really at the testicle, but more like in the region, and into the hip. He said it wasn't necessary to do anything about it but if I wanted to I could follow up with a different appt. Can you describe your pain with this cyst?
Age 64 yrs
DX 5/2009
8 out of 12 cores positive
PSA 5.6
Gleason Score 3+4=7
Stage T2a
Da Vinci Surgery 08/07/2009
Upgrade Gleanson Score 4+3=7
Stage pT2c
Neg Margins and Nodes
Extracapsular extension noted but neg Extraprostatic Extention
Dry immediately
First PSA 11/3/09 <0.1

Posted 11/4/2009 6:43 AM (GMT -6)
Reachout,,,I have no pain with my cyst,,,nothing.  I have had this cyst for 15 plus years and have never had pain.  My problem is that it is just getting too big and is crowding all the space in my scrotum.  There is no room left for my testicles.

 

Age 56, Biopsy 6/2007 - PSA 4.5, 2 of 12 with  <5% cancer Gleason 6

 

Surgery 9/2007 Uni of Rochester Strong Memorial NY with Dr. Jean Joseph (1300 plus surgeries)

 

Path - Negative margins, cancer in 20% examined tissue, Gleason 6

 

Post Op - No ED issues, full erections without drugs,  used 5-7 pads a day for 3 months. Now dry except for stress leaks now and then.

 

All post op psa's <.04

Posted 11/4/2009 10:55 PM (GMT -6)
B had the same kind of cyst and had it removed with his prostate surgery (as well as two large hernia repairs).  The doctor said "You sure got your money's worth!"  Anyway, per B, "The removal and recovery for the cyst removal was easy and relatively pain free".  Now, after 2 1/2 years, the cyst has grown back somewhat (20%), which the doctor indicated might happen. 

Age 51

Gleason 3+3

PSA from 3.2 to 4.3 in one yr

Biopsy 11/06

DRE negative

4 of 12 cores positive, one lobe, less than 10%

Inflammation only second lobe

Stage T1C Clinical Dx

PSA prior to surgery: 3.9

Da Vinci Prostatectomy 2/27/07:

PCa in BOTH lobes 5-10% of gland

Gleason 3+3

Negative tissue margins

Bladder, seminal ves, vas deferntia negative

Two inguinal hernia repairs

Catheter removed 1 wk after surgery

Full continence (no pad needed) 1 wk after surgery, then intermittent drips 4 wks out

Full erection, 12th day after surgery

2 mo’s post-op, some ED after penetration

3 month PSA 0.03

6 month PSA non-existent

1 year   PSA  non-existent

1 1/2 yr PSA  non-existent

Erectile function--up and running!

Two year anniversary on 2/27/09-Sex life back to normal!

 

Posted 2/6/2010 7:44 PM (GMT -6)
sir ! i had a cyst in left testicle and i got operated 3 days ago , now i am
worried because left testi is swellen like 4 times bigger than before (like a golf ball) .. i
dont know what it is .. so plzz tell me is it just a swallen after operation
or is it a cyst again ?? m 19 yrz old and i smoke .. plxx do reply me .. i
heard of cancer in testis so im worried .. plzz answer me ! take care ... :)
Posted 2/6/2010 8:52 PM (GMT -6)
B's testicle was more swollen than we thought possible, and purple too! It is interesting how our fears can take root. If I remember correctly, its pretty easy for a doctor to tell right away that this is a non-cancerous cyst. Call your doc to get some reassurance!

Becky

Age 51

Gleason 3+3

PSA from 3.2 to 4.3 in one yr

Biopsy 11/06

DRE negative

4 of 12 cores positive, one lobe, less than 10%

Inflammation only second lobe

Stage T1C Clinical Dx

PSA prior to surgery: 3.9

Da Vinci Prostatectomy 2/27/07:

PCa in BOTH lobes 5-10% of gland

Gleason 3+3

Negative tissue margins

Bladder, seminal ves, vas deferntia negative

Two inguinal hernia repairs

Catheter removed 1 wk after surgery

Full continence (no pad needed) 1 wk after surgery, then intermittent drips 4 wks out

Full erection, 12th day after surgery

2 mo’s post-op, some ED after penetration

3 month PSA 0.03

6 month PSA non-existent

1 year   PSA  non-existent

1 1/2 yr PSA  non-existent

Erectile function--up and running!

Two year anniversary on 2/27/09-Sex life back to normal!

Three year anniversary coming up-PSA non-existent on 1/5/10!

 

Posted 4/30/2010 9:36 AM (GMT -6)
I had a spermatocelectomy about a week ago to remove a ping pong ball sized growth from the scrotum. I dealt with this for over a year. Already was tested to assure non cancer, just did not bother me enough to have removed. Doubled in size in one year and started causing discomfort. Hense the procedure last week. I found it to be fairly painful and slow recovery. I am still very slow to get around and a little bruised. Fortunatly very little if any swelling. The stiches are driving me crazy. I was told to lay on my back for a few days and then light duty. I highly recomment following these orders. At this pace I expect a couple more weeks of light duty at least. Sex is out of the question for a couple of weeks. My follow up with surgeon is in 5 days. WEAR SUPPORT!
Posted 4/30/2010 12:12 PM (GMT -6)
about ten years ago, my primary Doc sent me to a Urologist after discovering a pea size thing in my scrotum. The Urologist assured me that it was not cancer and that it was only a very common testicular cyst. He indicated that by using a good flashlight, these cysts can easily be seen through as they are clear fluid filled things. Said unless they are painful or causing problems, just forget it. Also, said that a guy can easily check himself to make certain they are easily seen through with the flashlight. As long at they are not solid where the light will not pass through them, don't worry about it. After about ten years, it had enlarged to the size of a marble but still not bothersome at all. Two and a half months ago, I got a shot of LUPRON and have been taking the daily dose of Bicalutamide and just notice a few days ago that the cyst appears to have disappeared. Not saying the LUPRON and Bicalutamide were responsible for the disappearance but sure is a coincidence that the cyst suddenly vacated the bag.
Bob, down in Southern Colorado

Posted 4/30/2010 2:30 PM (GMT -6)
I had a cyst about the same size as bob's above in the right testicle side for more than 15 years, several dr's looked at it over the years, and were convinced it was benign and common. Interestingly, about 3 months after my open PC Surgery, I noticed one day that the cyst wasn't there anymore. Almost 18 months later, it's still gone. Don't know if there was a connection or just by chance, but either way, its not there.

David in SC
Age: 57, 56 dx, PSA: 7/07 5.8, 7/08 12.3, 9/08 14.5, 10/08 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/08 - 7/7 Positive, 40-90% Cancer, Gleason 4+3
Open RP: 11/08, Rht nerves saved, 4 days in hospt, on catheters for 63 days, 5th one out 1/09
Path Rpt: Gleason 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% cancer, 1 pos margin

Incontinence:  1 Month     ED:  Non issue at any point post surgery, no problem post SRT
Post Surgery  PSA: 2/09 .05,5/09 .1, 6/09 .11. 8/09 .16

Post SRT PSA: 1/10 .12, 4/8 .04, next one:  July
Latest: 7/9 met 2 rad. oncl, 7/9 cath #6 - blockage, 8/9 2nd corr surgery, 8/9 cath #7 out 38 days, 9/9 - met 3rd rad. oncl., mapped  9/9, 10/1 - 3rd corr. surgery - SP cath/hard dialation, 10/5 - 11/27 IMRT SRT 39 sess/72 gys ,cath #8 33 days, Cath #9 35 days, 12/7 - Cath #10 43 days, 1/19 - Corr Surgery #4,  Caths #11 and #12  same time, 2/8-Cath #11 out - 21 days, 3/2- Cath #12 out - 41 days, 3/2- Corr Surgery #5, 3/6 Cath #13 out - 4 days, Cath #14- 27 days, Cath #15 - 26 days, Cath #16 - 4/23 put in

Posted 5/1/2010 7:35 PM (GMT -6)
Since my Urologist indicated that these cysts are SO common, I thought sure there would be a lot more guys jumping in on this subject. Oh well.
Bob, down in Southern Colorado

Posted 5/3/2010 6:05 AM (GMT -6)

UPDATE - I just had my spermatocelectomy on friday 4/23 and it was a pieces of cake. I was in and out of surgery in 45 min.

For those of you who don't know what a spermacelectomy is, it is an operation to remove a benign fluid filled cyst from a testicle.  Most men have these and they are small and they are told to just leave them alone.  In my case, mine was the size of a golf ball and it was as if I had thrid testicle in my scrotum..  It got so big that there was no more room in my scrotum for my real testicles.

The surgery consisted of a 2 inch slice in the front of my scrotum and then the fluid filled sack was removed from the testicle. That simple.

 I was expecting a lot of pain after surgery, but to my surprise, the only pain I had was from the straps from the scrotum support they put on me to hold the testicles in place.  The straps were cutting into my legs because they were so tight.  After the support came off after two days, I only felt a little aching and throbing in the scrotum at times, but nothing uncomfortable where I needed pain meds.  Now after a week, I feel absolutely nothing and I  am completely back to normal.

Footnote: I also had my three year PSA and that came in a <.04, so that made me happy also.

.

 

Age 56, Biopsy 6/2007 - PSA 4.5, 2 of 12 with  <5% cancer Gleason 6

Surgery 9/2007 Strong Memorial,  Rochester  NY with Dr. Jean Joseph (1300 plus surgeries)

 Path - Negative margins, cancer in 20% examined tissue, Gleason 6

 Post Op - No ED issues, full erections without drugs,  used 5-7 pads a day for 3 months. Now dry except for stress leaks now and then.

 All post op psa's <.04

Posted 5/3/2010 8:01 AM (GMT -6)
NY-Sooner, I'm sure glad that the procedure worked out so well for you. As we all know, one guy will be hurting big time and the next guy having an identical procedure will have only a little discomfort.
Bob, down in Southern Colorado

Posted 8/24/2010 1:00 AM (GMT -6)
Hi im new to the boards and considering how everyone here seems to have some experience with this subject, i was wondering if anyone knew the cost of having this procedure done? In case where i live affects the price as well, i live in nyc. I would much appreciate any info that can be given on this question.
Posted 8/24/2010 10:34 PM (GMT -6)
Re-read ER  Bob's message above - He is right on the money concerning those cysts.

I had a marble sized one removed several years ago and the specialiast showed me how to check this stuff with a strong flashlight.

If it is translucent - No worry. If light does not show through it, then surgery preferably the next day.

Mine also got big enough to be uncomfortable and I had it removed. Big time swelling of the scrotum and rainbow colored penis for awhile.

Be sure to wear a good juck strap (the nurse on mine had it installed inside out when I woke up) Oh well, ladys don't understand these things very well

Mine also came back but smaller in a few years. Like Bob I have been on Lupron and it has totally dissapeared now. However for the record, my testicles are the size of jelly beans right now. (Lupron is effective but EVIL)

Don K.

Posted 8/25/2010 1:40 PM (GMT -6)
hey, i actually had that surgery yesterday. but mine was only about the size of a Lima bean, not a golf ball. the recovery isn't that bad. which ever testicle the cyst is on will feel like you got kicked extremely hard there. just take your pills right when you start feeling pain. you should be good. but it's not fun, and your'e gonna need lots of sleep. good luck.
Posted 4/1/2011 7:05 PM (GMT -6)
I had a spermatocelectomy this morning and 12 hours later I may not even need another pain pill. I've had this racketball sized cyst for five years since I noticed it as starting out the size of a peanut.
The operation and subsequent three hour stay in the outpatient medical surgery center was much less traumatic than I anticipated. The only slight pain was the brief insertion of the needle in my arm for the anesthesia. I could have easily walked to to car to leave the center but I had to ride in a wheelchair. I've gone up and down stairs at home with little discomfort. Getting in and out of a chair I feel a slight pull as if a couple hairs were caught in a bandage.
Anyway so far very smooth. Going to bed now, haven't had a pain pill for six hours.
Posted 4/2/2011 2:58 AM (GMT -6)
Day two things are a little sore and scrotum and penis has black areas. I'm glad the nurse warned me this was going to happen. Only a large skin type band aid, no support of any kind, used on the scrotum. I get to shower today and in two days take off the band aid. Doctor says it's ok to resume exercise after one week and don't need to see him for three weeks. I think I'm going to take a pain pill, it's a little uncomfortable without it. I'm trying to avoid the pain pills as much as possible because they bind you up.

Post Edited (Fryfort) : 4/2/2011 3:23:10 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/2/2011 12:44 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks, Fryfort for the informative report.
Diagnosis at 53. PSA 2007 about 2; 2008 4.3
Biopsy Sept 2008: 6 of 12 cores pos; Gleason 4+3 = 7
CT & Bone scan neg
Da Vinci at City of Hope Dec 8, 2008
Rad prostatectomy & lymph node dissection
Cath out on 7th day, in on 8th day, out again 14th day after neg cystogram
Path: pT2c; lymph nodes neg; margins involv; 41 grams,
PSA 1/08, 4/09,7/09, 10/09, 11/09,2/10 <0.01, 10/10 0.1, 2/11 0.08
Posted 4/2/2011 7:17 PM (GMT -6)
I had a spermatocele when I was 30. I remember tha it hurt just for the doctor to look at it...let alone touch it! I was prescribed some medication (don't remembr what) and never had any problem or recurrance......but, boy did it make me feel bad. Also, had prostatitis at 25...treated with Keflex...now I have PCa....any connection with all this....other then being male?
PSA 59 on 8-26-2010 age 60. Biopsy 9-8-2010 12/12 positive, 20-80% involved, PNI in 3 cores, G 3+3,3+4,and 4+3=G7, T2b.
Eligard shot and daily Jalyn started on 10-7-2010.
IMRT to prostate and lymph nodes 25 fractions started on 11-8-2010, HDR Brachytherapy 12-6 and 13-2010.
PSA <.1 and T 23 on 2-3-2011.
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