41 yr old Male 4cm Left Kidney cancer found on incidental ct scan - anyone like me out there?

2

Comments

  • mincemeat
    mincemeat Member Posts: 5
    #22
    WilSchretz said:

    Care Pages
    Hello all and thanks for the good thoughts.

    I am about 14 hours away from surgery and am drinking the purge liquids to clean me out.
    I have setup a web page that will provide a status of my surgery and recovery.

    www.carepages.com/carepages/wilschretz

    You have to register but it's simple. For all of us that are going through recovery or surgery I think this is a great way to communicate with family and friends. I even put a pic of my scan up so you can compare it to yours. My wife who has been spectacular through all of this will update it as we go. I feel good and am ready to get this thing out of me.
    I hope to be making another post here in a couple days.

    Mincemeat: It sucks that we have what we have but thank god we found it when we did. Do your homework, check online for info, talk to doctors and do the best thing for you.

    It sounds like you and I have a very similar story and I will certainly provide what info I can to you during your journey.

    Thanks again to all and I will chat with you soon..................

    earth to Will, hope things are ok
    Thanks Donna and Will for for the verbal support, this is a journey that no one wants to take( not even milo and ottis), I guess we are just delt a hand we have to deal with and have to make the best out of it. I talked with the Doc today and he explained the surgery ( mind you this doc looks like a 25 year old fresh out of school grad, but after talking with him he sounds like he knows what he is talking about with experience and wants the best outcome and future for his patients like what you would expect from most good docs).

    The mass will be removed above left kidney and possibly the adrenal gland, I suppose now if someone threatens me with my life I will only be 1/2 scared? not sure how this will affect me but like anything the earlier something is taken care of the better.
  • WilSchretz
    WilSchretz Member Posts: 16
    #23
    Chopper69 said:

    Good luck Will
    Will

    Your story is eerily similar to mine. Just diagnosed last week with a 2cm mass (I prefer that word to cancer) in my right kidney after a month of abdominal discomfort. My initial consultation with the urologist pointed to removal of the right kidney. I'm sure you'll agree that this is not what you want or expect to hear. Luckily for me this urologist does not perform surgery and he referred me to his partner. I had my appointment with him today and he has scheduled me for cryotherapy, a relatively new procedure (at least for RCC) that he believes will destroy the mass in my kidney. Hope your surgery went well and keep a positive attitude, We're both lucky that our bodies told us something was wrong and I'm sure we've got a long and healthy life ahead of us.
    Gary

    Update from Will after surgery
    Hello all,

    Today is Friday and it is 2.5 days after my surgery.

    I had a left Kidney radical nephrectomy with removal of adrenal gland at 2pm on Tuesday. The surgery took 5 hours and went well according to my surgeon. It took a bit longer than normal due to the location of the tumor (near the vena cava). I have 4 small holes fro the robot and a 4" incision from my belly button down to remove the kidney. I woke up in recovery with pretty high level of pain in my abdomen and right upper chest. Some air (CO2 used to inflate my abdomen)had gotten into my chest cavity and slightly colapsed by left lung so I had to struggle hard to breathe through the pain. After the pain meds kicked in I felt better. I had to have a chest xray the next morning and that by far was the most painful experience of my life. Getting out of bed into the wheel chair was really hard and even with pain meds it was excrutiating. They had to monitor the air to determine if a chest tube would be needed. The good news is the air is going away on it's own so no chest tube. I have made excelent progress and have been on percoset every 4 hours and a liquids only diet. I was disconected from my catheter Weds morning and was able to urinate on my own Weds evening. Thursday morning I had another chest Xray and was able to get of bed on my own and walk to the wheel chair. I have been up and walking since and keep feeling better. I hope to be released today. I still have some pain and feel tired but that is normal after surgery. I can provide more specific details later on but I really have a higher respect for people who donate a Kidney to a loved one. The surgery and aftermath is painful but it gets better. I will rest up at home and update my progress. I should know the details on the tumor by Tuesday.

    Once again thanks for all the support and prayers.

    Taking it one day at a time... Will
  • corey50
    corey50 Member Posts: 111
    #24
    WilSchretz said:

    Update from Will after surgery
    Hello all,

    Today is Friday and it is 2.5 days after my surgery.

    I had a left Kidney radical nephrectomy with removal of adrenal gland at 2pm on Tuesday. The surgery took 5 hours and went well according to my surgeon. It took a bit longer than normal due to the location of the tumor (near the vena cava). I have 4 small holes fro the robot and a 4" incision from my belly button down to remove the kidney. I woke up in recovery with pretty high level of pain in my abdomen and right upper chest. Some air (CO2 used to inflate my abdomen)had gotten into my chest cavity and slightly colapsed by left lung so I had to struggle hard to breathe through the pain. After the pain meds kicked in I felt better. I had to have a chest xray the next morning and that by far was the most painful experience of my life. Getting out of bed into the wheel chair was really hard and even with pain meds it was excrutiating. They had to monitor the air to determine if a chest tube would be needed. The good news is the air is going away on it's own so no chest tube. I have made excelent progress and have been on percoset every 4 hours and a liquids only diet. I was disconected from my catheter Weds morning and was able to urinate on my own Weds evening. Thursday morning I had another chest Xray and was able to get of bed on my own and walk to the wheel chair. I have been up and walking since and keep feeling better. I hope to be released today. I still have some pain and feel tired but that is normal after surgery. I can provide more specific details later on but I really have a higher respect for people who donate a Kidney to a loved one. The surgery and aftermath is painful but it gets better. I will rest up at home and update my progress. I should know the details on the tumor by Tuesday.

    Once again thanks for all the support and prayers.

    Taking it one day at a time... Will

    YOU DID IT!
    congratulations will, we knew you could do it.
    aren't you glad thats over with.
    the pain the first day was excruciating for me too. i felt like i could not move without feeling like i was going to break in half. i also had discomfort from the air used during surgery but nothing as bad as you. glad that is resolving itself.
    take the pain meds as long as you need them cause it really helps us to move around which is very important the first few days and to breathe deeply and better.
    good luck as you go home and wishing you a continued uneventful recovery. don't do too much and let your body heal at its own pace. you're right, fatigue and discomfort are normal and will get better with time.
    good luck next week with your pathology report, try not to think about that now and just concentrate on the fact that you had the cancer out and about getting well and strong.
    prayers are still coming your way.
    corey
  • WilSchretz
    WilSchretz Member Posts: 16
    #25
    corey50 said:

    YOU DID IT!
    congratulations will, we knew you could do it.
    aren't you glad thats over with.
    the pain the first day was excruciating for me too. i felt like i could not move without feeling like i was going to break in half. i also had discomfort from the air used during surgery but nothing as bad as you. glad that is resolving itself.
    take the pain meds as long as you need them cause it really helps us to move around which is very important the first few days and to breathe deeply and better.
    good luck as you go home and wishing you a continued uneventful recovery. don't do too much and let your body heal at its own pace. you're right, fatigue and discomfort are normal and will get better with time.
    good luck next week with your pathology report, try not to think about that now and just concentrate on the fact that you had the cancer out and about getting well and strong.
    prayers are still coming your way.
    corey

    Hello to all who have sent good thoughts and prayers for my surgery and recovery. I am relaxing today at home(Saturday) on my favorite chair with my feet up watching Tom Watson lead the British open. I had some pain during the night sleeping but once I took some meds I felt better. I am trying to limit the number of pain meds I need to take and only am taking them when absolutely nessesary. I get such a weird nausiating feeling from the Percoset. My appetite is coming back and have been able to eat some solid foods. Toast, eggs, oatmeal and some fruit, even some tastykakes.(A Philly favorite even though I live in the Cincinnati area now) I would describe my abdomen as very tight and very sensitive to the touch (especially at the incision) with some pressure in left side of my back. My energy level is at about 25% of normal but is improving. I sleep alot but I get up and walk around especially to the bathroom. The pipes are begining to work again so feeling more normal each day in that regard. Lisa my wife has been taking great care of me. I could not have done this without her and the support of my friends and family.

    It is in times like these when you need them the most and they really came through for me.

    I will continue to update my progress each day.

    Thanks again for everyone's support I really appreciate it!!

    Will
  • Bob O
    Bob O Member Posts: 6
    #26
    Just like you
    In short, after 2mo of gall bladder symptoms they did an abdominal ultrasound to see the stones. They also found "alien' growing (~2-3 cm) growing at the bottom of my right kidney. They did a hand assisted radical laproscopic nephrectomy of my right kidney and removed the gall bladder (5 1/2 hrs surgery) on June 9th. Its been 5 weeks and I feel pretty good finally. The first week was a struggle with the pain and the 2nd one was hard work getting off the pain pills, the third and 4th were dealing with the loose stools for a while (associated with gall bladder removal) and this past week titrating blood pressure meds that were causing dizziness. Biopsy turned out fine Stage T1a. A cyst in the center of the kidney turned out to be just that and not another baby alien. That other growth is why they did not do a partial.

    All of this has been very hard on me and my family. But, we seem to be coming out the other end .

    One day at a Time..... Thats my advise Good luck to you. Bob
  • Bob O
    Bob O Member Posts: 6
    #27
    Bob O said:

    Just like you
    In short, after 2mo of gall bladder symptoms they did an abdominal ultrasound to see the stones. They also found "alien' growing (~2-3 cm) growing at the bottom of my right kidney. They did a hand assisted radical laproscopic nephrectomy of my right kidney and removed the gall bladder (5 1/2 hrs surgery) on June 9th. Its been 5 weeks and I feel pretty good finally. The first week was a struggle with the pain and the 2nd one was hard work getting off the pain pills, the third and 4th were dealing with the loose stools for a while (associated with gall bladder removal) and this past week titrating blood pressure meds that were causing dizziness. Biopsy turned out fine Stage T1a. A cyst in the center of the kidney turned out to be just that and not another baby alien. That other growth is why they did not do a partial.

    All of this has been very hard on me and my family. But, we seem to be coming out the other end .

    One day at a Time..... Thats my advise Good luck to you. Bob

    A couple more thoughts
    Will,
    Every day is a blessing, even if I don't realize it at the time.

    I will keep you in my prayers

    There will shortly come a time when you will realize that you can stand the pain without the meds and that was the time for me to stop them, they are essential early to allow you rest so you can heal but they are also depressants that have a dark side. My attitude got better faster as soon as i was off them ( after the pain in the butt whithdrawl stuff... sweats etc)

    Only in the last week or 2 have I realized how wonderfully caring and supportive my wife and kids have been.

    I am still healing (physically and mentally). and will for some time.

    We are so lucky that they found it as early as they did.
  • A_New_Journey
    A_New_Journey Member Posts: 9
    #28
    WilSchretz said:

    Update from Will after surgery
    Hello all,

    Today is Friday and it is 2.5 days after my surgery.

    I had a left Kidney radical nephrectomy with removal of adrenal gland at 2pm on Tuesday. The surgery took 5 hours and went well according to my surgeon. It took a bit longer than normal due to the location of the tumor (near the vena cava). I have 4 small holes fro the robot and a 4" incision from my belly button down to remove the kidney. I woke up in recovery with pretty high level of pain in my abdomen and right upper chest. Some air (CO2 used to inflate my abdomen)had gotten into my chest cavity and slightly colapsed by left lung so I had to struggle hard to breathe through the pain. After the pain meds kicked in I felt better. I had to have a chest xray the next morning and that by far was the most painful experience of my life. Getting out of bed into the wheel chair was really hard and even with pain meds it was excrutiating. They had to monitor the air to determine if a chest tube would be needed. The good news is the air is going away on it's own so no chest tube. I have made excelent progress and have been on percoset every 4 hours and a liquids only diet. I was disconected from my catheter Weds morning and was able to urinate on my own Weds evening. Thursday morning I had another chest Xray and was able to get of bed on my own and walk to the wheel chair. I have been up and walking since and keep feeling better. I hope to be released today. I still have some pain and feel tired but that is normal after surgery. I can provide more specific details later on but I really have a higher respect for people who donate a Kidney to a loved one. The surgery and aftermath is painful but it gets better. I will rest up at home and update my progress. I should know the details on the tumor by Tuesday.

    Once again thanks for all the support and prayers.

    Taking it one day at a time... Will

    One Day At A Time ...
    Hi Will --

    I was so glad to read your post and see everything went well during your surgery and that you are now at home recovering.

    For me, just being at home made all the difference in the world in terms of my overall attitude and daily progress. While I was in the hospital, my surgeon told me that hospitals are fine for getting patients through post-surgery on a short-term basis, but they are no place for getting rest or are they a truly healthy environment with all the germs floating around there.

    I came to realize this on the first full night after my surgery when nursing staff came in to take vital signs every couple of hours and draw blood every four hours. I was so exhausted from lack of sleep that I could not think straight. After that first night I did everything in my power to get onto my feet ASAP, off pain medication and, eat a regular diet so that I could go home. From your note, I see that you were able to do the same. Congratulations!

    I hope that the pathology report you will receive on Tuesday is all GOOD NEWS, so that you can get back to life as normal.

    Best Regards,

    Dave
  • WilSchretz
    WilSchretz Member Posts: 16
    #29
    Bob O said:

    A couple more thoughts
    Will,
    Every day is a blessing, even if I don't realize it at the time.

    I will keep you in my prayers

    There will shortly come a time when you will realize that you can stand the pain without the meds and that was the time for me to stop them, they are essential early to allow you rest so you can heal but they are also depressants that have a dark side. My attitude got better faster as soon as i was off them ( after the pain in the butt whithdrawl stuff... sweats etc)

    Only in the last week or 2 have I realized how wonderfully caring and supportive my wife and kids have been.

    I am still healing (physically and mentally). and will for some time.

    We are so lucky that they found it as early as they did.

    Pathology report Oncocytoma - Not Cancer!
    All,

    Today is one week from the Left Kidney naphrectomy and I continue to improve in my recovery.

    I got a call today from my Urologist to let me know the pathology report came in for the Kidney tumor as a Oncocytoma or benign mass of Kidney cells. Otherwise NOT cancer. I had some very mixed reactions to this news of both elation that it was not cancer and disapointment that I had my Kidney removed. Almost an excitment/remorse combination.

    It is sinking in now that I will not have to worry about reoccurance or worry between CT scans. At least this is what the doctor told me. He basically said your done. The treatement path would have been the same regardless and now you just don't have to worry as much.

    I know we all have been talking about Cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had a non-cancer diagnosis only to have something come up later?

    My plan is to rest up heal up and get back to living my life and support those who are going through this with all of my energy. God had given me a wake up call and a second chance and I am not going to let him or my family and freinds down.

    If I can help anyone on this page in anyway please let me know. I highly recomend the www.carepages.com website to keep your family up to date on your progress and to track your own journey through this. It has been a great help to me. Thanks again for all of the support.

    Regards,

    Will
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,042 Member
    #30
    WilSchretz said:

    Pathology report Oncocytoma - Not Cancer!
    All,

    Today is one week from the Left Kidney naphrectomy and I continue to improve in my recovery.

    I got a call today from my Urologist to let me know the pathology report came in for the Kidney tumor as a Oncocytoma or benign mass of Kidney cells. Otherwise NOT cancer. I had some very mixed reactions to this news of both elation that it was not cancer and disapointment that I had my Kidney removed. Almost an excitment/remorse combination.

    It is sinking in now that I will not have to worry about reoccurance or worry between CT scans. At least this is what the doctor told me. He basically said your done. The treatement path would have been the same regardless and now you just don't have to worry as much.

    I know we all have been talking about Cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had a non-cancer diagnosis only to have something come up later?

    My plan is to rest up heal up and get back to living my life and support those who are going through this with all of my energy. God had given me a wake up call and a second chance and I am not going to let him or my family and freinds down.

    If I can help anyone on this page in anyway please let me know. I highly recomend the www.carepages.com website to keep your family up to date on your progress and to track your own journey through this. It has been a great help to me. Thanks again for all of the support.

    Regards,

    Will

    Good News
    Will-
    Take that wonderful news and run with it...as far and as fast as you can. I'm excited for you. At this stage, for myself, I would have considered it a small sacrifice to donate a kidney to a pathologist to find out that it was a benign tumor. You can live with just one.
    I have no knowledge on the issue of recurrence. Talk to the Dr.s.
    So glad to hear your post-surgery days are getting better. You may have a day once in a while that feels like a brick wall, but it will pass.
    Now, go out there, recover, and get on with your life. And that's and order!!
    Donna
  • mincemeat
    mincemeat Member Posts: 5
    #31
    donna_lee said:

    Good News
    Will-
    Take that wonderful news and run with it...as far and as fast as you can. I'm excited for you. At this stage, for myself, I would have considered it a small sacrifice to donate a kidney to a pathologist to find out that it was a benign tumor. You can live with just one.
    I have no knowledge on the issue of recurrence. Talk to the Dr.s.
    So glad to hear your post-surgery days are getting better. You may have a day once in a while that feels like a brick wall, but it will pass.
    Now, go out there, recover, and get on with your life. And that's and order!!
    Donna

    no cancer = good news
    Hey Will glad to hear your diagnosis, looks like your cancer scare and all its complications are out and behind you, although easy to say as I havent experienced any surgery pain yet. Your story and what to expect has been very helpful to me and am sure to others.

    I was just informed that I may have "pheo cromo cytoma" basically a tumor that produces hormones near or in the adrenal gland above kidney, apparently a rare condition that takes more prep and blood additives for surgery so you will wake up after there done (great). I may have been p m s ing and not even known it what the hell!! If they tell me to take some midol I will really be pissed!!

    I meet with a endrochronologist lady doctor (hormone expert) Sept. 1st that will probably be doing the blood meds ( I'm sure a highly edumucated individual) and will have the surgery at a major city hospital ( its getting more complicated and the anistegiologist have to really know what there doing apparently) so if there is any advice I can give to anyone its "dont eat bad cherries!!"

    Phil
  • Rob FWNJ
    Rob FWNJ Member Posts: 20
    #32
    WilSchretz said:

    Pathology report Oncocytoma - Not Cancer!
    All,

    Today is one week from the Left Kidney naphrectomy and I continue to improve in my recovery.

    I got a call today from my Urologist to let me know the pathology report came in for the Kidney tumor as a Oncocytoma or benign mass of Kidney cells. Otherwise NOT cancer. I had some very mixed reactions to this news of both elation that it was not cancer and disapointment that I had my Kidney removed. Almost an excitment/remorse combination.

    It is sinking in now that I will not have to worry about reoccurance or worry between CT scans. At least this is what the doctor told me. He basically said your done. The treatement path would have been the same regardless and now you just don't have to worry as much.

    I know we all have been talking about Cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had a non-cancer diagnosis only to have something come up later?

    My plan is to rest up heal up and get back to living my life and support those who are going through this with all of my energy. God had given me a wake up call and a second chance and I am not going to let him or my family and freinds down.

    If I can help anyone on this page in anyway please let me know. I highly recomend the www.carepages.com website to keep your family up to date on your progress and to track your own journey through this. It has been a great help to me. Thanks again for all of the support.

    Regards,

    Will

    Congratulations!
    Congratulations! I’m sorry you lost your kidney but I am so happy for you that it was not cancer! I wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery!
  • A_New_Journey
    A_New_Journey Member Posts: 9
    #33
    WilSchretz said:

    Pathology report Oncocytoma - Not Cancer!
    All,

    Today is one week from the Left Kidney naphrectomy and I continue to improve in my recovery.

    I got a call today from my Urologist to let me know the pathology report came in for the Kidney tumor as a Oncocytoma or benign mass of Kidney cells. Otherwise NOT cancer. I had some very mixed reactions to this news of both elation that it was not cancer and disapointment that I had my Kidney removed. Almost an excitment/remorse combination.

    It is sinking in now that I will not have to worry about reoccurance or worry between CT scans. At least this is what the doctor told me. He basically said your done. The treatement path would have been the same regardless and now you just don't have to worry as much.

    I know we all have been talking about Cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had a non-cancer diagnosis only to have something come up later?

    My plan is to rest up heal up and get back to living my life and support those who are going through this with all of my energy. God had given me a wake up call and a second chance and I am not going to let him or my family and freinds down.

    If I can help anyone on this page in anyway please let me know. I highly recomend the www.carepages.com website to keep your family up to date on your progress and to track your own journey through this. It has been a great help to me. Thanks again for all of the support.

    Regards,

    Will

    Fantastic News Will !!!
    Hi Will --

    I am so happy that you received such great news from the pathologist's report. After enough time passes, the "donation" of your left kidney to determine that you never had cancer is going to feel like a blessing.

    Best,

    Dave

    PS - There is another very good non-profit organization that allows patients to keep family members and friends updated on a their treatment. It is at: www.CaringBridge.org and it can be set up to maintain as much privacy and confidentiality as you desire. It is totally free to use and is very user friendly. Check it out!
  • A_New_Journey
    A_New_Journey Member Posts: 9
    #34
    mincemeat said:

    no cancer = good news
    Hey Will glad to hear your diagnosis, looks like your cancer scare and all its complications are out and behind you, although easy to say as I havent experienced any surgery pain yet. Your story and what to expect has been very helpful to me and am sure to others.

    I was just informed that I may have "pheo cromo cytoma" basically a tumor that produces hormones near or in the adrenal gland above kidney, apparently a rare condition that takes more prep and blood additives for surgery so you will wake up after there done (great). I may have been p m s ing and not even known it what the hell!! If they tell me to take some midol I will really be pissed!!

    I meet with a endrochronologist lady doctor (hormone expert) Sept. 1st that will probably be doing the blood meds ( I'm sure a highly edumucated individual) and will have the surgery at a major city hospital ( its getting more complicated and the anistegiologist have to really know what there doing apparently) so if there is any advice I can give to anyone its "dont eat bad cherries!!"

    Phil

    Keeping a sense of humor ...
    Hi Phil --

    After reading your posts on this board, I think it is good that you are able to maintain a keen sense of humor. You are in the beginning stages of your diagnosis and treatment, and this positive attitude will serve you well in the coming days and weeks. (it did...and still does...for me!)

    Best of luck to you Phil.

    Dave
  • vbw001
    vbw001 Member Posts: 2
    #35
    Comparing stories, mine is similiar to urs.. I'll repost here..
    While being X-ray'd for a suspected internal bleeding source, because 1st search failed to locate a Stomach ULCER, this small KIDNEY MASS was discovered, supposedly near the CENTER of the Right/side KIDNEY...

    My Urologist, surgically trained gave me the option of him opening my abdomen to do it himself, as this was deemed, a difficult removal process due to it's location.... Or, the Alternative was to send me to another Urologist trained & experienced in the LAPROSCOPIC procedure...

    Fearful of not having it removed entirely, due to the limited access used in "mimimally invasive - Laporoscopic surgery", I opted for the "cut me open & get maximum access & view" technique.... Which pleased my original Urologist....

    He reported a "Papillary Tumor" about 1.5 cm in size (about the size of a small finger nail)... Which he believes he removed completely & he predicts 100% success... Suggesting a yearly scan as INSURANCE, in case another one appears due to my susceptability at age 70(???)...

    His reasoning was that these type TUMORS grow at the rate of 2.0 cm per year, and that if another one develops, it will still be in the safe removal area....

    All this sounded at the time, and I felt comfortable with it then... But LATER a swelling appeared on my side, where the incision was made for the abdominal entry.. It LQQKS much like a HERNIA... When I asked for help to return my abdomen to it's normal state, he said that this always happens in all these type cases, as he had to cut across my abdominal muscles, and that perhaps I should seek GENERAL SURGERY to see if they could make the area more COSMETICALLY ATTRACTIVE... Had I been advised before hand, I would have opted for the "MIMINALLY ENVASIVE - LAPROSCOPY'...

    I am living with the SCAR & HERNIATED ABDOMEN AREA because no other DOCTOR was willing to go behind him & to get INVOLVED... Like my present DOCTOR, who does LAPROSCOPY says " Sorry - but I won't touch that", and I would never operate that way... I guess I should have gone to him in the beginning...

    My initial surgery was in 2007... And I did my CAT-SCANS in both 2008 & 2009 with out finding any other growth... So, i hope I can say, it was a one-time thing & I'm done...

    Can't think of anything I left out, other than that my removal was an UCLA & my follow-ups are now at CEDARS SINAI... If more INFO is needed, just ask...

    Now I'll read some of ur stories to see what questions I can ask of you...

    bye...

    vbw001
  • RayG
    RayG Member Posts: 2
    #36
    WilSchretz said:

    Pathology report Oncocytoma - Not Cancer!
    All,

    Today is one week from the Left Kidney naphrectomy and I continue to improve in my recovery.

    I got a call today from my Urologist to let me know the pathology report came in for the Kidney tumor as a Oncocytoma or benign mass of Kidney cells. Otherwise NOT cancer. I had some very mixed reactions to this news of both elation that it was not cancer and disapointment that I had my Kidney removed. Almost an excitment/remorse combination.

    It is sinking in now that I will not have to worry about reoccurance or worry between CT scans. At least this is what the doctor told me. He basically said your done. The treatement path would have been the same regardless and now you just don't have to worry as much.

    I know we all have been talking about Cancer but I was wondering if anyone has had a non-cancer diagnosis only to have something come up later?

    My plan is to rest up heal up and get back to living my life and support those who are going through this with all of my energy. God had given me a wake up call and a second chance and I am not going to let him or my family and freinds down.

    If I can help anyone on this page in anyway please let me know. I highly recomend the www.carepages.com website to keep your family up to date on your progress and to track your own journey through this. It has been a great help to me. Thanks again for all of the support.

    Regards,

    Will

    Pathology Report
    Hi Will,

    My details are almost identical to yours, however, my pathology report confirmed the tumor was malignant. While we expected this would most likely be the outcome, I was still a bit shell-shocked having had no real history of cancer in the family.

    I am now 11 days post surgery (hand assisted, left laparoscopic nephrectomy). I am still sore & walking slow. I find it difficult to sleep in bed all night and feel more comfortable in my big comfy chair/ottoman. The surgeon advised my employer that the recovery time will be 6-8 weeks, however, I feel this sounds too long considering how I feel now. I work at a desk all day and would appreciate feedback from anyone in a similar situation.

    Considering our similarities, I find all the responses you've received here extremely helpful and encouraging. Good luck with your recovery.

    RayG
  • WilSchretz
    WilSchretz Member Posts: 16
    #37
    RayG said:

    Pathology Report
    Hi Will,

    My details are almost identical to yours, however, my pathology report confirmed the tumor was malignant. While we expected this would most likely be the outcome, I was still a bit shell-shocked having had no real history of cancer in the family.

    I am now 11 days post surgery (hand assisted, left laparoscopic nephrectomy). I am still sore & walking slow. I find it difficult to sleep in bed all night and feel more comfortable in my big comfy chair/ottoman. The surgeon advised my employer that the recovery time will be 6-8 weeks, however, I feel this sounds too long considering how I feel now. I work at a desk all day and would appreciate feedback from anyone in a similar situation.

    Considering our similarities, I find all the responses you've received here extremely helpful and encouraging. Good luck with your recovery.

    RayG

    Pathogy Report Followup
    Ray,

    I feel more comfortable in my chair with a pillow behind my back. I would walk and then come in the house drink some water and then relax very comfortably in my chair with a very soft pillow behind my back. This was my real comfort zone for me during my recovery. I am almost 5 weeks since the surgery and I feel 95% back to normal. I still have some healing to do at the incisions but for the most part I feel normal again. I went back to work at 3 weeks post op and just took it easy. (I am a VP at a Packaging company) I would get tired and then just pack up and go to the house. My staff kept a good eye on me and if I looked pale they would tell me to rest. I worked full time last week and I would say 1 month after surgery I was able to do a full day without any problem. Everyone is different but 6 weeks is typical recovery time for the lap procedure. I go to the doc for my 6 week post op appt on the 26th and then I plan on traveling again and getting back in shape. I lost a total of 11 pounds since the surgery but my appetite is back and I eating well. I drink a lot of ENSURE which gives my energy when I need it. Believe it or not I went to lunch with customers the other day and 3 out of 5 of us were missing their left Kidney. I had mine surgically removed as you know and 2 of them were born without it. They only recently even found out and both were in their 50s!!
    Apparently we can live a very normal life with one kidney (these guys are very successful) so no worries man.

    If you want to compare notes or have any questions feel free to contact me directly at my email address. wschretzman@verstgroup.com

    Glad you are also doing well. Every day gets better so hang in there. Trust me.

    Will
  • funsun
    funsun Member Posts: 1
    #38
    Hello-I found my kidney
    Hello-I found my kidney cancer on a CT scan too-I was 50 yrs old at the time-it was 2 years ago -it was 3cm on the left kidney-1st Dr. wanted to remove the kidney-I went for a 2nd opinion -I saw a urology oncolgist at Karmanos in mi.-I was able to save my kidney -they do a procedure called cryoabaltion-they go in with probes and freeze and kill the cancer cells immediatley-Im doing great and glad I had the procedure done-I follow up with a CT scan yearly- Hilda
  • tictic1
    tictic1 Member Posts: 5
    #39
    Hi Will, Yes, my story, I
    Hi Will, Yes, my story, I have been going to my pc dr. for about a year and half telling him that I was having pain in my back that went thourgh to the front, thought I was having a heart attack. but all the test came back okay.. then one day they told me that it might be a kidney stone. I then went to have a ct scan and they saw it was mass on my left kidney, this was on april and by mothers day I was in the hospital having it removed,, My hole kidney. My mass was the size of a grapefruit. Now I doing treatments once a week for the next six months,, hope that is all I will need. Are you doing any treatments??? Karen
  • RubyM
    RubyM Member Posts: 2
    #40
    tictic1 said:

    Hi Will, Yes, my story, I
    Hi Will, Yes, my story, I have been going to my pc dr. for about a year and half telling him that I was having pain in my back that went thourgh to the front, thought I was having a heart attack. but all the test came back okay.. then one day they told me that it might be a kidney stone. I then went to have a ct scan and they saw it was mass on my left kidney, this was on april and by mothers day I was in the hospital having it removed,, My hole kidney. My mass was the size of a grapefruit. Now I doing treatments once a week for the next six months,, hope that is all I will need. Are you doing any treatments??? Karen

    Will,
    I have read your story
    Will,

    I have read your story and it sounds a little familiar. I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in April and had a partial nephrectomy. I originally went in because I thought my appendix had ruptured. Thank goodness it hadn't but a CT scan revealed a mass on my left kidney. I am only 30 years old. The surgery went well and I am doing good now, well as far as I know. I am going in for a follow-up CT scan in October and I a so scared. Do you know the chances of the cancer recurring? My doctor was a little more worried than usual because he found another small tumor on my kidney that he had not seen with the CT scan. This led him to believe that my body is forming a habit of developing this cancer. I hope all is well with you.
  • Iron Man
    Iron Man Member Posts: 1
    #41
    Age 52 with diagnosis a bit more radical than yours. 7cm.mass which caused me to lose my entire left kidney. My cancer was also into a lymph node. My urologist reffered me to a clinical trial in a near-by town. AS with your situation I had no symptoms execpt bloody urine. No pain whatsoever! Good luck to you with your follow-up treatment!

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