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35 year survivor of Wilms Tumor of the kidney



Total items found: 12

joseph38
Posts: 5
Joined: Feb 2004
March 24, 2004 - 9:02am

Hello Everyone I am a 35 year survivor of wilms tumor. I lost my left kidney to cancer when I was 2 1/2 years old. I am 38 years old & doing great. Just to give everyone a little back ground info. My folks where not told in 1968 on what stage my tumor was in. In fact the local hospital on where I was treated didnt even have a support group for my folks to go to. I did have side effects from the post cancer treatments. I had 2 major back operations in 1979 & one in 1980 to correct on what had happend in 1968.

photoman
Posts: 4
Joined: Mar 2004
March 24, 2004 - 9:59am

Hello Joseph,

This November will be 40 years since my Wilm's Tumor diagnosis. Man it's hard to believe! Time is flying by!

I was diagnosed at age 3 and my right kidney was removed. I then went to M.D.Anderson for chemo and radiation treatment. I too have had back problems related to the radiation treatment but nothing so severe that required surgery.

In 1998 I did have to go back to M.D.Anderson for surgical removal of a benign tumor on my spine. I'm sure it's related to the my cancer history, either genetics or from the treatments I received. Who knows?

David

joseph38
Posts: 5
Joined: Feb 2004
March 30, 2004 - 10:34pm

Thankyou David for responding. So far so good as far as the kidney goes. Yes when they beamed it into me in 1968 it hit 4 vertrebra killing them instanlty. I was growing from the neck down & tail bone up. Turning the 4 vertrebra inward. Thats the reason for the back operations. Again thankyou David for responding

cvb53
Posts: 6
Joined: May 2009
May 8, 2009 - 6:12pm

I would love to chat with you about your back. I too had a wilms tumor At 18 months and as you know the radiation back then was not pinpoint like it is today, I have my left shoulder falling back, due to decreased muscle mass on the right side.I am having all kinds of problems. As you know,there aren't many around who can share about these problems would love to chat. please write

madaboutkale
Posts: 2
Joined: Sep 2009
September 28, 2009 - 12:30am

Hello,

I had Wilm's Tumor when I was 2 years old in 1974. I had radiation, chemo and kidney removal. I haven't really had many issues until I had children. Because my body is uneven in the ribs, hips and waist (due to the radiation and kidney removal), my physical structure had a hard time carrying a child through the pregnancy. I did it twice, but I now have lower lumbar herniated discs and sciatica down one of my legs, which is debilitating. I also have some scoliosis where my right kidney was removed; my lower spine curves to my right side where my kidney would have been. My sister (a physical therapist) recently found an incredible medical book with a small chapter dedicated to a grown woman who had Wilm's tumor. They showed her body as an adult and I was astonished. The whole chapter is about how this doctor helped her realign her spine through exercises, breathing, stretches. She looked just like me. I was amazed. I guess I never thought about what other survivors looked like. Now that I'm having many physical problems with my spine, I wanted to touch base with others to see if that was a problem other Wilms tumor survivors have experienced and what helped them. I can be reached at madaboutkale@gmail.com

- Lori

auntb950
Posts: 5
Joined: Feb 2004
April 16, 2004 - 6:34pm

Hi Joseph, I am a 48-year survivor of Wilms tumor having it in 1956 at age 11 months. I also have late effects from my radiation treatments. There are some long-term Wilms survivors on a discussion group on www.acor.org if you'd like to join us. We are long-term survivors of all kinds of cancer, adult and childhood. Many are 20 years or more after treatment. You can find our LT-Survivor's list by clicking "mailing list" on the main site at ACOR, then find our list under "L" of the alphabet. We'd be happy to have you join us there if you'd like. Bren

lala1121
Posts: 1
Joined: May 2004
May 3, 2004 - 5:23pm

hi. i'm doing a cancer research project for my health class and for part of the project we have to interview a survivor of the particular type of cancer that we chose. and i chose wilm's tumor and i was hoping that you would be willing to be interviewed online.
anyways,
thank you.
lara

tegawega
Posts: 2
Joined: Jun 2004
June 11, 2004 - 12:19am

hi i was diagnosed when i was 18mos. ihad my left kidney removed then a lobe from my lung numerous radiation and chemo i am 44 yrs old with three almost grown children and two grand-children i do have scholiosis and my right breast never developed but thanks to bad eyes i am alive as my pre-op surgery tests for my eye problem was the reason they found my cancer

janice17
Posts: 4
Joined: Apr 2009
April 21, 2009 - 7:07pm

hi hope you still read this post. when i was 17 mos i had my left kidney removed due to a wilms tumor. i to had radiation and chemo, so much so that it burnt my back, where there are many hugh and small, white scars, to this day, they can still hurt. at the time l was fighting cancer, chickenpoxs, shingles and the flu. so when they give me the treatments, they burned all the spots where the shingles where. l too have scholiosis and my left breast did not develop right. l was told i would never have kids, my son is 18 and my daughter is 22. l am 47 years old and a 46 year cancer survivour. i to have other problems, because of this but at least im here. please reply, and we can share stories l would like to hear more about you.

cvb53
Posts: 6
Joined: May 2009
May 8, 2009 - 6:21pm

Janice, I just read your post and had to write you. I had a wilms tumor at 17 months too. I have the scarring and my right shoulder falls way back. I am having back problems but it feels like the doctors today don't get it. Have you had the same? I was in Boston Children"s Hospital at that time. I feel very lucky too be alive but have some pain I am dealing with.I have scholiosis too. Let,s chat.

cvb53
Posts: 6
Joined: May 2009
May 8, 2009 - 6:22pm

auntm
Posts: 1
Joined: Jun 2004
June 11, 2004 - 12:35pm

joseph38- I am 39-Female. I was diegnosed at age 3,my right kidney was removed.The tumor traveld to my brain,when i was 4 a tumor the size of a small tennisball was removed.I have ,like you, have had back problems,most of my hair,where the tumor was has still not grown back. I have beaten all the ods though.I also co-rote a book about my& my families fight with Cancer. " Aganst the odds" A true story about Michele, a Cancer Survivor. Michele

confused1's picture
confused1
Posts: 41
Joined: Feb 2009
July 1, 2009 - 1:43am

I have a brother-in-law that had Wilm's. When he was 3 yrs. old. And he is 37 yrs. old now. I don't no exactly the whole story but he has a pretty good scare across his belly. And he only has only one kIdney. But he hasn't had any problem's that I no of. So here is another survior story. I have stage 4 colon cancer my self and I just turned 50 yrs. old. And I can't even imagine a small child having to experience anything that I have. It is so sad when it is children . HUG'S to u all Take Care Colleen