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Stage lV RCC
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Dec 21, 2004 - 9:40 pm
What are the treatment options for stage four kidney cancer? I recently lost my mother to this disease. The physicians that diagnosed her basically said that all they could do was to keep her comfortable. It had spread to her lungs,liver,pancreas and thyroid. She only lived two weeks after the diagnosis. There was no visible symptoms other than fatigue and minor lower back pain. Does anyone know of other signs of kidney cancer or support groups? Thanks |
Joined: Mar 2003
Hi! Am sitting here Christmas morning missing my husband who passed away last year from RCC and saw your posting. Thought I would try to answer your inquiry. My husband, Ron, was diagnosed stage IV, RCC in December 2002. He lived 8 months after his diagnosis. He had a nephrectomy (surgery to remove kidney), he tried immunotherapy (IL-2, recommended FDA approved treatment which didn't work), radiation, chemo, and experimental drugs. Some doctors prefer to use Interferon. But your doctors were honest; there is only a very slim chance you mom would have survived. My husband's disease had only metastasized to his lungs when it was discovered (which is stage IV). His doctor only gave him a 5% chance of survival. He too, was asymptomatic. It's an awful thing to say but your mom was lucky to have passed so quickly. The disease combined with treatments (that usually don't work) are usually sought and administered out of desperation. Ron and I were desperate. He was only 50: to young to die. There are stage IV survivors out there but they are the lucky ones.
Joined: Dec 2004
Thanks for replying to my message. I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. My mother was 60. This is a very difficult time of the year for me now. One way that I am dealing with my grief is by learning more about kidney cancer. The American Cancer Society has been very helpful for me. I know that one day I will agree that it was a blessing for my mother to go so fast. She never suffered very much and I am thankful for that.
Donna
Joined: Mar 2003
Donna,
Another source of information is the National Kidney Cancer Association: phone 1-800-850-9132.(www.kidneycancerassociation.org) When my husband, Ron was ill, they supplied us with a wealth of information. You can download their informational booklets. Also check the National Cancer Institute (www.NCI.gov): lots of information there. Unfortunately, there is not a lot known about kidney cancer nor are there a lot of treatment options for RCC: and when it reaches stage IV , doctors tend to "write off" the patient. I know there are stage IV survivors but they are few and far between. My husband was a "fighter" and even he couldn't beat this horrible disease.
Hope this helps.
Aud252 (Audrey)
Joined: Jul 2004
HELLO I AM SITTING HERE ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT BEING THINKFUL FOR THIS CHRISTMAS. I AM SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR MOM . YOU SEE MY HUSBAND WHO IS 56 WAS TOLD IN JULY OF 04 THAT HE HAD RCC STAGE 4 IT HAS ALL READY GONE TO SPOTS A LOT OF SPOTS ON HIS LUNGS AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN DEC AND FOUND OUT IT HAS GOTTEN IN TO HIS UPPER LEG BONE. WELL NOW HE HAD A BAD TIME W