Creatinine levels

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telephantasm
telephantasm Member Posts: 14
in Kidney Cancer #1

is there a relationship between advanced kidney cancer and creatinine levels? I realize creatinine levels typically measure kidney function 

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  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
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    I don't think so

    Advanced kidney cancer is usually spreading beyond the kidney while creatine measures kidney function. If I am wrong tell me.

     

    Icemantoo

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #3
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    maybe

    It is possible for the RCC to disrupt the kidney function, but that would require big, bilateral tumors.  As Ice said, most of us with advanced RCC have it because the cancer has metastised. So, it is more likely to impact lung function or brain function or liver function than kidney function.

    Removing the kidney, on the other hand, can impact kidney function; but we can live with the reduced function.  (We can not live with the tumors).

  • NewDay
    NewDay Member Posts: 272
    #4
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    dhs1963 said:

    maybe

    It is possible for the RCC to disrupt the kidney function, but that would require big, bilateral tumors.  As Ice said, most of us with advanced RCC have it because the cancer has metastised. So, it is more likely to impact lung function or brain function or liver function than kidney function.

    Removing the kidney, on the other hand, can impact kidney function; but we can live with the reduced function.  (We can not live with the tumors).

    Nephrectomy can affect creatinine

    Your remaining kidney can undergo some shock from having to suddenly carry the load on it's own, but it should eventually stabilize.  Mine shot up after my nephrectomy and stayed high for about 18 months and then started to settle down.  That doesn't happen to everyone.  Just know that it is not that unusual.  Mine never did return to normal because I do have some disease in my remaining kidney.

    Kathy

  • Phoenix Rising
    Phoenix Rising Member Posts: 170
    #5
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    Creatinine Level

    My creatinine level was higher than normal 3 weeks ago and the oncologist said it was related to kidney function.  He told me to drink some electrolyte preparations like Pedialyte.  Instead, I found a purified alkaline water with elecrolytes and I drink about a 60 ounces of it each day. The creatinine went down and I am now within normal limits. 

  • Skagway Jack
    Skagway Jack Member Posts: 224 Member
    #6
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    Good comments

    I agree with comments above. I would add that measuring GFR from blood work is an estimation.   Actual levels require a urine collect over 24 hours.  My nephrologist did this and my numbers were significantly better than the estimated levels in the blood work reports.  Some folks here have very low creatine levels with single kidney function, many have levels higher than normal dual kidney levels.  I looked at blood work I had from 20 years prior to my radical nephrectomy and they were  1.3 this while I was still very athletic.  At age 54 one year after my nephrectomy my levels were varying from 1.48 to 1.83 within a 2 week time span. If you are concerned my advice is go see a nephrologist they have a firm handle on this.  Excersize and hydration dramitically impact the numbers. Diet can also impact things.  The bad part is that bad numbers prior to a scan can cause the DR. to not allow contrast, thus lowering the quality of the scan.  I have sworn off excersize within three days of scan/blood draws as a result.

    Jack

  • telephantasm
    telephantasm Member Posts: 14
    #7
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    Skagway Jack said:

    Good comments

    I agree with comments above. I would add that measuring GFR from blood work is an estimation.   Actual levels require a urine collect over 24 hours.  My nephrologist did this and my numbers were significantly better than the estimated levels in the blood work reports.  Some folks here have very low creatine levels with single kidney function, many have levels higher than normal dual kidney levels.  I looked at blood work I had from 20 years prior to my radical nephrectomy and they were  1.3 this while I was still very athletic.  At age 54 one year after my nephrectomy my levels were varying from 1.48 to 1.83 within a 2 week time span. If you are concerned my advice is go see a nephrologist they have a firm handle on this.  Excersize and hydration dramitically impact the numbers. Diet can also impact things.  The bad part is that bad numbers prior to a scan can cause the DR. to not allow contrast, thus lowering the quality of the scan.  I have sworn off excersize within three days of scan/blood draws as a result.

    Jack

    Good points

    All good points folks. i'll be monitoring my fathers levels after he has his kidney removed. But like ya said everyone is different, but hydration plays a big role too. 

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