22 and officially joined the club

kevinli22
kevinli22 Member Posts: 3

A month ago I had right flank pain and I went in for an ultrasound. They found a tumor 1.1x8.7x9.8cm. Today I got the results back from the biopsy, apparently it's Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma. At the age of 12 I had thyroid cancer now 10 years later it's kidney cancer. Life's a trip isn't it. My question is has anybody else had chromophobe RCC. What was your treatment plan and is surgery the only route?  

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Too young to join

    Kevin,

     

    You are too young to join, but since  you did not volunteer we will try and help you. Not sure about your subtype of RCC, but at 9.8 cm it has to come out. After that you will have scans and if nothing developes no further treatment. Wish I could offer a majic pill, but we have all had the neph. and there is no way to sugar coat it. Mine was a lucky 13 years ago at a then young 59.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,060 Member
    icemantoo said:

    Too young to join

    Kevin,

     

    You are too young to join, but since  you did not volunteer we will try and help you. Not sure about your subtype of RCC, but at 9.8 cm it has to come out. After that you will have scans and if nothing developes no further treatment. Wish I could offer a majic pill, but we have all had the neph. and there is no way to sugar coat it. Mine was a lucky 13 years ago at a then young 59.

     

    Icemantoo

    Hello,
    you are really very

    Hello,

    you are really very young for kidney cancer, but apparently cancer doesn't follow the rules.

    with the tumor of your size a prompt surgery must be expected. And it is not that bad.

    Here are some fellow survivors with chromophobe. I'mnot an expert myself, but if I'm not mistaken, Chromophobe is a bit less aggressive. ..

    wish you to deal with this cancer as you've dealtwith thyroid one. Stay on the boards, there is plenty of support and knowledge!

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    So sorry to hear this.

    So sorry to hear this.  Please sign up at www.smartpatients.com, they are very experienced and you have a lot of professionals there that can give you advice. I hope you have the surgery done asap and heal quickly.  Is there something causing this in your environment?  Try to eat organic if you don't already.  Get copies of all of your tests and reports and you can post if you have any questions.  Praying for you, you will get through this. Hugs n love.  Did you have a full body ct petscan?  If not, please do so.  After surgery they should follow you very closely with full body ct scans every three months.  There are several medicines if you need it. Please be sure to have an rcc specialist oncologist.  Keep us updated.  All the best to you.

  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315
    angec said:

    So sorry to hear this.

    So sorry to hear this.  Please sign up at www.smartpatients.com, they are very experienced and you have a lot of professionals there that can give you advice. I hope you have the surgery done asap and heal quickly.  Is there something causing this in your environment?  Try to eat organic if you don't already.  Get copies of all of your tests and reports and you can post if you have any questions.  Praying for you, you will get through this. Hugs n love.  Did you have a full body ct petscan?  If not, please do so.  After surgery they should follow you very closely with full body ct scans every three months.  There are several medicines if you need it. Please be sure to have an rcc specialist oncologist.  Keep us updated.  All the best to you.

    I'm a fellow chromophobe

    Hi. I was diagnosed 11 years ago this fall, metastasis showed up 7 years ago this fall. Most chromophobes don't get metastasis - I think only about 5percent get lucky like that. Though usually indolent, slow growing, chromophobe can grow fast so you must always be vigilant. I would insist on followup CT with contrast ofthe abdomen, chest and pelvis (that's just one test) every six months post surgery for at least three years. Then move it to once a year. And find an oncologist who specializes in RCC because chromophobe is a rare type of RCC - not many urologists know much about it. The good news is that you may be lucky and never get a metastasis. The other good news is that if you do get a met, it will probably be slow growing. But we've lost two very dear chromophobe patients on this forum in the last couple of years, so chromophobe is definitely not a Home Free card. It doesn't respond to as many of the targeted drug therapies as clear cell RCC. (chromophobe is a non-clear cell RCC, there are several non-clear cell types). Being a member of this club means learning to live with uncertainty. You'll get the hang of it. Life goes on. You feel prettydarn good and you continue to smile & laugh & play & plan ahead (though in increments). Mostly Younare incredibly grateful for every single day and, looking back, you wonder how you were so blasé about it all before. Good luck! (and I second Angec's Smartpatients.com suggestion. Between these two sites you will learn everything you need to know & get your questions answered.)

  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315

    I'm a fellow chromophobe

    Hi. I was diagnosed 11 years ago this fall, metastasis showed up 7 years ago this fall. Most chromophobes don't get metastasis - I think only about 5percent get lucky like that. Though usually indolent, slow growing, chromophobe can grow fast so you must always be vigilant. I would insist on followup CT with contrast ofthe abdomen, chest and pelvis (that's just one test) every six months post surgery for at least three years. Then move it to once a year. And find an oncologist who specializes in RCC because chromophobe is a rare type of RCC - not many urologists know much about it. The good news is that you may be lucky and never get a metastasis. The other good news is that if you do get a met, it will probably be slow growing. But we've lost two very dear chromophobe patients on this forum in the last couple of years, so chromophobe is definitely not a Home Free card. It doesn't respond to as many of the targeted drug therapies as clear cell RCC. (chromophobe is a non-clear cell RCC, there are several non-clear cell types). Being a member of this club means learning to live with uncertainty. You'll get the hang of it. Life goes on. You feel prettydarn good and you continue to smile & laugh & play & plan ahead (though in increments). Mostly Younare incredibly grateful for every single day and, looking back, you wonder how you were so blasé about it all before. Good luck! (and I second Angec's Smartpatients.com suggestion. Between these two sites you will learn everything you need to know & get your questions answered.)

    Chromophobes showed response in a clinical trial I was in for non-clear cell RCC - the trial used Everolimus (Afinitor), a 10 mg pill daily, with a bi-weekly infusion of Avastin (bevacizumab). I was in it for 22 months with stability. Nivolumab (Opdivo), a new immune therapy drug, might also have promisfloor chromies. Sutent, Votrient and Torisel are also used. Heck, all the available drugs are used eventually, I guess. Some have more of a track record with chromophobes. The problem is, there are so few of us that not many clinical trials have paid much attention to us. However,that is changing. There is interest in creating more trials for non-clear cell subtypes. As always, we look to the future for more hope.

  • kevinli22
    kevinli22 Member Posts: 3
    Thank you for everybodys kind

    Thank you for everybodys kind words. At least now i know what it was that i was facing better then not knowing. No point in worrying about what we can't control but rather what we can. Surgery is scheduled for the 31st.  I will keep everybody posted. 

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    kevinli22 said:

    Thank you for everybodys kind

    Thank you for everybodys kind words. At least now i know what it was that i was facing better then not knowing. No point in worrying about what we can't control but rather what we can. Surgery is scheduled for the 31st.  I will keep everybody posted. 

    Wishing you the best. It's a

    Wishing you the best. It's a shame that you've had to battle cancer twice at such a young age.

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    Youre too young to join

    That being stated. You're very welcome

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    Well, Kevin, I am sorry for

    Well, Kevin, I am sorry for having cancer 2x. Not fair~and so young.

    But this sounds very treatable.

    Glad there are others who have the same diagnosis who can help.

    I just wanted to send you good wishes and let you know we're here for you!

    Keep us informed ok?

     

    Warmly, Jan

  • jason.2835
    jason.2835 Member Posts: 337 Member
    22?!?

    Kev,

    My lord, a 2-time survivor at 22... From what I've read chromophobe tends to have a better prognosis than conventional RCC and the main course is surgery (as is the case with most RCC cases of all types).  Of course the fact that you've had 2 separate cancers may make the doctors want do some genetic testing and what-not... But generally with RCC it's GET IT OUT as soon as possible.  If you've never had surgery, don't worry about it, it's fun... No just kidding, it sucks haha.  But it certainly beats the alternative.  Keep us posted.

    - Jay

  • PK_Chicago
    PK_Chicago Member Posts: 58
    The club -

    I am a chromophobe as well.  I was diagnosed in 2012 and had my left kidney removed – my first post-surgery scan included my chest (it wasn’t included in the first set that found the original tumor).  The chest scan showed a large nodule on my thyroid – so they remove that as well about 9 months after my first surgery.  I’ve had a few mets they’ve been watching – where my old kidney was, and two bone mets one in my shoulder and one in my hip.  I did a 24 week stint of Torisel and was then off for almost two years.  There has been a little activity recently (same spots, nothing new) and I am either going to start Opdivo or Everolimus soon.

    Good luck and check this forum OFTEN – many of us have very similar experiences and you usually can get some very honest responses!

    Beware of the internet it can drive you nuts!

    PK

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member

    The club -

    I am a chromophobe as well.  I was diagnosed in 2012 and had my left kidney removed – my first post-surgery scan included my chest (it wasn’t included in the first set that found the original tumor).  The chest scan showed a large nodule on my thyroid – so they remove that as well about 9 months after my first surgery.  I’ve had a few mets they’ve been watching – where my old kidney was, and two bone mets one in my shoulder and one in my hip.  I did a 24 week stint of Torisel and was then off for almost two years.  There has been a little activity recently (same spots, nothing new) and I am either going to start Opdivo or Everolimus soon.

    Good luck and check this forum OFTEN – many of us have very similar experiences and you usually can get some very honest responses!

    Beware of the internet it can drive you nuts!

    PK

    Welcome

    I am so sorry to hear about your health challenges. But you have come to the right place for support and advice!

    Don't be afraid to get a second opinion and make sure you see a specialist in Kidney cancer.

    Take care and post/vent here as often as you like!

    Hugs

    Jojo