Newly diagnosed

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  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #22
    Steve.Adam said:

    Into the machine

    Hi Hardo,

    It seems like there is a medical treatment machine that sucks you in at one end and spits you out the other and we don't really have much control. 

    I will go wth the flow and try to educate myself so that when I do need to make a decision I will understand things a bit better.

    Steve.

    Go to Smart Patients

    Dont search the web. Again, Good luck

  • Abunai
    Abunai Member Posts: 173 Member
    edited October 2016 #23
    Steve, what medical coverage

    Steve, what medical coverage do you have that is not having you see a urologist for 28 days? Your mass does sound like it's on the small side, but 28 days is a long time to have to be in limbo.

    If circumstances allow, I would probably  (and my wife would definitely) raise a stink or look elsewhere to be seen sooner.

    Best luck.

     

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    edited October 2016 #24
    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I

    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I had an open partial. I know common wisdom is that robotic/laproscopic is easier on you but mine could not have been easier. Well, yes, of course it would have been easier not to have it at all, but I can't say it was anywhere near as bad as I had feared. So even if your surgeon recommends open procedure due to location, etc., it's not as bad as you may think. My scar is under 5 inches and I spent just two days in the hospital. I was up and walking the night of the surgery and sitting at my computer doing work on the fourth day. Hopefully the location allows a partial procedure. Wishing you the very best and hopefully soon this will all be behind you.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited October 2016 #25
    Abunai said:

    Steve, what medical coverage

    Steve, what medical coverage do you have that is not having you see a urologist for 28 days? Your mass does sound like it's on the small side, but 28 days is a long time to have to be in limbo.

    If circumstances allow, I would probably  (and my wife would definitely) raise a stink or look elsewhere to be seen sooner.

    Best luck.

     

    The wait thing

    My insurance and geographic constraints resulted in my not seeing whichever specialist physician was next in line for a while. The good news is, these kidney masses don't grow like kudzu. The bad news is, the waiting is a pain. 

    In the meantime, do what you know to do to take care of yourself. Don't self-refer to "Dr. Google," anguish over statistics (which most likely are out of date), or try the latest weird miracle diet cure. Oh, and keep us posted. We're here for you and with you. 

    Jerzy

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    edited October 2016 #26
    APny said:

    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I

    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I had an open partial. I know common wisdom is that robotic/laproscopic is easier on you but mine could not have been easier. Well, yes, of course it would have been easier not to have it at all, but I can't say it was anywhere near as bad as I had feared. So even if your surgeon recommends open procedure due to location, etc., it's not as bad as you may think. My scar is under 5 inches and I spent just two days in the hospital. I was up and walking the night of the surgery and sitting at my computer doing work on the fourth day. Hopefully the location allows a partial procedure. Wishing you the very best and hopefully soon this will all be behind you.

    Thanks Apny.

    Thanks Apny.

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #27
    JerzyGrrl said:

    The wait thing

    My insurance and geographic constraints resulted in my not seeing whichever specialist physician was next in line for a while. The good news is, these kidney masses don't grow like kudzu. The bad news is, the waiting is a pain. 

    In the meantime, do what you know to do to take care of yourself. Don't self-refer to "Dr. Google," anguish over statistics (which most likely are out of date), or try the latest weird miracle diet cure. Oh, and keep us posted. We're here for you and with you. 

    Jerzy

    Australian public health

    Hi Abunai and Jerzy,

    I don't have private health insurance but the public system will cover me. However I have to wait for them to decide on my priority.

    I am actually pretty calm about my situation. Nothing bad has happened yet and in my case it probably never will.

    I am ignoring everyone's advice about google but don't worry, I am a level headed kind of guy. The internet has a lot of useful information mixed in with the rubbish. I am most interested in cancer survivor's stories, which is why I joined this site.

    Steve.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited October 2016 #28
    Steve.Adam said:

    Australian public health

    Hi Abunai and Jerzy,

    I don't have private health insurance but the public system will cover me. However I have to wait for them to decide on my priority.

    I am actually pretty calm about my situation. Nothing bad has happened yet and in my case it probably never will.

    I am ignoring everyone's advice about google but don't worry, I am a level headed kind of guy. The internet has a lot of useful information mixed in with the rubbish. I am most interested in cancer survivor's stories, which is why I joined this site.

    Steve.

    I always figure...

    Regarding them figuring out your priority, I always consider it's a good thing NOT to get rushed to the head of the line. That would mean being the Crisis d' Jour, which is doesn't sound like so much fun. I'm sure we all love attention as much as the next person, but there are limits.  In a similar vein, I have faith that -- should someone need to be rushed to the head of the line -- they'll expedite that as necessary. Which is why, when signed up for a procedure and the time goes by... and by... It can be assumed that they're taking care of someone with a critical need. So it's all good. Calm is even better. 

    Sorry you've got a reason to be here, but glad you've found us, Steve. 

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #29
    Steve.Adam said:

    Australian public health

    Hi Abunai and Jerzy,

    I don't have private health insurance but the public system will cover me. However I have to wait for them to decide on my priority.

    I am actually pretty calm about my situation. Nothing bad has happened yet and in my case it probably never will.

    I am ignoring everyone's advice about google but don't worry, I am a level headed kind of guy. The internet has a lot of useful information mixed in with the rubbish. I am most interested in cancer survivor's stories, which is why I joined this site.

    Steve.

    Cancer

    Is a pretty good word for getting to the head of the queue, I would have thought

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #30
    APny said:

    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I

    Mine was 4.5 cm also and I had an open partial. I know common wisdom is that robotic/laproscopic is easier on you but mine could not have been easier. Well, yes, of course it would have been easier not to have it at all, but I can't say it was anywhere near as bad as I had feared. So even if your surgeon recommends open procedure due to location, etc., it's not as bad as you may think. My scar is under 5 inches and I spent just two days in the hospital. I was up and walking the night of the surgery and sitting at my computer doing work on the fourth day. Hopefully the location allows a partial procedure. Wishing you the very best and hopefully soon this will all be behind you.

    Fact!

    Its never as bad as you imagine it will be. Good luck mate

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