stage 2, clear cell RCC, grade 2, need encouragement

marecash

Hi

My husband had radical neph 2 weeks ago for 12 cm mass on his left kidney. RCC, clear cell,stage 2, grade 2, no lymph node involvement. Cancer was confined to the renal capsule. Vena cava not involved - no thrombosis. SO, I guess if he was going ot have a tumor this big, so far the test results are encouraging. He is a strong, positive person. I am a mess. I would love to hear stories of others who have survived this cancer long term. WE have three teen daughters, we have been together since we were 17 - we are now 40. I am a worrier. The doc (Sloan Kettering) has told us 70% chance of cure with this surgery. Not to worry - pretend it never happened. Scans and chest xrays every 3 months for a while, then 6 , then 9, etc. I guess I am looking for hope - when I should already be counting the blessings we have already recieved.

dejorgensen

I had RCC, tumor size of a lemon, in 1995 at age 40, and I'm still here and mean as ever. If the cancer didn't spread, that's really good. I work full time, do everything I used to do, & show off my scar. I'm okay other than a touch of menopause, and I doubt your husband will get that. So that's my story; hope it helps.

kekolynn

I also had my left kidney removed in 12/03 for a 4.5 cm tumor. Renal cell carc., clear cell, totally contained, no lymph involvement. I was really scared - I have had "feelings" at times in my life and they were very valid, this time also - I went to the big cancer hospital (OSU James) in our state for a second opinion before and now after surgery. It helps to get another perspective. Second time I felt foolish - but what a wonderful foolish! They said same thing as my doctor at home. It is normal to feel worried, but doing something to relieve the worry and be sure of my health helped. I also read all the reports on my cancer. Lots of questions were answered from a different source and it helped.

macojako

Hope
Marecash:

My wife (65 yrs old) was diognosed last November 2011 with a large tumor in her left kidney with thrombosis (Rcc stage 3tb) into the vena cava up to the hepatic. She had radical nephrectomy and they removed the thrombosis. She had no vena cava wall involvment and no lymph node involvement.
The diognosis and operation was devastating. But you cry and hug and then you fight. She recovered from the surgery during which she had a problem with her liver counts for a while. She recovered from that and at her first 6 month ct scan they found no cancer recurrence but she somehow had a hole in her diaphragm and her guts as her doctor called them (spleen stomach, intestine..etc) had migrated up through her diaphragm to below her lung. She had a operation in June to bring them back down and they put a gortex patch over the hole. She has recovered from that and just had her one year ct scan and everything at this time looks great. We cherish everyday together (32 years) There are so many stories out there , many that give you hope and others that make you scared. But you must be positive. I found a person that I write every now and then that had the exact same diognosis as Kathy had. He just passed his 5 year no cancer recurrance. Yahoo. So we take each day as it comes and appreciate each second we have together. We feel blessed that we live in an area that has many great doctors (Boston area) Otherwise we might have had a whole different outcome. Kathy is doing great. She is one tuff babe. She walks my artificial knees off everyday.... lol...she's obsessed. So stay positive...there are many fighting the same fight you two are going thru. And as I always tell others..take care of the care giver.. we have to stay well so as to do the best we can for our love ones. It is not easy on the care giver either. So stay positive. Sounds like you both are doing great.

Good luck Marecash..I hope this helps ..our thoughts are with you..... Jack

"The goal is to live a full, productive life even with all that ambiguity. No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days that you have had you will have lived." Gilda Radner

"Cancer is not a death sentence, but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live." Marcia Smith

"Getting cancer can become the beginning of living. The search for one's own being, the discovery of the life one needs to live, can be one of the strongest weapons against disease." Lawrence Leshan

Texas_wedge

macojako said:

Hope
Marecash:

My wife (65 yrs old) was diognosed last November 2011 with a large tumor in her left kidney with thrombosis (Rcc stage 3tb) into the vena cava up to the hepatic. She had radical nephrectomy and they removed the thrombosis. She had no vena cava wall involvment and no lymph node involvement.
The diognosis and operation was devastating. But you cry and hug and then you fight. She recovered from the surgery during which she had a problem with her liver counts for a while. She recovered from that and at her first 6 month ct scan they found no cancer recurrence but she somehow had a hole in her diaphragm and her guts as her doctor called them (spleen stomach, intestine..etc) had migrated up through her diaphragm to below her lung. She had a operation in June to bring them back down and they put a gortex patch over the hole. She has recovered from that and just had her one year ct scan and everything at this time looks great. We cherish everyday together (32 years) There are so many stories out there , many that give you hope and others that make you scared. But you must be positive. I found a person that I write every now and then that had the exact same diognosis as Kathy had. He just passed his 5 year no cancer recurrance. Yahoo. So we take each day as it comes and appreciate each second we have together. We feel blessed that we live in an area that has many great doctors (Boston area) Otherwise we might have had a whole different outcome. Kathy is doing great. She is one tuff babe. She walks my artificial knees off everyday.... lol...she's obsessed. So stay positive...there are many fighting the same fight you two are going thru. And as I always tell others..take care of the care giver.. we have to stay well so as to do the best we can for our love ones. It is not easy on the care giver either. So stay positive. Sounds like you both are doing great.

Good luck Marecash..I hope this helps ..our thoughts are with you..... Jack

"The goal is to live a full, productive life even with all that ambiguity. No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days that you have had you will have lived." Gilda Radner

"Cancer is not a death sentence, but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live." Marcia Smith

"Getting cancer can become the beginning of living. The search for one's own being, the discovery of the life one needs to live, can be one of the strongest weapons against disease." Lawrence Leshan

Hope
It may be a little over-optimistic to assume that someone who only ever posted twice. 9 years ago, will see your message. However, it's welcome here to the rest of us and makes interesting, if harrowing, reading. Your Wife has really been through it and she is as tough as you say. Hers must be one of the most unusual cases and the two of you have done brilliantly in coming through it all so well.

Thanks for the superb quotes which have plainly stood you in good stead. I particularly liked the last one, by Lawrence Leshan.

garym

macojako said:

Hope
Marecash:

My wife (65 yrs old) was diognosed last November 2011 with a large tumor in her left kidney with thrombosis (Rcc stage 3tb) into the vena cava up to the hepatic. She had radical nephrectomy and they removed the thrombosis. She had no vena cava wall involvment and no lymph node involvement.
The diognosis and operation was devastating. But you cry and hug and then you fight. She recovered from the surgery during which she had a problem with her liver counts for a while. She recovered from that and at her first 6 month ct scan they found no cancer recurrence but she somehow had a hole in her diaphragm and her guts as her doctor called them (spleen stomach, intestine..etc) had migrated up through her diaphragm to below her lung. She had a operation in June to bring them back down and they put a gortex patch over the hole. She has recovered from that and just had her one year ct scan and everything at this time looks great. We cherish everyday together (32 years) There are so many stories out there , many that give you hope and others that make you scared. But you must be positive. I found a person that I write every now and then that had the exact same diognosis as Kathy had. He just passed his 5 year no cancer recurrance. Yahoo. So we take each day as it comes and appreciate each second we have together. We feel blessed that we live in an area that has many great doctors (Boston area) Otherwise we might have had a whole different outcome. Kathy is doing great. She is one tuff babe. She walks my artificial knees off everyday.... lol...she's obsessed. So stay positive...there are many fighting the same fight you two are going thru. And as I always tell others..take care of the care giver.. we have to stay well so as to do the best we can for our love ones. It is not easy on the care giver either. So stay positive. Sounds like you both are doing great.

Good luck Marecash..I hope this helps ..our thoughts are with you..... Jack

"The goal is to live a full, productive life even with all that ambiguity. No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days that you have had you will have lived." Gilda Radner

"Cancer is not a death sentence, but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live." Marcia Smith

"Getting cancer can become the beginning of living. The search for one's own being, the discovery of the life one needs to live, can be one of the strongest weapons against disease." Lawrence Leshan

Hope...
Ditto to what tex has said, success stories that are laced with the attitude of true warriors such as you, do so much to help those that are new to the fight. I love the quotes!!!

Thank you,

Gary