Friend recently diagnosed

JimsBrother

I have a friend recently diagnosed with stage 1, maybe 2 RCC, with no lymph nodes or any migration shown on the PET scan. I learned she has decided to not have any surgery and rely on just chemo. I don't know if she has had or will have any radiation.

Can anyone tell me the probability of full recovery with just chemo? I haven't had a chance to do much reading on RCC. I am a caregiver to my brother who has just had his esophagus removed due to Esophageal adenocarcinoma. So I can only base what I have learned on his experiance. I know all cancers are different, but I thought as a rule, the first course is always surgery when given that option. I am wondering if she has an overly optimistic Dr.

I am not a big fan of Chemo, especially when I discovered the traditional chemo drugs today are the same ones they used in the late 70's. I would think they would have come up with better chemo drugs after the billions poured in to research.

Thank you in advance for any info you can give me. Even if it is just a link to a good website on RCC.

Thank you,
Jims Brother

VeryAnxious

I was told by both surgeons
I was told by both surgeons who I went to for an opinion (I had a mass in my left kidney) that chemo and radiation would not work for me. I thought that the cancer in the kidney was resistant to this (but I am not cetain if was just mine). I was told by both to have it removed. I had to have the decison of which way to go. Has she had another opinion and what type of doctor did she see. Good luck

icemantoo

VeryAnxious said:

I was told by both surgeons
I was told by both surgeons who I went to for an opinion (I had a mass in my left kidney) that chemo and radiation would not work for me. I thought that the cancer in the kidney was resistant to this (but I am not cetain if was just mine). I was told by both to have it removed. I had to have the decison of which way to go. Has she had another opinion and what type of doctor did she see. Good luck

Does not sound right to me
While various treatments may play a role in RCC everything I have read in the last 8 and 1/2 years since my diagnosis is to surgically revove the tumor and with it the kidney or partial kidney as well. Not fun but it beats the alternative..

amurillo63

VeryAnxious said:

I was told by both surgeons
I was told by both surgeons who I went to for an opinion (I had a mass in my left kidney) that chemo and radiation would not work for me. I thought that the cancer in the kidney was resistant to this (but I am not cetain if was just mine). I was told by both to have it removed. I had to have the decison of which way to go. Has she had another opinion and what type of doctor did she see. Good luck

Chemo Not Effective for Kidney Cancer
Chemo is not effective for Kidney Cancer... but I would suggest doing your own research to help your friend to make an informed decission rather than making a rash decission. That is what I did and that is what all the material that I read stated. I hope this helps...

inland1der

icemantoo said:

Does not sound right to me
While various treatments may play a role in RCC everything I have read in the last 8 and 1/2 years since my diagnosis is to surgically revove the tumor and with it the kidney or partial kidney as well. Not fun but it beats the alternative..

kidney cancer treatment
I was diagnosed in November 2010 after a biopsy of my left kidney. I have consulted with an oncologist and have found that the seemingly most effective treatment for my advanced disease with no spreading is removal of the left kidney, ureter, and cuff of the bladder. I must also say that in 2001, I had a radical prostectomy, and in 2003, had a mass discovered in my right lung that was treated with aggressive chemo and 36 radiation treatments. Having experienced the effects of the chemo and radiation, and knowing how they affect you, I can live with the fact that I will only have 1 good functioning kidney.
Good luck, and believe that cancer survival these days is definitely something that can happen.

JimsBrother

I wish
Thank you all for your replies. I have learned more about the situation and I think before I make any furthur conclusions, I need to ask for additional information.