help - really nervous - seems like a long wait for surgery

LinnRyan
LinnRyan Member Posts: 8
in Kidney Cancer #1
My kidney cancer was found do to CT at the ER for unrelated problem, MRI confirmed the same. My PCP sent me for a second opinion (didn't like the second opinion) cancer less than 2 cm on the outside of the kidney not in (which I hear is better). The are doing partial in two weeks just seems like its taking forever especially since I know the cancer is in me and I want it out yesterday, my surgery is scheduled for 12/2 and will be done via the Davinci robot. Had gallbladder and hysterectomy 4 years ago so I know the road to recovery can be rough. Still really nervous and hope that it hasn't spread. Had the MRI and MRI of lower spine do to numbness in left leg, stomach and back, they don't think the two are related, but happy that they did find it early and with the grace of god it will be in my past in a few short weeks.

Comments

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #2
    Welcome to the club...
    Hi LinnRyan,

    What you are feeling is a very normal reaction to finding out you have cancer. Most of the stories here are very similar to yours, found accidentally, you have cancer, rush to surgery, and a feeling of what the heck!! Okay, some facts, rcc is very slow growing, your tumor is small and almost certainly contained, the surgery will likely be a cure, you will have few small scars and ongoing tests to remind you that you had cancer, but very soon your life will return to "normal". Your wait is relatively short, some here have waited months, but regardless of the time frame waiting sucks. Try to find things to occupy your time like X-Mas shopping since you won't feel much like it for awhile. Not sure what your home situation is but this is also a good time to make plans for your recovery, catch up on your chores, make meals ahead, etc. You have come to the right place, you will find support and answers here, try to stay calm and we'll help you through it.

    Good luck and God speed,

    Gary
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    garym said:

    Welcome to the club...
    Hi LinnRyan,

    What you are feeling is a very normal reaction to finding out you have cancer. Most of the stories here are very similar to yours, found accidentally, you have cancer, rush to surgery, and a feeling of what the heck!! Okay, some facts, rcc is very slow growing, your tumor is small and almost certainly contained, the surgery will likely be a cure, you will have few small scars and ongoing tests to remind you that you had cancer, but very soon your life will return to "normal". Your wait is relatively short, some here have waited months, but regardless of the time frame waiting sucks. Try to find things to occupy your time like X-Mas shopping since you won't feel much like it for awhile. Not sure what your home situation is but this is also a good time to make plans for your recovery, catch up on your chores, make meals ahead, etc. You have come to the right place, you will find support and answers here, try to stay calm and we'll help you through it.

    Good luck and God speed,

    Gary

    Things will be fine
    LinnRyan,

    I can only repeat what garym has said. You are coming on this board with minimum baggage (your little rascal is smaller than most of ours). No reason to be concerned. The surgery is not fun, but it goes with the territory. Mine was 9 years ago at age 59 and I went water skiing 11 months later. My little rascal was 2.7 cm going in on the CT and 4.2 cm when they diced it up after they took it out. Soon you wil be able to help garym and myself with the newcomers.

    Best wishes,


    Icemantoo
  • LinnRyan
    LinnRyan Member Posts: 8
    #4
    garym said:

    Welcome to the club...
    Hi LinnRyan,

    What you are feeling is a very normal reaction to finding out you have cancer. Most of the stories here are very similar to yours, found accidentally, you have cancer, rush to surgery, and a feeling of what the heck!! Okay, some facts, rcc is very slow growing, your tumor is small and almost certainly contained, the surgery will likely be a cure, you will have few small scars and ongoing tests to remind you that you had cancer, but very soon your life will return to "normal". Your wait is relatively short, some here have waited months, but regardless of the time frame waiting sucks. Try to find things to occupy your time like X-Mas shopping since you won't feel much like it for awhile. Not sure what your home situation is but this is also a good time to make plans for your recovery, catch up on your chores, make meals ahead, etc. You have come to the right place, you will find support and answers here, try to stay calm and we'll help you through it.

    Good luck and God speed,

    Gary

    Thanks
    Not a great club to be a part of. Thanks for the suggestions and thanks for the support. I think its the uncertainty of what lies ahead that bothers me most. My dad died 10 years ago from undetected lung cancer until it had matesized beyond saving and was dead in less than a year so I think that bothers me alot more than if I didn't have that history. I'm trying to stay calm and remain positive and with friends and family I will get thru this and by this time next year I will have forgotten about it for the most part. Again thanks for the warm welcome.
  • KatfromFlorida
    KatfromFlorida Member Posts: 66
    #5
    LinnRyan said:

    Thanks
    Not a great club to be a part of. Thanks for the suggestions and thanks for the support. I think its the uncertainty of what lies ahead that bothers me most. My dad died 10 years ago from undetected lung cancer until it had matesized beyond saving and was dead in less than a year so I think that bothers me alot more than if I didn't have that history. I'm trying to stay calm and remain positive and with friends and family I will get thru this and by this time next year I will have forgotten about it for the most part. Again thanks for the warm welcome.

    Hi Linn
    Went through much of the same myself a couple of months ago. Its not a easy road to travel but I guess the best possible advice I can give you is to try hard to stay positive. It has helped me tremendously. I refuse to allow cancer to get the best of me or my life by dwelling on that which I cannot control :) Harder than it sounds until you have had time to digest all of this but hopefully you will eventually find a happy place and try to stay there as much as you can. Friends, family and prayer are your best medicine........And..if you need to talk this is the place, they are all my guardian angels....

    My best and many hugs
    Kat
  • flatlander
    flatlander Member Posts: 46
    #6
    KatfromFlorida said:

    Hi Linn
    Went through much of the same myself a couple of months ago. Its not a easy road to travel but I guess the best possible advice I can give you is to try hard to stay positive. It has helped me tremendously. I refuse to allow cancer to get the best of me or my life by dwelling on that which I cannot control :) Harder than it sounds until you have had time to digest all of this but hopefully you will eventually find a happy place and try to stay there as much as you can. Friends, family and prayer are your best medicine........And..if you need to talk this is the place, they are all my guardian angels....

    My best and many hugs
    Kat

    linn I am in similar boat
    First guy said "Yes it 95% likely cancer, I can cut it out in about 8 weeks. "
    I said "but doc what about the pain in my back shooting down my leg. "
    The surgeon said " silly little.mere mortal.I doubt its related"

    The second guy said "3 weeks and I will MRI your spine to make sure it has not spread and that pain is not secondary tumor etc."

    God I love second opinion man.
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #7
    flatlander said:

    linn I am in similar boat
    First guy said "Yes it 95% likely cancer, I can cut it out in about 8 weeks. "
    I said "but doc what about the pain in my back shooting down my leg. "
    The surgeon said " silly little.mere mortal.I doubt its related"

    The second guy said "3 weeks and I will MRI your spine to make sure it has not spread and that pain is not secondary tumor etc."

    God I love second opinion man.

    Pain down your leg
    Flatliner,

    I probably had this little pain at the bottom of my back for years before I was diagnosed.
    For almost a year before I was diagnosed I had a shooting pain down my leg when I drove for more than a short distance. My GP suggested a referral to an orthopedic surgeon which I did not take him up on. Anyway after some heavy yard work I peed red. GP said I just broke a blood vessel, but referred me to the Urologist to make sure nothing was wrong. One CT later and I was being scheduled for surgery. The pain in my back and down my leg both went away after the surgery. Every body has there own story about how they were diagnosed and what was missed and wrongfully diagnosed on the way. It goes with the territory. For good or bad it is part of RCC.

    Best wishes.

    Icemantoo

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