???? is it necessary to see an oncologist.

michelle300
michelle300 Member Posts: 2
in Kidney Cancer #1
Hi,

Can someone answer my question or direct me in the right direction.
Should I be seeing an oncologist?
I am 37 years old female. I had kidney cancer in 2004 which resulted in the removal of my left kidney. Although the cancer was malignant, it was contained in the kidney so no chemotherapy or radiation. I see my doctors yearly but nothing more.
My family consider me a survivor but I really do not, so I haven't given much thought to it. Many say I am in denial. My family says I need to see an oncologist as a preventive measure.
Need guidance.

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    Oncologist?
    A few details of your path report wouldn't go amiss, Michelle, but I guess you wouldn't have this info available?

    Do you have any worrying symptoms? Why do family members say you should consult an oncologist? What do people mean in saying that you're "in denial"? Denial of what, exactly?

    If you haven't needed to give the topic much thought after surviving for 8 years so far, why on earth would you need to see an oncologist for reassurance?!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    Texas_wedge said:

    Oncologist?
    A few details of your path report wouldn't go amiss, Michelle, but I guess you wouldn't have this info available?

    Do you have any worrying symptoms? Why do family members say you should consult an oncologist? What do people mean in saying that you're "in denial"? Denial of what, exactly?

    If you haven't needed to give the topic much thought after surviving for 8 years so far, why on earth would you need to see an oncologist for reassurance?!

    Oncologist
    Michelle,


    My usual answer woukd be why not, but that would apply 8 years ago. Assuming you had scans for at least the first 5 years and they were all clean and that you see the urologist once a year, there is no reason to see an Oncologist at this point in time. We are a very special club with only 3% of the Cancers with our own special procedures and those outside our club, while they may mean well ddon't have the vaugest idea about RCC. My little bugger was out in 2002 (in the dark ages before high speed internet) and I prefer to look forward not backword.


    Icemantoo
  • michelle300
    michelle300 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    Texas_wedge said:

    Oncologist?
    A few details of your path report wouldn't go amiss, Michelle, but I guess you wouldn't have this info available?

    Do you have any worrying symptoms? Why do family members say you should consult an oncologist? What do people mean in saying that you're "in denial"? Denial of what, exactly?

    If you haven't needed to give the topic much thought after surviving for 8 years so far, why on earth would you need to see an oncologist for reassurance?!

    Although I do not have an worrying symptoms now, I do understand that the cancer can come back within 15 years. The only issue that I have are fibroids that is being monitored by my ob/gyn. I do think it but i figure i really can't prevent.
    My family members recommend a seeing an oncologist as a preventive measure and to see if I can do anything to prevent cancer from occurring again.

    The denial part is me not associating myself with survivors of cancer. Although I know i had cancer, I do not feel I am a survivor, I had a procedure and that was that. I hear many stories of people going through chemo and radiation and they are the ones that deserve to be called survivors not me, so I do not take it so serious.
    Each time I have doctor visits with my primary doctor, the topic comes up and this is ongoing for 8 years that she wants me to talk to cancer doctors. I just do not think it is necessary.
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #5
    michelle300 said:

    Although I do not have an worrying symptoms now, I do understand that the cancer can come back within 15 years. The only issue that I have are fibroids that is being monitored by my ob/gyn. I do think it but i figure i really can't prevent.
    My family members recommend a seeing an oncologist as a preventive measure and to see if I can do anything to prevent cancer from occurring again.

    The denial part is me not associating myself with survivors of cancer. Although I know i had cancer, I do not feel I am a survivor, I had a procedure and that was that. I hear many stories of people going through chemo and radiation and they are the ones that deserve to be called survivors not me, so I do not take it so serious.
    Each time I have doctor visits with my primary doctor, the topic comes up and this is ongoing for 8 years that she wants me to talk to cancer doctors. I just do not think it is necessary.

    Survivor
    Michelle,

    You and I are survivors. We had Cancer. We had major abdominal surgery to get rid of it. It was not fun. If we did not have the surgery the camcer would have spread and over a period of time without the surgery we would have died as RCC can be very deadly. Being lucky is not a reason to feel guilty. Having had Cancer we can appreciate and understand others better.

    With regard to seeing an Oncologist as recommended by your family doctor for 8 years. Give it a try and let the Oncologist say you have nothing to worry about. Mine is a layman's opinion not that of a doctor. My experience has been that my Urologist and Nephrologist understand RCC. It has also been my experience in the past year that my GP, Orthopedic Surgeon, ENT and Allergy specialists that I have seen do not other than being aware that certain medications can be adverse to your Kidneys.

    Good luck in whatever you do.

    Icemantoo
  • ourfriendjohn
    ourfriendjohn Member Posts: 72
    #6
    icemantoo said:

    Survivor
    Michelle,

    You and I are survivors. We had Cancer. We had major abdominal surgery to get rid of it. It was not fun. If we did not have the surgery the camcer would have spread and over a period of time without the surgery we would have died as RCC can be very deadly. Being lucky is not a reason to feel guilty. Having had Cancer we can appreciate and understand others better.

    With regard to seeing an Oncologist as recommended by your family doctor for 8 years. Give it a try and let the Oncologist say you have nothing to worry about. Mine is a layman's opinion not that of a doctor. My experience has been that my Urologist and Nephrologist understand RCC. It has also been my experience in the past year that my GP, Orthopedic Surgeon, ENT and Allergy specialists that I have seen do not other than being aware that certain medications can be adverse to your Kidneys.

    Good luck in whatever you do.

    Icemantoo

    Oncologist visit
    Michelle,

    You sound sort of similar to me. My initial attitude was that by the time I knew for sure that my tumor was cancer it was out and over (stage 2b). I tried to put the notion of cancer behind me for about six months but became uncomfortable with the urologist only ordering x-rays of the lungs for follow-ups instead of MRI or CT given my grade 4 sarcomatoid pathology results. Probably too much reading on the subject. Anyway, my GP gladly referred me to an Oncologist. So I have a chest CT scheduled with abdominal and pelvis MRIs in about a week and am once again keeping my fingers crossed. In my case the peace of mind that time with the oncologist gave me was worth the cost.

    Best wishes for many more healthy years.

    John

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