New here and surgery is Nov 6th :-) !!

RichardB63

Partial neprectomy, 2.2 by 2.3 cm's on right kidney. Male 48, live around Houston Texas and having the surgery at MD Anderson (pretty blessed :-). They will watch a few very small things on my lungs.... Just riding a little rollercoaster right now....

Texas_wedge

Partial etc
Here's hoping Texas establishes a reputation for having the very smallest things! It doesn't sound as if you have too much to worry about at present, apart from Hurricane Sandy. Good luck but, at 48, tiny tumour and MDA on your case, you won't need much luck to be fully cured before you can say knife.

RichardB63

Texas_wedge said:

Partial etc
Here's hoping Texas establishes a reputation for having the very smallest things! It doesn't sound as if you have too much to worry about at present, apart from Hurricane Sandy. Good luck but, at 48, tiny tumour and MDA on your case, you won't need much luck to be fully cured before you can say knife.

Tex
I know I am blessed,(that's not the way it feels sometimes). :-) Bless the people in the path of Hurricane Sandy, I have family and friends that live along her path...

I was wondering if anyone else had pain in their mid back region? I hurt my lower back on June 9th 2012, which started me on this journey. I have a steady pain that gets worse when I am inactive (sleeping 4hrs,driving or sitting). Strangely enough it gets better for a few days after riding my Harley :-) Two Wheel Therapy The Dr's and nurses don't believe it is from the tumour.

The lower back pain is better after the first month, but the mid pain made me persist in getting a MRI after 2 months of dealing with it :-). My hard headedness knew something wasn't right.

Busy, busy,busy this week prepping for surgery next week. I did rent a beach house in Galveston for the Lone Star Rally this weekend. I am going to have a little fun before.. Richard

RichardB63

RichardB63 said:

Tex
I know I am blessed,(that's not the way it feels sometimes). :-) Bless the people in the path of Hurricane Sandy, I have family and friends that live along her path...

I was wondering if anyone else had pain in their mid back region? I hurt my lower back on June 9th 2012, which started me on this journey. I have a steady pain that gets worse when I am inactive (sleeping 4hrs,driving or sitting). Strangely enough it gets better for a few days after riding my Harley :-) Two Wheel Therapy The Dr's and nurses don't believe it is from the tumour.

The lower back pain is better after the first month, but the mid pain made me persist in getting a MRI after 2 months of dealing with it :-). My hard headedness knew something wasn't right.

Busy, busy,busy this week prepping for surgery next week. I did rent a beach house in Galveston for the Lone Star Rally this weekend. I am going to have a little fun before.. Richard

Supplements
What are some of the best supplements to take and stay away from ????

Texas_wedge

RichardB63 said:

Supplements
What are some of the best supplements to take and stay away from ????

Supplements
Richard, I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment so just a few quick thoughts. Avoid high protein supplements (unless in the context of a calorie-dense diet to combat excessive weight loss). Multivitamin supplementation is sometimes a good idea. Extra vitamin D is advisable for the elderly or those who may be 'cabin bound' either at home or in an institution. Certain vitamins are helpful in certain situations, e.g. folic acid, vitamin B12 (especially if you're on a vegan or very restricted veggie diet).

[I use a variety of dietary items such as adding milled flaxseed and wheat germ to my large bowl of oatmeal porridge which is my daily breakfast, along with a B complex vitamin, co-enzyme Q10, extra vit C powder in grapefruit juice and green tea (with, alas, large volumes of rocket fuel which I need to cut down). However, we're all very different and I'm a decidedly non-standard product so what I do is likely to be bizarre and not generalisable.]

"anticancer: a new way of life" book (and also superb video available free online on YouTube thanks to MD Anderson) by the late Dr. David Servan-Schreiber is excellent. I have a raft of books on human nutrition and dietetics, allergy, food intolerance etc etc but I suggest a good additional resource for you would be to contact NanoSecond (offline, perhaps) for his thoughts on diet, based on his use of Dr. Block's "Life over Cancer". I take precisely the same view as Nano on these issues.

NanoSecond

Texas_wedge said:

Supplements
Richard, I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment so just a few quick thoughts. Avoid high protein supplements (unless in the context of a calorie-dense diet to combat excessive weight loss). Multivitamin supplementation is sometimes a good idea. Extra vitamin D is advisable for the elderly or those who may be 'cabin bound' either at home or in an institution. Certain vitamins are helpful in certain situations, e.g. folic acid, vitamin B12 (especially if you're on a vegan or very restricted veggie diet).

[I use a variety of dietary items such as adding milled flaxseed and wheat germ to my large bowl of oatmeal porridge which is my daily breakfast, along with a B complex vitamin, co-enzyme Q10, extra vit C powder in grapefruit juice and green tea (with, alas, large volumes of rocket fuel which I need to cut down). However, we're all very different and I'm a decidedly non-standard product so what I do is likely to be bizarre and not generalisable.]

"anticancer: a new way of life" book (and also superb video available free online on YouTube thanks to MD Anderson) by the late Dr. David Servan-Schreiber is excellent. I have a raft of books on human nutrition and dietetics, allergy, food intolerance etc etc but I suggest a good additional resource for you would be to contact NanoSecond (offline, perhaps) for his thoughts on diet, based on his use of Dr. Block's "Life over Cancer". I take precisely the same view as Nano on these issues.

Diet comes first; Supplements next
Many thanks for the support, Texas!

Richard, please contact me offline (n.feldman@videopost.com) and I will send you a list of my diet and the supplements I am taking - but most importantly, I will try to show WHY. I don't like the idea of just listing things without understanding the reasoning that went into any of my decisions.

Your diet has to come first. Otherwise all the other supplements in the world are going to be mostly self-defeating. Your diet is your first level "chemo". I am not being facetious.

Aside from Dr. Servan-Schreiber's wonderful book you need to get your hands on "The China Study" and/or view the very well done documentary, "Forks Over Knives."

Then google search for the TED talk by Dr. William Li: "Can we eat to starve cancer?"

Finally, think this thing through. You may not like the idea that one needs to give up meat AND diary products (but not fish) in order to possibly succeed in this fight. But the solution to defeating something as "clever" as cancer is certainly going to be an Holistic one. It defies my comprehension that one would ONLY take a single targeted drug (in my case for example, it is currently Sutent) and then just wait around until it stops working. And then only to go on to the next one. Is there nothing more one can do to: help the drug work better; reduce the awful side effects; prevent new metastases; improve one's quality of life; ultimately go NED??

That is the basic question that I am trying to answer for myself. And I am happy to share what I have discovered so far.

ourfriendjohn

NanoSecond said:

Diet comes first; Supplements next
Many thanks for the support, Texas!

Richard, please contact me offline (n.feldman@videopost.com) and I will send you a list of my diet and the supplements I am taking - but most importantly, I will try to show WHY. I don't like the idea of just listing things without understanding the reasoning that went into any of my decisions.

Your diet has to come first. Otherwise all the other supplements in the world are going to be mostly self-defeating. Your diet is your first level "chemo". I am not being facetious.

Aside from Dr. Servan-Schreiber's wonderful book you need to get your hands on "The China Study" and/or view the very well done documentary, "Forks Over Knives."

Then google search for the TED talk by Dr. William Li: "Can we eat to starve cancer?"

Finally, think this thing through. You may not like the idea that one needs to give up meat AND diary products (but not fish) in order to possibly succeed in this fight. But the solution to defeating something as "clever" as cancer is certainly going to be an Holistic one. It defies my comprehension that one would ONLY take a single targeted drug (in my case for example, it is currently Sutent) and then just wait around until it stops working. And then only to go on to the next one. Is there nothing more one can do to: help the drug work better; reduce the awful side effects; prevent new metastases; improve one's quality of life; ultimately go NED??

That is the basic question that I am trying to answer for myself. And I am happy to share what I have discovered so far.

Best wishes on your surgery
Richard,

Welcome to the group. You just don't know how blessed you were to have found the mass. (Or perhaps you do.) Mine, a 17.5 cm whopper, was found during a routine physical. I had dismissed the mild back-ache I had when sitting or driving as just "too much windshield
time". Boy, was I wrong. One year and a right radical nephrectomy later I am doing great and have my second set of scans later this week. Try to get in some exercise between now and the surgery if you can. It helps.

I'm sure "Dr." Fox, our resident motorcycle therapist, will have comments on the healing powers of a Harley.

John

RichardB63

NanoSecond said:

Diet comes first; Supplements next
Many thanks for the support, Texas!

Richard, please contact me offline (n.feldman@videopost.com) and I will send you a list of my diet and the supplements I am taking - but most importantly, I will try to show WHY. I don't like the idea of just listing things without understanding the reasoning that went into any of my decisions.

Your diet has to come first. Otherwise all the other supplements in the world are going to be mostly self-defeating. Your diet is your first level "chemo". I am not being facetious.

Aside from Dr. Servan-Schreiber's wonderful book you need to get your hands on "The China Study" and/or view the very well done documentary, "Forks Over Knives."

Then google search for the TED talk by Dr. William Li: "Can we eat to starve cancer?"

Finally, think this thing through. You may not like the idea that one needs to give up meat AND diary products (but not fish) in order to possibly succeed in this fight. But the solution to defeating something as "clever" as cancer is certainly going to be an Holistic one. It defies my comprehension that one would ONLY take a single targeted drug (in my case for example, it is currently Sutent) and then just wait around until it stops working. And then only to go on to the next one. Is there nothing more one can do to: help the drug work better; reduce the awful side effects; prevent new metastases; improve one's quality of life; ultimately go NED??

That is the basic question that I am trying to answer for myself. And I am happy to share what I have discovered so far.

diet
Thanks Nano and Tex,I will contact you shortly. I have been doing a little research also. I have went pretty well to a 80 - 20 vegs to fruits, Cut out meats, dairies, sugar and processed foods. It will be good to see what is on your site :-) I believe you have to help your body give itself a fighting chance... Thanks Richard

NanoSecond

RichardB63 said:

diet
Thanks Nano and Tex,I will contact you shortly. I have been doing a little research also. I have went pretty well to a 80 - 20 vegs to fruits, Cut out meats, dairies, sugar and processed foods. It will be good to see what is on your site :-) I believe you have to help your body give itself a fighting chance... Thanks Richard

Diet
Hi Richard,

I have replied to you off line but I just saw this. You already have the basics well covered. Many people come around to giving up meat -- but don't understand that you have to give up all the diary products at the same time - or you don't get the cancer-fighting benefits suggested by The China Study.

The other stuff is essential as well: no sugar (alas no more alcohol or fruit drinks); the lowest amount of carbs - fruits are carbs (so favor the various colored berries and not citrus and eat them on an empty stomach).

It is the ratio of Omega-3's to Omega-6's that is essential. Plus no vegetable oils for cooking (except low heat like Coconut oil). If using Olive oil, only extra virgin pressed (with the least amount of refining)...

Add lots of mushrooms: Shiitake, Maiitake, and Reishi are favored.

There's a whole lot more, but you already seem to get it.

icemantoo

RichardB63 said:

diet
Thanks Nano and Tex,I will contact you shortly. I have been doing a little research also. I have went pretty well to a 80 - 20 vegs to fruits, Cut out meats, dairies, sugar and processed foods. It will be good to see what is on your site :-) I believe you have to help your body give itself a fighting chance... Thanks Richard

Prognosis
Richard,


As far as prognosis you should be doing fine. As for the diet try and follow it, but my motto is to try and follow it with moderation and a good steak every week is moderation.


Icemantoo

RichardB63

ourfriendjohn said:

Best wishes on your surgery
Richard,

Welcome to the group. You just don't know how blessed you were to have found the mass. (Or perhaps you do.) Mine, a 17.5 cm whopper, was found during a routine physical. I had dismissed the mild back-ache I had when sitting or driving as just "too much windshield
time". Boy, was I wrong. One year and a right radical nephrectomy later I am doing great and have my second set of scans later this week. Try to get in some exercise between now and the surgery if you can. It helps.

I'm sure "Dr." Fox, our resident motorcycle therapist, will have comments on the healing powers of a Harley.

John

Thanks
John,

Yes I realize how blessed I am for finding it early :-) Good luck on your second set of scans. I have been exercising daily, prepping for the surgery....

My Harley has always been my two wheel therapy (mostly mental before, but a little physical now) :-) I was determined to get a MRI after the lower back pain, when it went away I persisted because of the mid back pain. Insurance finally agreed after 2 months...

Thanks, Richard

RichardB63

ourfriendjohn said:

Best wishes on your surgery
Richard,

Welcome to the group. You just don't know how blessed you were to have found the mass. (Or perhaps you do.) Mine, a 17.5 cm whopper, was found during a routine physical. I had dismissed the mild back-ache I had when sitting or driving as just "too much windshield
time". Boy, was I wrong. One year and a right radical nephrectomy later I am doing great and have my second set of scans later this week. Try to get in some exercise between now and the surgery if you can. It helps.

I'm sure "Dr." Fox, our resident motorcycle therapist, will have comments on the healing powers of a Harley.

John

Thanks
John,

Yes I realize how blessed I am for finding it early :-) Good luck on your second set of scans. I have been exercising daily, prepping for the surgery....

My Harley has always been my two wheel therapy (mostly mental before, but a little physical now) :-) I was determined to get a MRI after the lower back pain, when it went away I persisted because of the mid back pain. Insurance finally agreed after 2 months...

Thanks, Richard

RichardB63

NanoSecond said:

Diet
Hi Richard,

I have replied to you off line but I just saw this. You already have the basics well covered. Many people come around to giving up meat -- but don't understand that you have to give up all the diary products at the same time - or you don't get the cancer-fighting benefits suggested by The China Study.

The other stuff is essential as well: no sugar (alas no more alcohol or fruit drinks); the lowest amount of carbs - fruits are carbs (so favor the various colored berries and not citrus and eat them on an empty stomach).

It is the ratio of Omega-3's to Omega-6's that is essential. Plus no vegetable oils for cooking (except low heat like Coconut oil). If using Olive oil, only extra virgin pressed (with the least amount of refining)...

Add lots of mushrooms: Shiitake, Maiitake, and Reishi are favored.

There's a whole lot more, but you already seem to get it.

Thanks
Thanks, that is a bunch of good info to digest.:-) I will be checking things out... I have worked pretty good on the diet, but still working on my discipline...

Richard

RichardB63

icemantoo said:

Prognosis
Richard,


As far as prognosis you should be doing fine. As for the diet try and follow it, but my motto is to try and follow it with moderation and a good steak every week is moderation.


Icemantoo

Thanks :-)
The diet isn't to bad yet :-).... I do like your moderation theory... I have been pretty disciplined for the last 6 weeks or so. The first couple of weeks I went way overboard. I have been sticking to it, but if I want something I usually will go ahead but try not to more than once a week, and small portions. The want for the steak hasn't hit me yet, but this is a long journey :-)


Thanks everyone, I love this site. Being able to see other people lives that are going thru the same thing is very helpful.... I was asked when I first found out, well you are still running hard :-) My reply was what do you want me do? Sit on the couch and cry? I do and have but I don't let it consume me :-)


Richard

Raine22

RichardB63 said:

Thanks :-)
The diet isn't to bad yet :-).... I do like your moderation theory... I have been pretty disciplined for the last 6 weeks or so. The first couple of weeks I went way overboard. I have been sticking to it, but if I want something I usually will go ahead but try not to more than once a week, and small portions. The want for the steak hasn't hit me yet, but this is a long journey :-)


Thanks everyone, I love this site. Being able to see other people lives that are going thru the same thing is very helpful.... I was asked when I first found out, well you are still running hard :-) My reply was what do you want me do? Sit on the couch and cry? I do and have but I don't let it consume me :-)


Richard

Houston Buddy
Richard, welcome to the board! Just wanted to say hello as I am being treated at MDA and had my surgery 3/28/12 and came home the afternoon of 3/30/12. T3a, Furhman grade 4. I am currently on the Votrient double-blind study, so I am at MDA on a regular basis. I am 49 yo female and upon learning my diagnosis, my life has turned completely upside down! I hope you enjoy your weekend in Galveston - the weather looks, beautiful! Keep us posted on your surgery - you will be in my prayers. Your neighbor, Lorraine

RichardB63

Raine22 said:

Houston Buddy
Richard, welcome to the board! Just wanted to say hello as I am being treated at MDA and had my surgery 3/28/12 and came home the afternoon of 3/30/12. T3a, Furhman grade 4. I am currently on the Votrient double-blind study, so I am at MDA on a regular basis. I am 49 yo female and upon learning my diagnosis, my life has turned completely upside down! I hope you enjoy your weekend in Galveston - the weather looks, beautiful! Keep us posted on your surgery - you will be in my prayers. Your neighbor, Lorraine

Hi neighbor
Yes I understand the upside down part...Keep your chin up :-) I live over in Laporte. Dr Christopher Wood is my Surgeon (do you know him)?? Two days and out, that was quick... The weather is warming up just in time for the rally, I sure look at things a little different. Things have been a blur here also. We do have one of the best hospitals I have ever been to, and I have been saying that way before becoming a patient :-). God bless you, and will be in my prayers also.
Great smile Lorraine
Your neighbor hope to see you down there, Keep smiling.

Richard

foxhd

RichardB63 said:

Hi neighbor
Yes I understand the upside down part...Keep your chin up :-) I live over in Laporte. Dr Christopher Wood is my Surgeon (do you know him)?? Two days and out, that was quick... The weather is warming up just in time for the rally, I sure look at things a little different. Things have been a blur here also. We do have one of the best hospitals I have ever been to, and I have been saying that way before becoming a patient :-). God bless you, and will be in my prayers also.
Great smile Lorraine
Your neighbor hope to see you down there, Keep smiling.

Richard

therapy
Get well quickly Richard. When I was able to get back on my bike for a short ride, my wife told me that I came home with a sh*t eating grin. Sure felt good.

RichardB63

foxhd said:

therapy
Get well quickly Richard. When I was able to get back on my bike for a short ride, my wife told me that I came home with a sh*t eating grin. Sure felt good.

Just took her for short spin
Yes I know, I always feel better after a ride :-) How long did it take you to get back on? My Dr. said 6 to 8 weeks before picking up 10 pounds... My main concern is my grand daughter she is around 20 :-) I guess I will have to have someone put her on my lap :-)

Richard

foxhd

RichardB63 said:

Just took her for short spin
Yes I know, I always feel better after a ride :-) How long did it take you to get back on? My Dr. said 6 to 8 weeks before picking up 10 pounds... My main concern is my grand daughter she is around 20 :-) I guess I will have to have someone put her on my lap :-)

Richard

ride
It was probably 3 weeks. I had a radical nephrectomy and my stomach area was pretty sore. I had to watch for tearing my incision and muscles. But I did enjoy my early rides as they were very therapeutic.

RichardB63

foxhd said:

ride
It was probably 3 weeks. I had a radical nephrectomy and my stomach area was pretty sore. I had to watch for tearing my incision and muscles. But I did enjoy my early rides as they were very therapeutic.

Ride
That's good to hear, I wasn't for sure how long it is taking people to get back to doing some things :-)

foxhd

RichardB63 said:

Ride
That's good to hear, I wasn't for sure how long it is taking people to get back to doing some things :-)

ride
I looked back at some earlier posts and saw that I was weight training, jogging and golfing in a month. At a lower intensity though.