Da Vinci

Cut it out
Cut it out Member Posts: 1
in Kidney Cancer #1
I was lifting something heavy at work and bam! Tremendous pain in my back followed. I went home and could not stand up. Never felt anything like it before. Like I had been shot in my lower back right side. Dr. sent me for and MRI and the rest is history. He said I am very lucky he found a tumor on my right kidney. I said, gee thanks, but I dont feel lucky. CT exam followed and Da Vinci surgery to remove a malignant 2.5 cm tumor 6 mo ago. Important, if you are getting this surgery get yourself a lazyboy chair. Getting up after laying down is an undertaking. Its weird because for two years, I have felt there was something wrong with me. I felt like I had a mild case of lock-jaw, I had irregular heart beat, dizzyness, swelling. I had an absess root that suddenly got really bad and had to be treated but seemed like it was never really fixed. Since my surgery I am feeling better, I still feel a little weak sometimes and now and then I get a pain near one of my scars. I dont think much of it because after all I had seven holes punched in my stomach. Surely there is some more healing taking place. CT scan next week. Pray.

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    You are very lucky
    Any one whose tumor was removed before it reches 4 cm is very lucky. The odds are that you can tell people you had cancer, not that you have it. The initiation to our club was not fun, but it beats the alternative. I have ordered up a NED for next week (No evidence of disease).Mine was 10 years ago and counting. Fay across the street is at 17 years and counting.

    My surgery was before the Da Vinci machine. One member has suggested that it was so long ago that Da Vinci himself did the surgery.


    Icemantoo
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #3
    Do good, CIO
    The 3 top pieces of advice given on this board is, 1) After surgery, drink plenty of water. 2) Walk. and 3) GET A RECLINER! Good luck with your scan. And even if your scan is perfect, make sure you have future scans scheduled. More than one person here has benefitted from follow up scans after they believed that they had been cured. Do well.
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #4
    Another lucky one...
    Cut it out,

    Welcome to the club that nobody wants to join. I wasn't feeling particularly lucky when they diagnosed my RCC in the ER following a motorcycle crash, but that was over three years ago and I've felt luckier every day since. There is no reason to believe that you will ever have to deal with anything related to this disease again other than follow-up scans for a few years, small price to pay. Now go out and buy those lotto tickets.

    Rock on,

    Gary
  • RichardB63
    RichardB63 Member Posts: 59
    #5
    Praying for Ned's
    Just curious was the pain associated with your back or kidney? I had pain for several months leading up to surgery, partial nephrectomy 2.3 cm on 11-6-12, the orthopedic Dr. didn't think it was the back and the Kidney Dr. said it wasn't the kidney. I haven't had it since the surgery (which is great).
    Just curious,
    Richard
  • RichardB63
    RichardB63 Member Posts: 59
    #6
    RichardB63 said:

    Praying for Ned's
    Just curious was the pain associated with your back or kidney? I had pain for several months leading up to surgery, partial nephrectomy 2.3 cm on 11-6-12, the orthopedic Dr. didn't think it was the back and the Kidney Dr. said it wasn't the kidney. I haven't had it since the surgery (which is great).
    Just curious,
    Richard

    Praying for Ned's
    The pain I had was a steady dull pain across the mid back, I went to physical therapy for a month which aggravated the pain more. Then I was sent for a MRI.
    Thanks
    Richard
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #7
    RichardB63 said:

    Praying for Ned's
    The pain I had was a steady dull pain across the mid back, I went to physical therapy for a month which aggravated the pain more. Then I was sent for a MRI.
    Thanks
    Richard

    A few more thoughts
    I agree with Garym that all cut it out will have to deal with in the future are scans related to this disease (kidney Cancer). However even though you may have conquered Kidney Cancer there are still Kidney Function issues to deal with in the long term. Watch your GFR readings and if they go below 60 request a referral to a Nephrologist. Once on Medicare you should not need a referral.

    With respect to Richard's back pain, I had similar back pain that went away after the surgery. The problem with his kidney doctor's answer is that he never had Kidney Cancer himself.

    Icemantoo
  • RichardB63
    RichardB63 Member Posts: 59
    #8
    icemantoo said:

    A few more thoughts
    I agree with Garym that all cut it out will have to deal with in the future are scans related to this disease (kidney Cancer). However even though you may have conquered Kidney Cancer there are still Kidney Function issues to deal with in the long term. Watch your GFR readings and if they go below 60 request a referral to a Nephrologist. Once on Medicare you should not need a referral.

    With respect to Richard's back pain, I had similar back pain that went away after the surgery. The problem with his kidney doctor's answer is that he never had Kidney Cancer himself.

    Icemantoo

    Thoughts
    Thanks Iceman,
    I was just curious,and will be watching my GFR as well.

    Richard

Discussion Boards