Stage 4 Kidney Cancer- Cured by Surgery Alone?

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Comments

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    maxidvd53 said:

    Question and answers

    Hi and thanks for your reply. I'm just having a hard with the idea that the surgery could be the only cure.             David...

    Patience

    From my reading, with tumors of that size and grade, the prognosis is really pretty good that this is the only treatment you'll need.

    The KEY issue, as I see it, is to remain vigilant with follow ups.  In fact, be aggressive about follow ups! You be the motivating factor in getting checkups and scans.

    Congratulations on a successful surgery and a good prognosis!

    Michael

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    maxidvd53 said:

    Question and answers

    Hi and thanks for your reply. I'm just having a hard with the idea that the surgery could be the only cure.             David...

    The cure...

    Hi David,

    In the early stages RCC is slow growing and very content to stay in its own little world until it eventually outgrows its space and branches out, prior to that it just isn't anywhere else.  At 2.2cm yours was caught very, very early and the likelyhood that the surgery got it all (cured you) is very high.  If it were more advanced and the possibility of spreading were higher there are therapies available, but why put yourself and your body through it if unnecessary?  Just be vigilent, in the unlikely event that it returns you'll catch it early again and by then we may have an actual cure that doesn't require cutting.  Mine was 4.2cm and its been over 3 1/2 years, I'm planning on stretching that to 30 or so.

    Hang in there,

    Gary

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    foxhd said:

    tough call

    Just as another bit of info, I had my nephrectomy 3/11 with no treatment because of good scans. Then by 10/11, I had at least 20 mets! They sprung up faster than a field of dandelions. My advice will be to keep up with scans and blood work. I also promote learning about clinical trials prior to needing further treatment. Immunotherapy is the magic bullet. As of this writing, I've had almost all tumors disappear except 2-3 in my bones which appear stable. And as we know, stable is very acceptable. My cancer is more of a chronic disease which we are managing with nivolumab (mdx-1106).

    Agreed

    Yes to what da Harley Man said..  I too had clear scans for most of a year.. then bingo..!  Mets in both lungs and on my one Adrenal Gland..   On Votrient now, will find out in about 7 weeks THAT it is working...

    Be Well...

    Ron