Biopsy ahead on solitary kidney

Indysailor

Good evening everyone,

In March of 2014 I had my rt kidney removed with T3 transitional cell carcinoma in the renal pelvis.  I'm 57 year old male.  Dr's removed kidney, uretor, and cuff of bladder.  I now have an enhancing 1.2cm tumor in my left kidney.  I go in on 9/10 to have the biopsy and hope to be able to determine what the next right thing to do is.  I guess my question is about a nephrologist.  I am currently only seeing my urologist.  Are all of you with one kidney remaining (and problems there) working with a nephrologist too?  As others have posted - the waiting really weighs on my productivity and I am much more uneasy this time than last.  My best to you all....

jason.2835

I can imagine...

Indysailor,

I can certainly imagine that you'd be more apprehensive this time... My urologist is treating me like I donated a kidney because I'm only 36, so the hope is that if I take care of myself I will be able to live with one kidney for the rest of my days... But I would think that someone along the line will have you see a nephrologist at some point.  I always feel like, even though I was stage 1, I'd love a chance to talk to a nephrologist and RCC oncologist once just to pick their brains a little bit.  

- Jay

icemantoo

jason.2835 said:

I can imagine...

Indysailor,

I can certainly imagine that you'd be more apprehensive this time... My urologist is treating me like I donated a kidney because I'm only 36, so the hope is that if I take care of myself I will be able to live with one kidney for the rest of my days... But I would think that someone along the line will have you see a nephrologist at some point.  I always feel like, even though I was stage 1, I'd love a chance to talk to a nephrologist and RCC oncologist once just to pick their brains a little bit.  

- Jay

Nephrolgist

Indy,

Given your possable diagnosis of problems with the second kidney I would definately seek an opinion from a Nephrologist to discuss kidney function issues down the road. Perhaps you could even ask the Uro doctor for a referral. This is more of a different perspective than a second opinion.

 

 

Icemantoo

 

 

 

Jan4you

icemantoo said:

Nephrolgist

Indy,

Given your possable diagnosis of problems with the second kidney I would definately seek an opinion from a Nephrologist to discuss kidney function issues down the road. Perhaps you could even ask the Uro doctor for a referral. This is more of a different perspective than a second opinion.

 

 

Icemantoo

 

 

 

First of all, I am so sorry
First of all, I am so sorry you are going through this challenging time. ENUFF!!

Of course you are worried. But instead of seeing a nephrologist right now, your Oncologist/surgeon should be able to run tests for kidney function. And if you need surgery, I would think they could do a partial nephrectomy, correct?
Have they done a CT? I thought they usually do not do biopsies...well maybe since you have only one.
I had a radical nephrectomy and I am doing fine. Hang in there..its small and most likely very treatable.
Sending you a healing, comforting HUG anyway ok hon?
Jan

foroughsh

I had radical nephrectomy but

I had radical nephrectomy but my remained kidney is doing well, I asked both my urologist and oncologist to reffer me to a nephrologist but they both said it's not needed if the other kidney is doing the job, so all I do is to help my kidney by omitting salt from my foods, drinking a lot and reducing the amount of meat I eat to just once or twice a month.

Forough

Jojo61

foroughsh said:

I had radical nephrectomy but

I had radical nephrectomy but my remained kidney is doing well, I asked both my urologist and oncologist to reffer me to a nephrologist but they both said it's not needed if the other kidney is doing the job, so all I do is to help my kidney by omitting salt from my foods, drinking a lot and reducing the amount of meat I eat to just once or twice a month.

Forough

I am so sorry to hear about

I am so sorry to hear about your health challenges. We are here to support you along the way.

The advice you have already received in regard to this post is what I would have suggested as well.

Wishing you well.

Hugs

Jojo

Indysailor

Many thanks!

I wanted to thank everyone for your comments and I look forward to getting to know you all.  My biopsy is a CT assisted and I'm supposed to get results a couple days after the procedure.

I'll post my results and wish you all the very best.

Indysailor

Jan4you said:

First of all, I am so sorry
First of all, I am so sorry you are going through this challenging time. ENUFF!!

Of course you are worried. But instead of seeing a nephrologist right now, your Oncologist/surgeon should be able to run tests for kidney function. And if you need surgery, I would think they could do a partial nephrectomy, correct?
Have they done a CT? I thought they usually do not do biopsies...well maybe since you have only one.
I had a radical nephrectomy and I am doing fine. Hang in there..its small and most likely very treatable.
Sending you a healing, comforting HUG anyway ok hon?
Jan

Next step

The Urologist is talking about open partial right now because of the location of the tumor.  He has also mentioned ablation as a side note but it is not likely.  Too bad that my chemo for the transitional cell cancer didn't knock out this tumor too!  I was getting CT scans every 3 months for the first year after surgery.  Then I went 6 months once and found this new spot....GFR is 42 and creatinine runs 1.7 so not the best, but I was in the mid 2+ after surgery.   Thanks for the hug:)  Jim

icemantoo

Indysailor said:

Many thanks!

I wanted to thank everyone for your comments and I look forward to getting to know you all.  My biopsy is a CT assisted and I'm supposed to get results a couple days after the procedure.

I'll post my results and wish you all the very best.

Nephrologist

Indy,

 

After posting your GFR as 42 I would add a little more emphasis to my suggestion that you see a Nephrologist. More so to consult with your Urologist, than a second opinion. My GFR has strayed that low at times, but I am 15 years older than you and that factors into my GFR being lower than yours.

 

Icemantoo

 

Indysailor

Thanks Ice.  I'll ask

Thanks Ice.  I'll ask Urologist about Nephrologist as soon as biopsy has been completed.

I'm not really sure how or why my creatinine has stayed so high making my GFR low (I guess).

Enjoy the holiday!