Also new to discussons
ultrasound yesterday showed a mass on right kidney, 4x9 4x8 4x6. Due for CT scan in the morning.The anxiety through all of this can be devastating. I am 64, no family history of kidney cancer. Dull ache in the side is what took me to the doctor last week. I am so glad I found this discussion group. The internet info is driving me insane.
Comments
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Still smallish
Cally,
Tumors under 4 cm rarely spread and are usually taken care of by surgery alone. Yours is only a fraction larger and absent anything else you should have an excellent prognosis. I was 59 years young when they removed my left kidney 14 years ago. It was 4.2 cm. We all felt devastated when we heard the words Kidney Cancer and they want to yank out your kidney right out of the gate. That too shall pass.
Icemantoo
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Thank you for sharing and
Thank you for sharing and giving some peace to this horrible time of waiting for the test and results. Tests are bad enough, but right now, before Christmas is hard to deal with. That is wonderful that you are doing well after your surgery and living everyday as we should. Thanks for your inspiration.
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Beware of the internet!
Hi Callyco, I'm still new here myself so I can't offer much but support, but also, do be careful of the internet as you can get a lot of misleading information from it. I know, once I found out I had tumor, I spent days on the internet and ended up a bigger mess than I already was. But while there are good sources for info, like the Kidney Foundation and this site, as I understand it, a lot of the stuff out there is just opinion or is out of date, so be cautious. Either way, best of luck to you!
Kevin
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Wow, internet made me crazy
Appreciate your comments. You are so right about the internet. I started to have a panic attack from all the stuff out there. I have to practice what I preach to others about one day at a time. Time waiting is hard. My sister has come home for Christmas and that's a big help to keep busy and not stay focused on the diagnosis. I will certainly post what the doctor says when the CT scan is ready.
Callyco
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CTs and such
CTs will help to get a better glimpse of what's going on with the mass showing up with your right kidney. The good news is, you had that side pain, because some folks don't find out until much later. Typically, these suckers grow slowly, whether tumors or cysts.
There's nothing tattooed across your forehead that says "Goner," although your thoughts may be racing in that direction. You'll get through this. After my first CT in April, I did a lot of consults and finally had my surgery last week (Due to varying opinions, and other complex stuff, not because the queue was that long or the red tape that sticky).
Keep us posted --
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One problem
i just lost my husband in March to Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma. Still grieving his loss, then to have this scare hit me has been a slam dunk. I am so glad to find this forum with others that have gone through these procedures and are doing great. They have wonderful testimonies. Reading so many of these have helped me relax a little before tomorrow's CT scan. I am truly grateful for any help and info I can get.
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Welcome Callyco
First of all, my condolences on the loss of your husband.
I'm also sorry that you're now finding yourself joining us. Rest assured though, we'll be here with you every step of the way.....if that's your wish of course.
Regarding your CT tomorrow, I hope they're doing it with and without contrast. My first one was done without & I had to go thru it a second time for the contrast. (Just an FYI) Although mine was a little smaller, my surgeon did a robotic laparoscopic procedure instead of an open procedure and only removed the mass & part of the kidney. Of course that is dependent on many factors such as location of the mass, other health issues, etc. Don't assume at this point that you'll lose the whole kidney because lots of us have had partial nephrectomies. And the good news is that you've caught it relatively early.
Please keep us posted & feel free to ask any questions as they come up. I'll be keeping you in my prayers,
Donna~
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Welcome
After your CT, things should move rather quickly. The CT scan will get a better look at the mass and provide your doctor with details as they prepare for removal. Your mass is still on the smallish side, but it is past the "let's wait and watch". I was diagnosed with a mass (5.3 cm at greatest dimension) the end of July and had a partial nephrectomy the end of August. In between now and your pending surgery, ask us questions you have, stay off the internet, and try to relax (harder said than done). You'll make it through this like a champ. Like others have said, you are part of a lucky group that caught this early. Prognosis is very good and the numbers are in your favor.
Blessings,
Stub
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Luv your name Callyco! So
Luv your name Callyco! So sorry for ALL you've had to endure and now this! I too am a widow.
Good news is that your tumor is small enough to be stage I which has a good rate of cure via surgery. And when you see your surgeon make sure they know how to do the robatic/ laproscopic kind of surgery. Its less invasive as the incisions are really small about an inch so the robatic "arms" can get inside to complete the surgery.
I also pick up the written report from the place you get the Scan usually its available in 1-3 days after your CT scan. Unless you don't want to know. But I found errors and was prepared to ask the surgeon more pertinent questions as he could explain and actually show me what my tumor looked like on the scan. I also had a cyst and he showed me the difference.
I am ok, going on 3 years now. You will be too. Do you have children or family to help you? I would strongly suggest you take someone with you at this upcoming appointment just in case you miss something he says and for extra support.
You WILL get through this.. but..while you wait, try to LIVE each and every moment and do not allow your mind to go into the future.Otherwise as you see, you can make yourself nuts worrying about things that may never, ever happen. See?
In the meantime, we're here for you, if you want us to be. You are not alone! We understand, we know and can answers most of your questions.
Sending you healing vibes, calmness and serenity!
Hugs, Jan
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Many thanks Jan
My sister is here for the holidays, which is a blessing. I hope she can still be here when I meet the surgeon and no telling how long it will take to get an appointment. I'll find someone to go with with me if she can't. It is very important to have another set of ears when you meet up with the doctors. Cause it's hard to understand what all doctors say. It takes us awhile to process what is going on.
After your surgery, did you go through chemo or what. What is the next step removal?
Callyco
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Usually the surgery takes
Usually the surgery takes care of the cancer. A partial surgery is when they remove just the tumor and surrounding tissues and leave the kidney. But in my case I had to have a "radical" which is when the total kidney is removed. Mine was due to the fact the tumor was near the blood supply.
Actually I never think of it till its my annual follow up. So no, chemo is isnt even necessary. Once the surgeon gets the pathology report and get a good look inside while doing the surgery, you have follow up check ups with CT scan alternating with Lung xray and labs .
For most of us, esp stage I (under 7cm) we are NED ( no evidence of disease) after surgery, but will continue follow ups for several years to make sure. It will be nothing like what you went through with your hubby=RIP.
I think Stage I has a 95% survival rating.
Hugs, jan
Ask as many questions as you need or use the direct messaging (email) section under upper left of these pages called "CSN EMAIL" Okay?
Hugs, Jan
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After the surgery...Callyco said:Many thanks Jan
My sister is here for the holidays, which is a blessing. I hope she can still be here when I meet the surgeon and no telling how long it will take to get an appointment. I'll find someone to go with with me if she can't. It is very important to have another set of ears when you meet up with the doctors. Cause it's hard to understand what all doctors say. It takes us awhile to process what is going on.
After your surgery, did you go through chemo or what. What is the next step removal?
Callyco
After the surgery, typically the treatment is to monitor and be vigilant via CT or MRI scans, sometimes Ultrasounds.
Generally (but not exclusively) it's the larger tumors that have cells that have gone on walkabout and these are followed up with chemo (and sometimes more surgery). Or, that cells don't come out of hiding for years. Again, these are generalities, and RCC treatments and prognoses are improving as each year goes by. Not to mention, there's always a slight chance that a kidney mass is not malignant. Since biopsies tend not to be done, this you get to find out post-surgery when you get the report from the pathologist.
I'm not very well versed on the sort of cancer your husband had, but from what little I know, renal cell carcinoma is so very different from that. So sorry for your loss. I'm a little ahead of you in being widowed, by about 18 months. RCC moves slower, which is probably the sort of timeline speed I need right now, anyway.
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hang in there, Callyco
hi there - first, i am sorry to hear of your loss..and your current situation
your situation sounds similar to mine in the dimensions...like Jan4you, I had to have the entire kidney removed due to its location...it was stage 1 and i have been NED since...and, in an odd way, i am happy to have annual scans that help me know i am clean...
tough time of year for this but you will get through this...just take time post surgery to recover...i felt great the week after so...i went into the office...only to fall asleep at my desk!!..so take your time and be good to yourself!
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Welcome, Callyco! So sorry to
Welcome, Callyco! So sorry to hear about the loss of your husband....and now you have to face this new situation.
We are here for you! You already got great advice....all I have to add is that we are here for you whenever you need us!
Hugs
Jojo
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CompanyCallyco said:Many thanks Jan
My sister is here for the holidays, which is a blessing. I hope she can still be here when I meet the surgeon and no telling how long it will take to get an appointment. I'll find someone to go with with me if she can't. It is very important to have another set of ears when you meet up with the doctors. Cause it's hard to understand what all doctors say. It takes us awhile to process what is going on.
After your surgery, did you go through chemo or what. What is the next step removal?
Callyco
If you can always take somone with you to these apointments. When I first heard the word 'Cancer' I heard nothing else in the interview. It was only my wife who told me what wassaid at the end of the interview.
I find this often happens when I get given too much information, so I always contrive to have someone there with me.
Welcome to the club, sorry you had to be here. but Merry Christmas and good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine.
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Completely agree, I can onlyFootstomper said:Company
If you can always take somone with you to these apointments. When I first heard the word 'Cancer' I heard nothing else in the interview. It was only my wife who told me what wassaid at the end of the interview.
I find this often happens when I get given too much information, so I always contrive to have someone there with me.
Welcome to the club, sorry you had to be here. but Merry Christmas and good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Completely agree, I can only recall 60% of what the doctor told me after the appointment...
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