First my right boob, then my right kidney....
Just when you think life couldn't get any more surreal in 2016, I was diagnosed in June with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage IIB, Grade 3 cancer cells and lymph node involvement to boot. During snowball of further testings (MRIs, ultrasounds and a full body PET scan woo hoo!), a 6.3 cm suspicious mass was located in my right kidney. I then had a CT scan for a closer look and met with a urologist who confirmed it was a solid mass that in his estimation had a 95% chance of being renal cell carcinoma. Even if it fell within the 5% chance of being something else, removal was necessary given the size.
At this point, I had already begun my 20 week chemo regimen for the breast cancer and removal of the kidney would have to wait until that was done and my mastectomy was done & healed. I had my mastectomy with tissue expander placements on 12/09 and am healing up nicely (though pain management has not been a breeze by any means).
My laparascopic kidney removal is scheduled for 1/11 and I was supposed to have a CT scan just to check on things yesterday. I have a contrast dye allergy that the scheduler apparently missed so after showing up for CT scan yesterday, we learned we couldn't have it done and would need to reschedule so I could be pre-treated with prednisone to prevent allergic reaction. I've been on def con level 5 anxiety about this scan...worrying the mass has grown or, even worse, spread outside the kidney itself. I've been told time and again that these kidney things are slow to grow...but I still worry. EDITED TO ADD: CT Scan has been rescheduled for this coming Friday but I may not know results until appointment with urologist next Tuesday.
Would appreciate some positive vibes...and maybe to connect with someone else who is dealing with 2 separate forms of cancer simultaneously.
I am also supposed to start radiation on the right breast & axillary lymph nodes after healing from kidney surgery but am having major second thoughts given potential side effects of radiation...that and the fact I've felt as if I've been through hell and back in treatment already. Chemo was no picnic and these tissue expanders are painful- I won't be able to get them out and exchanged for presumably more comfortable implants until radiation is done & after 3 months of healing after that.
For those of you who've had radical robotic laparoscopic kidney removal surgery, any tips/advice/words of wisdom???
Comments
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Words of Wisdom
As far as the radical laproscopic kidney removal, been there, done that back in 2002, Not a pleasent experience, but it beats te alternative. It is major abdominalsurgery and the recovery without other issues took me at a then 59 years young 6 weeks to get back to a slow normal. The first week after being nephed was a bit tough. Where loose sweats for the first few weeks. I wish I could say it was painless, but I would get laughed off this forum.
Icemantoo
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Sufficient for the day are
Sufficient for the day are the evils thereof. That might be king James, or I might have mangled it, but you know what I mean (hopefully). Anyway someone certainly seems to have it in for you.
1/ Dont Panic. Impossible to do, but try anyway.
2/ Radiation after you've recovered from having your kidney removed? Forget about it for now. It wont happen in January. I'd be surprised if it happens in February. It may be a little excitement to liven up a dull Lent or Easter. I confess Radiation sounds a bit odd. Neverthe less forget about it for now
3/ Tumour doesnt sound very big (mine was 10cm) and these guys are experts they know what they're doing.
4/Pain. Different for everyone I guess. I woke up to find a drip feed of morphine going into my vein. Which was nice. But you know, its major surgery. Your pain will lessen daily over the first week and continue to do so. Its not pleasant, but it IS manageable. If you have decent or funny hallucinations let us know
You're in safe hands. Trust the professionals and make sure there are no other allergies sneaking through the net.
Keep calm and good luck
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Well glad you found us,
Well glad you found us, Pepper! But dang.. ENUFF!!
The size under 7cm is usually considered Stage I. AND there are folks here who have had a much bigger size tumor and are doing fine. Yes, RCC is usually slow growing unlike other cancers. My brother in law had his removed 20 years ago, and fully involved his kidney.. he's still here, healtheir than ever and needed no other treatments but surgery.
But I hear your concerns and fears.. so I am sending you a calming hug and HOPE in your heart!
Most surgeries now are done laproscopically via robatic, so make sure your surgeon is trained in that method. Even if whole kidney is removed (radical) they have a way to "bag it" inside and put it out from an incision about 3-4 inches. Most incisions are very small (about 1 inch) to get the robatic arms through.
Ask any questions you like, we're here for you and will walk this journey along side you! YOu can DM me in the email section of this site.
Hugs, Jan
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Hi Pepper!
I'm very sorry to hear this is happening to you. You've come to the right place for support. I don't have a boob so I can't relate to you on that, but I can on the kidney - I had the other one removed a couple of months ago. You'll be glad it's being done laparoscopically - less and smaller incisions by the surgeon - but as others have mentioned, the pain afterwards is substantial, but that will pass.
There was a slight delay between diagnosis and kidney surgey and I too was worried that it would spread, but the doctor assured me that wouldn't happen - he told me it takes years for these things to grow in the first place, but I understand the anxiety. That's only natural, and sounds like you have enough to worry about.
But I hope you find the help you are looking for. I've only been on this board about a week as my cancer did spread, and I found a lot of help here, and a lot of good support. I'm sure there are people here dealing with two cancers at once who can probably give you some tips. Hang in there!
Kevin
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Pepper
I had the full nephrecotomy so I can't address the laproscopic surgery but I can tell. Kidney cancer can take and ususally takes a while to develop so you should be fine on your timeline. As for radiation I have had enough to light up the city of Portland by this point and other than fatigue I really never had any issues with radiation, my sister in law did have some burning of muscle tissue which is possible but so far I have had nothing like that. The buring is compared that of a bad sun burn and usually goes away. I wish you the best with you journey I can't imagine what you are going through having two different cancers, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mark
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For clarification, radiation is for my breast and lymph nodes
They need to get this started within 8 weeks of mastectomy so it will be a rush to start the rads on my upper area- if I decide to go through with it. I am torn based on potential side effects, risks vs. rewards. I'll be talking more at length with my MO about it once surgery is done but I'm strongly leaning against going through rads. She may convince me otherwise but the thought of going daily for rads treatments for weeks as I recover from kidney surgery AND deal with pain of expanding tissue expanders (these things HURT!) sound about as pleasant as diving into ice cold water and staying there until I'm hypothermic. The PET scan that revealed kidney mass was on 6/15.
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Welcome Pepper! So sorry to
Welcome Pepper! So sorry to hear about your health situation. You have a lot on your plate!
The laprascopic nephrectomy is uncomfortable, yes. But most people are surprised at how they feel afterwards. It often isn't as bad as they expected. I was doing laundry five days later (not recommended but I just wanted to illustrate the outcome). But yes, talk to your doctor a bit further regarding your qualms.
Wishing you all the best! Please keep us posted!
Hugs
Jojo
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I get it
Hi, Pepper. Welcome to this site. I know you will find as much encouragement, care, and advice as I have here. The people on this site are very special and will help in many ways.
Let me tell you I "kinda" get what you are going through. Although I don't have breast cancer, I did have a second primary cancer found when they were going through the pre-op scans for kidney surgery. It certainly knocks you for a loop. From your profile picture you look like an active and healthy young lady, so these diagnosis just don't match with what healthy people should face...right?? This was the question I wrestled with after my initial diagnosis and the one that kicked my butt after the second primary was found. I suppose I'm still in a level of denial that I had cancer--not one, but two. Day by day I'm coming to terms with it, but it takes time.
Take care and good luck with your radiation. Keep us posted on your scans and pending surgery.
Blessings--Stub
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Can relate a little bit
Hi Pepper, I am so sorry you are having a double dose of bad news. I also have dealt with breast cancer and kidney cancer, but my diagnoses were years apart, so I am not sure how much I can relate. I had a radical nephrectomy at the end of August and my tumor was large (20cm). It was RCC and both of my urologist and oncologist both assure me that that monster had been in me slowly growing for years. I wouldn't worry about the rate of growth. The radiation treatments were manageable for me, but I didn't have tissue expanders. I had a lumpectomy, my breast cancer was stage IIIa. The radiation was not as bad as the chemo, I had one spot that got burned a bit, but they have wonderful ointments that help. I would be open to discuss all of this with your doctors as suggested above. My prayers are with you, you can beat this! God bless you.
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I was never symptomatic for
the Kidney cancer, the site of the original RCC. But the year prior to the Dx, I was having problems with (I thought) my gall bladder, so I offhandly made a comment to my new internist that spring of 2006. He ordered an US, and away we went. Large mass in R. kidney, one or maybe 2 in liver and spots in various places. Speed thru more types of tests and consults, and in a major abdominal opening, 2 different surgical oncology specialists removed the R. kidney, set of nodes behind it with 2 of 11 positive, left lobe of liver, lots of wedges from right lobe that were negative, and a congenitally defective gall bladder and bile duct. Two subsequent recurrences, that were not detectable during the original surgery, were both removed with 4" abdominal surgeries. Added to the original scar, I have a line that runs from my bikini line up and to the right side between the first 2 attached lower ribs, a total of about 14 ". After 10 1/2 years, they are all healed, mildly itchy when I sweat heavily or don't turn the water cooler after showering. The worst is the separated rib muscles can go into spasm and give me a very stiff neck.
I haven't had a second cancer, as you are dealing with; but have had several scares because of regular follow up testing on the RCC, as they found enlarged nodes in my thyroid and "???" on mammograms. Multiple tests and recalls ended with a "just come back next year."
I have no advice for you at this point, as you have good consult and Dr's working with you. But I can tell you that you are now a survivor! So make up your mind that you are going to live and survive for many more years to come and live your life accordingly. Enjoy Life.
Hugs,
donna_lee
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It really sucks to be
It really sucks to be diagnosed with kidney cancer after all you've been through. No advice or suggestions just a big hug and the best wishes for an uneventful, boring surgery and recovery. Mine was a partial but open and still I was home 2 days later and working at my computer the 4th day. Not a pleasant experience but way better than my fears made it out to be prior to it. All the best to you!
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Hi Pepper, try to draw
from the strenght of your young age and remain positive. I know it sounds easy and I know it's not. We here have all felt overwhelmed at some point each in his or her our own history with this desease. Brighter days will come. Wishing you all the best.
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Pepper
Pepper
I'm very sorry for all you're going through, it is not easy to emotionally deal with cancer news. But let's find good news, breast cancer is one of most treatable cancers, I personally know many ones who are breast cancer survivors for so long. The treatment isn't walk in the park but the goal is reachable. Kidney cancer is also a good one specially once the tumor is not spread yet. A surgery is all it takes to get rid of it with more than 90℅ of being cured for the rest of your life. Even if it's not confined there were no better time than now to have kidney cancer as there are many drugs and treatment options which none of them were accessable seven or eight years ago.
RSS is normally slow growing so don't get upset for one week sooner or later. I had a 10 cm tumor and I'm NED since the surgery 29 months ago. I had open radical nephrectomy and as a 36 year old athletic girl I had a rough night then things got better daily. I had a one week trip on fourth week post my surgery and my friend whom I spent the week with couldn't believe I had surgery three weeks earlier. Every one is different but be sure it's managable. Take a deep breath and trust your medical team.
Wish you all the best
Forough
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Kidney Out!
Expeliamus ite Rhenus!
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Great Newspepper43 said:GREAT NEWS! My mass has not
GREAT NEWS! My mass has not grown or metastasized!!! Removal set for next Wednesday. Send good healing vibes!
That is great news you have earned it. Glad they are moving quickly to get this taken care of, thougts and prayers are with you.
Mark
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