Cryoablation and Open Partial Nephrectomy

ACS1957
ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hello all,

I was diagnosed with RCC about 9 months ago, and with the advice of my urologist had cryoablation done. I am 59 and healthy. All went well. On my second CT scan (6 months after the procedure) an anomoly showed up, so my urologist sent me to the head urologist at the univerisity medical center. The issue my first urologist was worried about is normal according to him, but he noted live cancer still in the kidney and recommended a partial nehprectomy. Hence I am now having another biopsy (although my new urologist said it was not really needed, as the RCC clearly showed up in the CT scan) and will have an open partial nephrectomy done on June 9. My new urologist said that because of the cryo procedure I had done, lapariscopic was not an option, due to the scar tissue. My advice for others looking is to ensure you have all your options, and maybe more importantly seek a second opinion. If I had I would probably not be facing this a second time, and could have had a much easier partial nephrectomy done laparscopically. But hey, the second time is always a charm right?

 

Dave

 

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Not fair. Once is a neph.

    Dave,

    Whether or not the second opinion would have changed things a year ago is an uncertain question. At least you are higher up on the food chain that things should come off better. When I was nephed almost 15 yeas ago (also at age 59) it was all or nothing. Now depending on the doctor they seem to favor these kidney saving thechniques. It is still small enough for an excellent prognosis. Perhaps a few years from now they will go back to the old way except where other kidney issues preclude that. May you otherwise have an uneventful surgery.

     

    Icemantoo

     

  • Abunai
    Abunai Member Posts: 173 Member
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Not fair. Once is a neph.

    Dave,

    Whether or not the second opinion would have changed things a year ago is an uncertain question. At least you are higher up on the food chain that things should come off better. When I was nephed almost 15 yeas ago (also at age 59) it was all or nothing. Now depending on the doctor they seem to favor these kidney saving thechniques. It is still small enough for an excellent prognosis. Perhaps a few years from now they will go back to the old way except where other kidney issues preclude that. May you otherwise have an uneventful surgery.

     

    Icemantoo

     

    I see what you did there

    once is a neph

    You crack me up sometimes Ice.

    ACS, thanks for the heads-up. I have heard, though, that the latest open neph surgeries don't have a WHOLE lot more pain or recovery times than laparoscopic neph surgeries.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #4
    I have posted this often but

    I have posted this often but here it goes again. I had open partial on a Monday morning and up walking by that evening. I was home by Wednesday afternoon and sitting at my computer doing work from home Thursday morning. I walked up the stairs and slept in my own bed, and honestly, if a lap surgery has easier recovery then I figure I would have been an outpatient, lol. No, it wasn't a picnic and I wouldn't want to do it again but it was nowhere near as bad as I had feared.

    All the best to you and hope your recovery is as easy as mine was. The month before surgery I really upped the walking on the treadmill and I'm convinced it helped in recovering. Try to do as much walking before as possible to build up strength.

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    #5
    Why the biopsy if you are

    Why the biopsy if you are having it removed? Most doctors won't biopsy renal masses.

  • ACS1957
    ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
    #6
    icemantoo said:

    Not fair. Once is a neph.

    Dave,

    Whether or not the second opinion would have changed things a year ago is an uncertain question. At least you are higher up on the food chain that things should come off better. When I was nephed almost 15 yeas ago (also at age 59) it was all or nothing. Now depending on the doctor they seem to favor these kidney saving thechniques. It is still small enough for an excellent prognosis. Perhaps a few years from now they will go back to the old way except where other kidney issues preclude that. May you otherwise have an uneventful surgery.

     

    Icemantoo

     

    Not fair. Once is a neph.

    Ice,

    Thank you. My dad (83) was also with RCC and his doctor did a radical nehrectomy and sent him home the next day. At about 3 weeks he was back at the casinos and looking healthier that I remember seeing him in a long time. Now, just to get the second biopsy behind me.

     

  • ACS1957
    ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
    #7
    APny said:

    I have posted this often but

    I have posted this often but here it goes again. I had open partial on a Monday morning and up walking by that evening. I was home by Wednesday afternoon and sitting at my computer doing work from home Thursday morning. I walked up the stairs and slept in my own bed, and honestly, if a lap surgery has easier recovery then I figure I would have been an outpatient, lol. No, it wasn't a picnic and I wouldn't want to do it again but it was nowhere near as bad as I had feared.

    All the best to you and hope your recovery is as easy as mine was. The month before surgery I really upped the walking on the treadmill and I'm convinced it helped in recovering. Try to do as much walking before as possible to build up strength.

    I have posted this often but

    Thank you for the tip. I plan to up my walking, just with degenerative disc disease too much starts up the sciatic nerves issues.

  • ACS1957
    ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2017 #8
    Kat23502 said:

    Why the biopsy if you are

    Why the biopsy if you are having it removed? Most doctors won't biopsy renal masses.

    biopsy

    The dr will not be taking the complete kidney. Since I has cryo done, I believe he's thinking the IVR may come back with something better. He initially said it wasn't necessary, but by the time we got done talking, had decided to go ahead and have one done.

     

  • ACS1957
    ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
    #9
    Abunai said:

    I see what you did there

    once is a neph

    You crack me up sometimes Ice.

    ACS, thanks for the heads-up. I have heard, though, that the latest open neph surgeries don't have a WHOLE lot more pain or recovery times than laparoscopic neph surgeries.

    Open neph recovery

    Hey, I like your update on open neph recovery times. My dad went home the day after a radical laparascopic nephrectomy. And 3 weeks later was back at the casinos having a blast. And looks healthier than I have seen him in a long time.

  • ACS1957
    ACS1957 Member Posts: 12
    edited May 2017 #10
    Update on pathology report

    Just received my pathology report, confirming what I already knew, RCC Clear cell type Fuhrman Grade 2. So surgery is on for 9 June. Appreciate all the good words you've shared about recovery times! 

  • DreamOnDeb
    DreamOnDeb Member Posts: 112
    #11
    Hi ACS.....can you share with

    Hi ACS.....can you share with us the reason they wanted to do the cryoablation?  My husband and I read about this and thought about whether it would be an option.  We're not quite certain how we feel about it though.  

  • Hecktothej70
    Hecktothej70 Member Posts: 2
    #12
    Good luck!

    I'm new to all of this, diagnosed renal cancer on tues, meet cancercare Wed to learn exactly what i am doing, etc. Being your close to surgery daye, I wish you the best!! I am more afraid of recovery then I am cancer at the moment! 

     

     

     

  • Hecktothej70
    Hecktothej70 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2017 #13
    DreamOnDeb said:

    Hi ACS.....can you share with

    Hi ACS.....can you share with us the reason they wanted to do the cryoablation?  My husband and I read about this and thought about whether it would be an option.  We're not quite certain how we feel about it though.  

    Diagnosed

    Hi , was your husband recently diagnose?

  • LeslieVail
    LeslieVail Member Posts: 4
    #14
    Abunai said:

    I see what you did there

    once is a neph

    You crack me up sometimes Ice.

    ACS, thanks for the heads-up. I have heard, though, that the latest open neph surgeries don't have a WHOLE lot more pain or recovery times than laparoscopic neph surgeries.

    open neph vs endo

    hi,

    i've had both and i'm here to tell you that the open neph was gobs more painful, with more risk for complications. If you have a choice, go endo.

    leslie

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    edited May 2017 #15
    LeslieVail said:

    open neph vs endo

    hi,

    i've had both and i'm here to tell you that the open neph was gobs more painful, with more risk for complications. If you have a choice, go endo.

    leslie

    Confused

    Leslie,

    An endo usually refers to an outpatient prcedure lookin at your stomach thru a scope while a neph is major surgery to remoe your kidney Like apples and oranges unless you were confusing an endo with a cyro.

     

     

    Icemantoo

Discussion Boards