Curative Surgery

jroby55
jroby55 Member Posts: 40
in Kidney Cancer #1

I am a bit confused by the verbiage my doctor uses. He uses the term curative quite a bit and he said that following the pathology report there is an 87% chance of the surgery being curative (I had a radical nephrectomy). Does that mean there is an 87% chance I will not have mets down the road? What about secondary cancers? It's all a little confusing I guess! Thanks!

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    My guess

    jroby,

     

     

    Sounds like a small to very small chace of mets down the road. From reading these posts for many years we probaly have the same chance as non members of getting other cancers.

     

     

    icemantoo

  • jroby55
    jroby55 Member Posts: 40
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    My guess

    jroby,

     

     

    Sounds like a small to very small chace of mets down the road. From reading these posts for many years we probaly have the same chance as non members of getting other cancers.

     

     

    icemantoo

    Thank you!

    Thank you Iceman! I sure am hoping so for all of us!

  • Dominick0711
    Dominick0711 Member Posts: 99 Member
    #4
    I was confused about the same

    I was confused about the same thing. My doc said 95%, even 98% once but then you see all the cases of mets that pop up later and it is scary. I think the bottom line message is, like icemantoo said, our likelihood is high that surgery can be curative when this is found before the cancer metastisizes but following your scan schedule and staying vigilant is important because in some instances it pops up and early detection is key to treatment going further if it does recur or metastisize after surgery, however unlikely that may be based on tumor size, type etc.

    Just something I found helpful, posting your medical history can help people on here address your questions as there are so many different scenarios dependent on your medical history.

  • jroby55
    jroby55 Member Posts: 40
    #5
    Dominick0711 said:

    I was confused about the same

    I was confused about the same thing. My doc said 95%, even 98% once but then you see all the cases of mets that pop up later and it is scary. I think the bottom line message is, like icemantoo said, our likelihood is high that surgery can be curative when this is found before the cancer metastisizes but following your scan schedule and staying vigilant is important because in some instances it pops up and early detection is key to treatment going further if it does recur or metastisize after surgery, however unlikely that may be based on tumor size, type etc.

    Just something I found helpful, posting your medical history can help people on here address your questions as there are so many different scenarios dependent on your medical history.

    Thanks Dominick, That is an

    Thanks Dominick, That is an awesome scenario your doc suggested for you! Heree is what my specific pathology report said:

    RCC Clear Cell Type

    ISUP Grade 2

    Pt1b (stage)

    Unifocal

    Sarcomatoid features: Not Identified

    Rabdoid features: Not identified

    Necrosis: Not Identified

    Size: 6.5cm (limited to kidney) clear margins

  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #6
    My Take

    I always looked at it this way 100 people get rrc 87 of them never get it again 13 of them do those are very good odds

  • Dominick0711
    Dominick0711 Member Posts: 99 Member
    #7
    Sounds like a very good

    Sounds like a very good prognosis for you jroby based on what I have learned to date about RCC.  Grade 2 without sarcomatoid features means low likelihood of recurrence.  When they catch it before it finds its way out surgery is most often curative.  I wish you a lifetime of good health and a cancer free future!  

  • jroby55
    jroby55 Member Posts: 40
    #8
    Dominick0711 said:

    Sounds like a very good

    Sounds like a very good prognosis for you jroby based on what I have learned to date about RCC.  Grade 2 without sarcomatoid features means low likelihood of recurrence.  When they catch it before it finds its way out surgery is most often curative.  I wish you a lifetime of good health and a cancer free future!  

    Thanks Dominick! The

    Thanks Dominick! The sarcamatoid features are what makes it more aggressive, correct? I was confused when I first read it and it said "not identified" I thought that meant they did not look for that but my urologist said that they did not find that feature. 

     

    I wish you a lifetime of good health and freedom from cancer as well! 

  • Dominick0711
    Dominick0711 Member Posts: 99 Member
    #9
    jroby55 said:

    Thanks Dominick! The

    Thanks Dominick! The sarcamatoid features are what makes it more aggressive, correct? I was confused when I first read it and it said "not identified" I thought that meant they did not look for that but my urologist said that they did not find that feature. 

     

    I wish you a lifetime of good health and freedom from cancer as well! 

    Yes not identified definitely

    Yes not identified definitely means the tumor did not contain those features. 

  • Manufred
    Manufred Member Posts: 241 Member
    #10
    Risk Low but not Zero

    Your prognosis does seem very good, so hope for the best.  But remain vigilant and commit to a decent follow-up regime.

    Unfortunately they are talking about risk, not anything absolute.  There is no definitive way of knowing if metastasis occurred before they got it out of you, and it can take a while for mets to show up if it did happen.  Don't stress and enjoy life, but don't skip any scans.

    Best Wishes, Fred.

  • jroby55
    jroby55 Member Posts: 40
    #11
    Dominick0711 said:

    Yes not identified definitely

    Yes not identified definitely means the tumor did not contain those features. 

    Awesome! Thank you!

    Awesome! Thank you!

  • jroby55
    jroby55 Member Posts: 40
    #12
    Manufred said:

    Risk Low but not Zero

    Your prognosis does seem very good, so hope for the best.  But remain vigilant and commit to a decent follow-up regime.

    Unfortunately they are talking about risk, not anything absolute.  There is no definitive way of knowing if metastasis occurred before they got it out of you, and it can take a while for mets to show up if it did happen.  Don't stress and enjoy life, but don't skip any scans.

    Best Wishes, Fred.

    Very true Manufred... Thank

    Very true Manufred... Thank you for your sharing! Best wishes to you too!

  • Mighty Frog
    Mighty Frog Member Posts: 152 Member
    #13
    Totally agreed with Manufred

    As far as i know, there is no cure (very sorry to said this). Always be vigilant and adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

  • Tapman63
    Tapman63 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #14
    Same here

    The word "curative" was usded by my doctors as well.  I sure hope for that, but I can't say that 13% doesn't lurk in the back of my head....oh....every single day.  And, from being on this forum for a while - I know that's normal.  So, let's hope our doctors were correct and we'll be here to try to help other folks for years to come!

    Jim

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