Robotic partial nephrectomy

Seanjg

Hi all

Quick update - I am booked in for a robotic partial nephrectomy on Saturday week. Glad I got in quick. My surgeon is a rock star and made me feel really comfortable. Ive got great support from my family and i am really grateful that I found this forum. I guess im really worried that the tumour will be malignant and of a high grade and the chance of recurrence that high grade brings with it. In short, i am scared. I know I am lucky that this tumour was found early. Anyway, let's cut this dark thing out!!

Bay Area Guy

Glad you were able to get

Glad you were able to get some answers and seem more positive.  While the surgery isn't fun (as my Dad used to say, the only minor operation is on someone else), it's not as uncomfortable as an open.  You'll do great.

icemantoo

You will be fine

It took me almost 11 months to water-ski after my Neph.

 

 

 

icemantoo

eug91

awesome

Even if it does turn out to be malignant and high grade, you'll have it out of your body! Plus you'll have an action plan to monitor your health, so that if it does ever show up again, you'll kick its butt a second time. 

You're gonna do great! We're with ya! 

misterace

You are doing all you can

Do not worry about the pathology report right now, just focus on getting your body & mind right for the surgery. 

Prior to my surgery, my doctor was also concerned that my tumor could have been an aggressive very high grade cancer because of its irregular shape, and that it had invaded the fat/sinus of the kidney based on imaging making it a stage 3 cancer. I spent a lot of time worried about this. In the end, it was grade 3 - but with no sarcomatoid or necrosis (good signs), and stage 1 because it was pushing on the fat, but didn't invade. Sure, Grade 2 would have been better (Grade 1 hardly exists), but whatever, I'll take it!

Hang in there. Focus on your mental and physical well being leading into the surgery - it's going to be important for your recovery, and take things one step at a time. You're doing all the right things right now, there isn't much more you can do. 

 

 

Seanjg

eug91 said:

awesome

Even if it does turn out to be malignant and high grade, you'll have it out of your body! Plus you'll have an action plan to monitor your health, so that if it does ever show up again, you'll kick its butt a second time. 

You're gonna do great! We're with ya! 

Thank you

Thank you

Seanjg

misterace said:

You are doing all you can

Do not worry about the pathology report right now, just focus on getting your body & mind right for the surgery. 

Prior to my surgery, my doctor was also concerned that my tumor could have been an aggressive very high grade cancer because of its irregular shape, and that it had invaded the fat/sinus of the kidney based on imaging making it a stage 3 cancer. I spent a lot of time worried about this. In the end, it was grade 3 - but with no sarcomatoid or necrosis (good signs), and stage 1 because it was pushing on the fat, but didn't invade. Sure, Grade 2 would have been better (Grade 1 hardly exists), but whatever, I'll take it!

Hang in there. Focus on your mental and physical well being leading into the surgery - it's going to be important for your recovery, and take things one step at a time. You're doing all the right things right now, there isn't much more you can do. 

 

 

Thank you. I am eating a full

Thank you. I am eating a full plant based diet and have upped my running, meditation and yoga so that im doing it every day. Want to give myself the best chance 

AliceB1950

Don't let the word "malignant

Don't let the word "malignant" scare you.  I've had three different types of  cancer (plus lightweight skin ones) and they honestly weren't that big a deal.  There are plenty of other health issues and diseases with equal or much worse outcomes, but for some reason, the words "cancer" and "malignant" still carry all the fear and superstition from decades ago when there weren't all the good treatments for it.  And eat those foods and live that lifestyle if you enjoy them, but it's not going to make any difference on something you're having surgery for in the near future.

misterace

Awesome

That is great. Glad to hear you are active. I was not (got depressed after the news and sat around all day) and it wasn't good for recovery. 
One more tip, if you have a recliner , it will be your best friend after surgery for a few. I was not able to sleep in my bed for 4 weeks and slept in the recliner (still sleeping in it now 31 days post op  , but alternating between bed and recliner because it hurts to lie fully flat) but I may be a unique case.