Clear cell renal cell

wcco9203

June 2017 I had a 1.2cm grade 1 stage t1a clear cell tumor removed by laposcopically. I have had clean follow ups through Sept. 2020. My urologist told me it’s never coming back. Just looking for some opinions.

does anyone know about recurrence rates about tumors this size?

thanks

Biner

Hello

Unfortunately every size can spread, off course small size small chances for this

AliceB1950

Never is a pretty strong word, but at that stage and grade, it would be very unlikely to metastasize.

wcco9203

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691376#Comment_1691376

I got a second opinion, and was told 2-3% chance of recurrence. Just to do my follow ups

Tobi

My Dr told me the same...I was unlikely to see this cancer again and I was same stage and grade....mine was solid/cystic so idk if that makes a difference. He said 1% and after a couple years it drops below 1% to almost 0.

wcco9203

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691381#Comment_1691381

Was yours clear cell? What was the size?

Tobi

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691383#Comment_1691383

Yes it was clear cell 3.5cm

stub1969

By using the words your doctor used, I'm guessing he/she does not specialize in kidney cancer. I've heard our kind of cancer described as "unique". Be vigilant in keeping up with your scans. Your health is in your hands!

Stub

wcco9203

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691416#Comment_1691416

I guess I misspoke, he said highly unlikely ever coming back due to its size and that it was low grade.

But the guidelines for follow up are for 3 years, but it never hurts to keep checking

medic1971

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/324508/clear-cell-renal-cell

Anything is possible. To say it's never coming back is a bit misleading I think. Let me define "coming back" based on how I understand it.

1. You can have what's called a local reoccurrence. Which means the cancer comes back in the same kidney. This could be occur at or near the site of your original tumor or occur in another part of that same kidney. If this does happen it's not the end of the world. [Content removed by CSN Support Team]
2. There is the small chance you could develop a tumor in the other kidney. This is NOT considered metastasis. In this scenario the new tumor will be staged just like the first one was [Content removed by CSN Support Team]
3. The cancer has spread to another part of the body like the lungs, liver, or bones. This is considered metastasis. [Content removed by CSN Support Team]
4. Your lifetime chance of dying in a car crash is 0.9% in the US.

Number 4 is meant in jest, kind of... We all worry a about our cancers coming back, but please don't spend too much energy on this subject.

Something else to think about, it's a possibility that your tumor could have stayed in your kidney another 10+ years before there was a real threat to your health. Reading your bio page, it looked like your tumor did not grow at all in 17 months.

droopy01

I had the same questions. I found a pretty cool calculator here:

Kidney Cancer Nomograms: Risk of Recurrence Following Surgery | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc.org)

Perhaps it would be helpful to you.

Bay Area Guy

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/324508/clear-cell-renal-cell

I had chromophobe at about 1.7cm. Surgeon said very unlikely to have spread and very unlikely to return. Stats show 99%+ for no spread/return for cancers this size.

lobbyist0724

It has been a long time wcco!

Since 2016, I have read hundreds of research papers and I haven't seen any recurrent listed with a grade 1 and less than 1.5 cm. The duration of those studies is 5 yrs/10 yrs and some are 15 years. But in my personal opinion, I think you can put it behind and enjoy the new life! Congratulations.

But I would still do the follow-up visits as suggested!