Happy

Every103

Cancer has touched my life in many ways. In 1980, I lost my mother to ovarian cancer when she was just 28 years old. Her death left a profound impact on me, and I’ve carried her memory with me throughout my life. This year, cancer struck closer to home than I ever imagined—this time, within my own body.

On October 2, 2024, during my annual physical exam, my primary care doctor found a hard lump in my upper right abdomen. I joked, “I hope that’s muscle from me working out,” but my doctor’s serious expression told me otherwise. He immediately ordered an ultrasound to investigate further.

Two days later, on October 4, I went to a local imaging center for the ultrasound. That afternoon, my doctor called me with news that took my breath away: there appeared to be a large mass on my right kidney. Hearing those words felt surreal and terrifying, but my doctor reassured me that we would address it swiftly.

The next morning, October 5, I went for a CT scan. Shortly after, on my way home, my doctor called again, urging me to see a specialist as soon as possible.

On October 7, I met with a urologist who reviewed the images and confirmed that the tumor was large and growing out of my right kidney. He wasted no time recommending surgery to remove the kidney, stressing the importance of acting quickly. We scheduled the operation for October 17, 2024.

The morning of the surgery, I was a bundle of nerves, but the surgical team’s confidence and professionalism helped put me at ease. The surgery was successful in removing my right kidney and the tumor. The next day, the entire surgical team came to check on me in my room—a gesture that meant so much to me. The urologist also stopped by first thing that morning to see how I was doing.

When the pathology report came back, I learned that the tumor was a 13.5 cm papillary renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Thankfully, it was confined to the kidney and hadn’t spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes. All surgical margins were clear of cancer—a tremendous relief.

I’m forever grateful to my primary care doctor for discovering the tumor during a routine exam, and to the urologist and surgical team for their skill and care.

Cancer is a journey no one wants to face, but I’ve learned the importance of early detection, compassionate care, and a supportive community. I share my story in honor of my mother and as a reminder to others: your health matters, and it’s vital to take every step to protect it. Together, we can fight back against cancer and move closer to a world where no one has to face it alone. Hope my story has brighten someone's day.

Mark331

Thank you for your story, it’s really helpful. I have a 6.8x7.0x7.0 mass on my right kidney and am having laparoscopic total nephrectomy on Dec 17. It’s nice to know what to expect

Deanie0916

Thank you for sharing, so glad the surgery was successful!

stub1969

It's like getting hit by a Mac Truck! I still remember everything when I was told about my kidney cancer—I don't think I'll ever forget this time in my life. Fortunately, my cancer was found early and has not had a reoccurrence. My advice is for you to keep up with your scan schedule. If anything does pop up, they'll catch it early, which will help the doctors in making a plan.

Wishing you the best!

Stub

jenz

how are you doing?

jazzgirl

Hello Every - I’m just now seeing this, many months after you wrote it , but it does indeed brighten my day as I head toward a biopsy on Friday. We have very little information right now, so of course every dire possibility fills my mind. But you remind me that I am blessed to have all three of “the importance of early detection (I hope), compassionate care, and a supportive community”. I’ll head into it a little more calm because of your post. Take care ~

Every103

I hope everyone is doing well.

On May 19, 2025, I had an abdominal MRI and a chest CT scan—both showed no evidence of cancer. I’m feeling hopeful as I look ahead to my next round of scans in November.

My oldest aunt recently told me that I’m the only one in our family who has survived cancer. Early detection wasn’t available to many of my loved ones, and some didn’t recognize the warning signs. In my case, I had no symptoms at all. But staying consistent with twice-yearly checkups is what helped catch the cancer early and begin treatment.

Since my kidney removal, I’ve been in the best shape of my life. Life has taken a positive turn, and I thank God every single day I wake up. When I was first diagnosed, I couldn’t see more than two years into the future. I truly didn’t know how much time I had left on this earth.

But after May 19th, everything changed—and life has been nothing short of amazing since then.

I’m sharing this to encourage anyone who may be struggling: trust in God, stay proactive about your health, and never give up hope. If you’re still here, your purpose isn’t finished. Sometimes the detours in life are exactly what lead us back to what truly matters.

donna_lee

Keep up the good news. Too many truly think cancer is the end of the world. I know from experience, when the doctor said, "you have maybe 5-7 months unless something can be done." i.e surgery. That was in May, 2006. And here I am, at 82 years, in 2025. My d-i-l visited me following surgery that year and was 7 months pregnant. That girl is now a sophomore at Oregon State, on the VB team, and I've been able to be there to cheer her on, along with her older sister and 2 cousins. I've tried to live each day as it comes and always have plans for something to do the next day, week, or year. Focus on the future and don't act miserable about what is going on today.

All the best, donna_lee

stub1969

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723832#Comment_1723832

I love that advice, Donna. As I inch closer to retirement age, I'll keep in mind these wise words: "…live each day as it comes and always have plans for something to do the next day, week, or year."

Stub