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RCC in my remaining kidney
12 years ago I lost my left kidney. There have been a few scares along the way but now I have RCC in my right kidney. Partial nephrectomy scheduled for next week. Tumor is in the middle of my kidney and doc says there is a chance this laparoscopic robotic procure turns to an open one and 25% chance things go sideways and I end up on dialysis.
Dr told me over the phone it was RCC this time, but I won’t get the full biopsy report until the day before surgery. so I don’t know anything about type or staging. Very frustrating.
Looking for insight on what to expect after surgery. I was in the hospital for a week before, now they are saying 1 night. That seems too short. No discussion about additional treatments. Just follow-up scans.
Comments
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Hi, so sorry you are going through this...I'm in a similar situation, have a tumor on my one remaining kidney. I'm meeting virtually with a surgeon that specializes in complex kidney surgeries. The tumor is in the center and near the main vein and artery so radiologist and surgeons here consider it high risk and possibility of dialysis as an outcome. I'll be praying for you!
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I am curious as to what other course of action they recommend. I understand that there is some kind of new radiation that does powerful zaps. I have RCC. Near vein. I’m not a candidate for surgery due to comorbidities. The mass is still in me until it causes symptoms then I may be that special radiation or just palliative radiation to control symptoms. Best wishes for you!
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My husband is in a similar situation. But, we already knew there was a tumor in the remaining kidney. Have undergone immunotherapy where the tumor in the remaining kidney seemed to have been slow to no growth. Now, after immunotherapy, it is growing in addition to other small multiple spots. We go to the surgeon today to see the possibility of removing the tumor, or where we are at. To say the least, very concerned about what the future holds. Praying for you!
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I had my left kidney removed & years ago & it had already spread to my lungs and I found 4 years later it had spread to my other kidney after I had temporarily moved to be closer to two of my sons and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance now called Fred Hutch and I got very good care there. So then after a year and a half I moved back home because I had run out of money living on my own. My husband and I had only seen each other for one visit. They told me at Fred Hutch that I couldn’t get surgery on my only kidney because I have a tumor on the top and a tumor on the bottom and there isn’t much left in the middle. So I am just continuing chemo originally Keytruda and Lenvima but eventually switched meds a couple of times until now and I am on Cabometyx (cabozantinib) for kidney cancer and anastrozole for breast cancer which I got after getting thyroid cancer which was after originally diagnosed with kidney cancer. The genetic specialist I saw tested for everything but came up with no results. They all said it is definitely genetic but it hasn’t been discovered yet… so they said tell your kids to take care if themselves and check if they have any issues. My grandfather had three cancers in his 59”0’s too. He beat them all. I had different cancers than he did… more virulent. I’m back home in Hawaii with my husband now getting poor care. They took me off chemo so my inflamed intestines can have a chance to heal.
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Hello fellow RCCers!
Well, I am receiving Hospice at Home care now. I have RCC deep in kidney and high risk for surgery. I decided to do nothing. Doctor says it will spread and could affect me slowly or quickly. I qualified for Hospice because I have a terminal condition if left untreated. I chose not to treat it because I want to enjoy my life as it is, not hooked up to a machine to live but people in my family have gotten dialysis and are doing fine. I choose not to do that. I’m enjoying my life -watching the squirrels and birds from my living room window, & getting on my mobility scooter while going outside to throw trash in the trash dumpster. I get Meals on Wheels and do not cook anymore. I am not in any pain at all. I only have a trace of blood on the urine sticks. Without treatment, things will worsen for me, but right now I am just very tired and very short of breath.
How are you? I would love to chat with another RCC-er in my age group preferably. I’m 70. Sometime I learn things about RCC that I did not know. -
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My thoughts and heart are with you. My husband passed in July after 13 years of RCC, started with a nephorectomy went well. One week before 5 yr mark he had a metastasis stomach attached to colon they got that out. He tried Keytruda for a couple months cldn’t handle it. Long story short the 13th yr it spread to many places only had pain lower back not in any of the other places . I respect your decision, his choice was to fight it I completely respected his choice it was a long 13 yrs, but he made it to the finish line.in July. Now on Friday I was told I have a kidney mass heading over to Moffitt in Tampa. They helped my husband get his 13 yrs he wanted, but I believe I’m with you & your decision. Wishing you peace. Dee
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Hi Dee,
Thank you for responding on my post. 13 years he extended his life! That is a long time to enjoy. But it also sounds like it was filled with appointments, scans and etc. That’s just part of life. If I had taken care of my body better, I believe I would have chosen differently. I am obese and have had gall bladder removal, and half my stomach removed years ago in an effort to lose weight. Stayed fat. I’d be high risk for any surgery but I also have MGUS which is a precursor to bone marrow cancer. I’m tired and anemic. I hope that you are not too depressed about losing your husband. I am sorry that he had to endure that. I am sure it tired you out as well. Where is your mass located? If it’s on the top then they can just freeze or burn that off. Many have partial kidney removed or even whole kidney. Many live very pleasant lives afterwards. See what your options are . Please write me back I’d love to know how you are
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I just saw an expert on obesity, a doctor talking about weight & obesity I don’t know where on TV just stumbled upon it. Basically she said obesity is a medical condition that can’t be controlled with with willpower .There are millions of people that have cancer without obesity and many obese peole that don’t have or evrr goet cancer.. I spent 13 yrs many days at Moffitt Cancer Center and it wasn’t a bunch of obese people being treated there that I saw. Take care and no person is to blame for cancer not even smokers its an addiction.
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