mass above left kidney, very scared right now

gnrfan1988
gnrfan1988 Member Posts: 7
in Kidney Cancer #1
Past few days I had bad stomach swelling, and a little pain and swelling on my sides above my hips. I went to the doctor about it and he initially thought it was muscle inflammation.That night, I woke up with difficulty breathing and went to the ER. They did some blood tests and X-Rays. The blood tests all came back great, but the next morning I got a call from one of the nurses who told me they found an abnormality in my abdomen. My primary physician noticed the abnormality is circular in nature. He and my mom, who is a nurse, both think its an Intussusception Intestine due to its shape. Naturally, I'm freaking out really bad thinking its some form of cancer. I just got back from the hospital getting a CAT scan. The whole process of that was terrifying. Basically, my symptoms include swelling stomach, little bit on my sides and minor lower back ache. I urinate fine, but I think I could be somewhat constipated. The whole ordeal has me not eating much so it could just be not eating enough to pass much waste. I'm just curious if anyone has similar experiences such as this, maybe even someone can help reassure me.

Some things about me:

23 year old male
Average weight about 160ish
I dont very healthy, but not all junk food either
I dont have fever or nausea or anything else accompanied with what I said above.
Only discomfort I have is the feeling of pressure in my lower back and my abdomen.

My mom's a nurse and doesn't seem to be too worried, but naturally I'm very worried and afraid.

Thanks for reading, God Bless, and I wish everyone here the best of luck.

Comments

  • newenglandguy
    newenglandguy Member Posts: 66
    #2
    It sounds like you're on the
    It sounds like you're on the proper path. Your doctor should have the CT results in 24 - 48 hours of your scan. Call the doctor's office and ask the nurse to check to see if the Radiologist's report is back. If it is, ask for the doctor to call back to discuss them with you. I would not worry until you get the results of the CT scan. From your symptoms, there is not enough information to make a diagnosis. Your doctor is taking the right steps. Be patient and get the CT results.
  • newenglandguy
    newenglandguy Member Posts: 66
    #3
    J

    J
  • newenglandguy
    newenglandguy Member Posts: 66
    #4
    J

    J
  • newenglandguy
    newenglandguy Member Posts: 66
    #5
    J

    J
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    newenglandguy said:

    J

    J

    Probably not Kidney Cancer
    Your symtoms could be any number of things, but at your age Kidney Cancer is very unlikely. The CT will definately show if there is a tumor on your kidney or not. If by remote chance it does turn out to be kidney cancer come back to this board as there a lot of survivors (myself 9 years) as well as newcomers to help you out.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #7
    newenglandguy said:

    J

    J

    Probably not Kidney Cancer
    Your symtoms could be any number of things, but at your age Kidney Cancer is very unlikely. The CT will definately show if there is a tumor on your kidney or not. If by remote chance it does turn out to be kidney cancer come back to this board as there a lot of survivors (myself 9 years) as well as newcomers to help you out.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo
  • gnrfan1988
    gnrfan1988 Member Posts: 7
    #8
    icemantoo said:

    Probably not Kidney Cancer
    Your symtoms could be any number of things, but at your age Kidney Cancer is very unlikely. The CT will definately show if there is a tumor on your kidney or not. If by remote chance it does turn out to be kidney cancer come back to this board as there a lot of survivors (myself 9 years) as well as newcomers to help you out.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo

    a 10cm cyst
    Well, we got the results yesterday. Turns out its a 10 cm cyst, so its pretty big. I have an appointment with the urologist on the 17th to set a date to get it drained. Are there any chances that it could turn out to be cancer, or would they know already by blood results and the CT scan by now? A perfect question for the doctor I know, but I didnt get the phone call.
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #9
    gnrfan1988 said:

    a 10cm cyst
    Well, we got the results yesterday. Turns out its a 10 cm cyst, so its pretty big. I have an appointment with the urologist on the 17th to set a date to get it drained. Are there any chances that it could turn out to be cancer, or would they know already by blood results and the CT scan by now? A perfect question for the doctor I know, but I didnt get the phone call.

    Cyst vs. tumor...
    They can tell the difference from the ct, this is good news!!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #10
    garym said:

    Cyst vs. tumor...
    They can tell the difference from the ct, this is good news!!

    Get it out
    Sorry to hear the bad news. At 11 cm it is either Cancer or could become Cancer. Get it out ASAP. YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THIS BOARD FROM THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NEPHERECTOMY.S. No way to sugar coat the surgery, but I have been there and done that. Your young age will serve you well as far as your recovery.

    Bestwishes,


    Icemantoo
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #11
    garym said:

    Cyst vs. tumor...
    They can tell the difference from the ct, this is good news!!

    Get it out
    Sorry to hear the bad news. At 11 cm it is either Cancer or could become Cancer. Get it out ASAP. YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THIS BOARD FROM THOSE WHO HAVE HAD NEPHERECTOMY.S. No way to sugar coat the surgery, but I have been there and done that. Your young age will serve you well as far as your recovery.

    Bestwishes,


    Icemantoo
  • newenglandguy
    newenglandguy Member Posts: 66
    #12
    gnrfan1988 said:

    a 10cm cyst
    Well, we got the results yesterday. Turns out its a 10 cm cyst, so its pretty big. I have an appointment with the urologist on the 17th to set a date to get it drained. Are there any chances that it could turn out to be cancer, or would they know already by blood results and the CT scan by now? A perfect question for the doctor I know, but I didnt get the phone call.

    Did they say it was going to
    Did they say it was going to be drained? Is it on the kidney or is it in the abdominal region? I am unaware of being able to drain a cyst on the kidney, so if they mentioned draining, I'm assuming it is some type of cyst, maybe in the dermis. You should really have better communication with your doctor. Do not hesitate to leave a message with the staff, and ask that the doctor call you back. If you have a doctor that won't call you back to answer a few questions, find a new doctor in short order.
  • gnrfan1988
    gnrfan1988 Member Posts: 7
    #13
    Well, Like I said I went to
    Well, Like I said I went to the Urologist who confirmed it was just a simple cyst and he recommended that we watch it for a while.

    Mean while The symptoms have gotten worse. My bloating in my stomach I feel is worse, its worse in the middle of the day and is dealable only when I awake int he morning. I've now started passing bright red blood in my stool. I get pain in my neck and head when I sit at the computer for more than a few minutes and now I get dull pains in my back which makes it hard to breathe when lying down.

    I went back to the urologist and he told me to take some magnesium citrate to clear out my system. Just made me feel worse for a few days. I also have a slight lump just under my hip on the left side. I don't remember it prior to the start of the symptoms. The Urologist passed it off as fatty tissue and said if it got bigger they could remove it. It hasn't gotten any bigger.

    Once I started passing blood I went to the ER where they went over my CT scan again, and all the doctors thought everything looked normal aside from the 4" cyst. I have apt on the 15th to have an colonoscopy done and he is suppose to refer me to another urologist to get my cyst drain.

    Just to recap
    my symptoms now are:

    1. 24/7 bloating in my stomach, pressure that's just under my sternum. Occasional slight burning sensation with it.

    2. Slight knotted/dull pains in my back which makes it difficult to sleep when lying down at night

    3. Neck and sinus pain which occurs when sitting at the computer. Seems to go away when I move about.

    4. Bright red blood in my stool. Feels like a pressure on my prostate also. No trouble passing urine. But blood in stool and stool is loose and flatter than usual.



    So yeah, I feel like utter hell right now and the doctors can't seem to find out whats wrong with me. I just can't see what else could cause this many symptoms other than cancer. But no one seems to find anything wrong. All my blood tests and urine tests come back normal. Could it be Crones disease or some other intestinal disease?

    Any ideas?
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #14
    gnrfan1988 said:

    Well, Like I said I went to
    Well, Like I said I went to the Urologist who confirmed it was just a simple cyst and he recommended that we watch it for a while.

    Mean while The symptoms have gotten worse. My bloating in my stomach I feel is worse, its worse in the middle of the day and is dealable only when I awake int he morning. I've now started passing bright red blood in my stool. I get pain in my neck and head when I sit at the computer for more than a few minutes and now I get dull pains in my back which makes it hard to breathe when lying down.

    I went back to the urologist and he told me to take some magnesium citrate to clear out my system. Just made me feel worse for a few days. I also have a slight lump just under my hip on the left side. I don't remember it prior to the start of the symptoms. The Urologist passed it off as fatty tissue and said if it got bigger they could remove it. It hasn't gotten any bigger.

    Once I started passing blood I went to the ER where they went over my CT scan again, and all the doctors thought everything looked normal aside from the 4" cyst. I have apt on the 15th to have an colonoscopy done and he is suppose to refer me to another urologist to get my cyst drain.

    Just to recap
    my symptoms now are:

    1. 24/7 bloating in my stomach, pressure that's just under my sternum. Occasional slight burning sensation with it.

    2. Slight knotted/dull pains in my back which makes it difficult to sleep when lying down at night

    3. Neck and sinus pain which occurs when sitting at the computer. Seems to go away when I move about.

    4. Bright red blood in my stool. Feels like a pressure on my prostate also. No trouble passing urine. But blood in stool and stool is loose and flatter than usual.



    So yeah, I feel like utter hell right now and the doctors can't seem to find out whats wrong with me. I just can't see what else could cause this many symptoms other than cancer. But no one seems to find anything wrong. All my blood tests and urine tests come back normal. Could it be Crones disease or some other intestinal disease?

    Any ideas?

    Am I missing something here???
    gnrfan,

    Unless you are very short 160 lbs tells me that you are thin. Logic tells me that a grapefruit sized growth in the abdomen of a thin person could cause most if not all of your symptoms. I'm no doctor, but waiting to do something (drain, remove, etc.) while you suffer doesn't seem like a very good prescription to me. I'd tell him you want something done sooner rather than later. If they drain it and the symptoms go away, great, if not at least you'll know you have to keep looking.

    Good luck,

    Gary
  • gnrfan1988
    gnrfan1988 Member Posts: 7
    #15
    garym said:

    Am I missing something here???
    gnrfan,

    Unless you are very short 160 lbs tells me that you are thin. Logic tells me that a grapefruit sized growth in the abdomen of a thin person could cause most if not all of your symptoms. I'm no doctor, but waiting to do something (drain, remove, etc.) while you suffer doesn't seem like a very good prescription to me. I'd tell him you want something done sooner rather than later. If they drain it and the symptoms go away, great, if not at least you'll know you have to keep looking.

    Good luck,

    Gary

    Thanks
    Maybe I am
    Thanks

    Maybe I am overreacting and being a bit paranoid. And I am pretty thin. Thin body frame for my height also. About 6' tall. I have another appointment Thursday which the GI doctor (colonoscopy) is suppose to refer me to another Urologist who is willing to do the operation. The other doctor just kept putting it off as something else.

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