Just found out I have Kidney cancer

250xcfw said:

Pre Op info
Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday for the partial nepfrectomy ( less than 5% removal) first and 3 weeks later for the radical nepfrectomy on the second kidney. The reason they do the partial first is to make sure the kidney is working good before they remove the other.
I also found out why my kidney function was so good. It’s because I have 3 arteries for each kidney. That’s my story for today.

John

Good luck
John,

You seem to be taking your diagnosis of having RCC in both kidneys remarkably well. Hopefully your partial next week will go well. If it does your nepherectomy to follow will be a piece of cake.

Icemantoo

250xcfw said:

Pre Op info
Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday for the partial nepfrectomy ( less than 5% removal) first and 3 weeks later for the radical nepfrectomy on the second kidney. The reason they do the partial first is to make sure the kidney is working good before they remove the other.
I also found out why my kidney function was so good. It’s because I have 3 arteries for each kidney. That’s my story for today.

John

Pre Op info
John, as iceman says, you're handling this very well which is bound to help you recover more quickly.

Thanks for explaining the timing of the procedures. I can buy into the logic of the explanation to some extent although I would have guessed that they would have wanted to reduce the tumour burden by eliminating the large tumour first. You've been given a clear justification for doing it the other way round. I just wonder what they would plan to do if your better kidney wasn't performing well. I suppose they would defer doing the nephrectomy for the time being, to allow your more damaged kidney to keep sharing the load until the other one improved. The fact that such improvement can be achieved is cheering information.

Fortunately that's all a bit theoretical. You're up for it; you have the advantage of your exceptionally good renal blood supply; there is a very good success rate for partial nephrectomies; they're only taking a very small part of your better kidney - so you're going to do fine. It's still nearly a week to go but in case I don't get the chance to do so closer to time, I take the opportunity now to wish you success with the smaller op on Wednesday and the bigger one to follow.

250xcfw said:

You definitely don't fit the bill
I was hoping I had a few more years in me before I needed to start talking about all my ailments other than sports injuries. Cancer makes even less sense when you don’t fit the standard criteria.
My Dr told me the average age was 65 for men to get kidney cancer so most of the statistics are based on this and that new treatment and procedures come out daily.
My surgery is on Wednesday the 23rd so I’ll race you to recovery even though you’re younger than me by 10 years.

Good luck
John

Sorry!
Sorry John!
Sounds like we have a real epidemic going on right now. It was semi=quit for a while. The folks will take good care of you.
Fishie

250xcfw said:

Never quit!
I was doing an endurance offroad motorcycle race yesterday and it gives you time think about life and death. I see people who give up because it's to difficult or just because they can't win. I've got blisters, bruises, scrapes, sore muscles and was wishing it would hurry up and end. When you look at it, it's not much different than life. When the pain gos away you start to think that wasn't so bad I could do that again. My goal yesterday was to finish and enjoy the day with good friends talking about how close we came to winning over a cold beer. I did everything I set out to do and feel good about it. My next race will be on Wednesday when I have surgery. I know the outcome will be same banged up and bruised but a sense of accomplishment.
The way I see it is we all can't win but we still need to get to the finish line and be happy with how we got there.

John
Sorry for the rambling.

Hey its cool John
It has been 7 months for me and i am still trying to come to terms with the fact that life the way i knew it was ripped away from me,now its time for you to take a little break and focus on what is neccesary and that is to achieve full recovery and even though we are changed forevever life will return to normal,you will have plenty of races to win later and will be able to celebrate your victorys over a few cold ones,i hope for the best outcome on your upcoming surgery so hang tough and keep us posted

lbinmsp said:

Hello and welcome.
OK - if I'm reading your post correctly - they found tumors in BOTH kidneys - resulting in a full nephrectomy on the left and a smaller tumor on the right resulting in a 'partial' of sorts there.
Wow! You do know how to 'make an entrance' don't you? It is good news that they haven't found it anywhere else. Besides continuing to see your surgeon and/or oncologist and receive regular, thorough followup, I think I'd recommend finding a good nephrologist sooner than later. I think I'd like one person whose only job was to keep that remaining kidney super healthy.

Keep doing your research - both online and here. Jot down every question you want answers to and keep an ongoing list. Take it to your doctor at every visit - and lastly, obtain your own copies of every scan you've had (or will have) along with every report. Include blood work results as well. You never know when you may want these things for future use. Also, they'll be a great jumping off point for yet MORE questions.

Everyone here is on your side - holding you up. Prayers always.

LizB

Hi, John
Hell John,

Sorry to hear about the news. You will learn more words in this club. When will you have a surgery? You can tell me more about your information. This is a very supportive group of people. We all help each other. Just fight together.


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lovinlife23 said:

Well I am 10 days post
Well I am 10 days post surgery and am doing quite well. I am up and walking around, even though it is at the speed of a turtle. I believe I am recovering well. My doctor confirmed from the pathology report that it was indeed cancer but he says that I am cancer free since the surgery and should not have anything else to worry about. As this is great news to hear, I am a little scared. Should I go see an oncologist for follow up care just to make sure everything is ok? Just not sure what to do. My urologist is amazing and I am very happy with his care but I can't help but feel as though the surgery is all I need. Is it normal to feel this way? Should I be concerned?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Good for You!
.So glad you are recovering so well. But I would say the concences here is that one SHOULD have an oncologist follow up. Best to be proactive.

DDBurkhardt said:

I'm in the same situation as
I'm in the same situation as you are. Had an MRI for something totally unrelated and they found a 5.3cm on my left kidney. I'm scheduled to have my left kidney removed on May 22nd. I'm relatively new here also, but it really helps talking to other people in the same situation. The people here are very happy to help you get thru this and they are a wealth of information. When are you scheduled for surgery?

DD

Post surgery
I had my surgery 9 days ago. I had my left kidney removed and the doctor told me the other day that I am completely cancer free. How long does it usually take to totally feel like yourself again. I'm still walking slow and still taking pain pills. I really don't have any energy to do anything. Is this normal? Should I give it another couple of weeks? I realize that everyone is different, but I'm worried that I'm not getting better fast enough.

Thanks

Deb

lovinlife23 said:

Well I am 10 days post
Well I am 10 days post surgery and am doing quite well. I am up and walking around, even though it is at the speed of a turtle. I believe I am recovering well. My doctor confirmed from the pathology report that it was indeed cancer but he says that I am cancer free since the surgery and should not have anything else to worry about. As this is great news to hear, I am a little scared. Should I go see an oncologist for follow up care just to make sure everything is ok? Just not sure what to do. My urologist is amazing and I am very happy with his care but I can't help but feel as though the surgery is all I need. Is it normal to feel this way? Should I be concerned?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Yes, its normal...
ll23,

Good to hear that you are on track for a speedy recovery.

Its been 2-1/2 years for me and I have not seen an oncologist which has worked fine for me, I had an excellent pathology and trust my urologist, but I would advise that you do whatever will make you feel the best mentally and emotionally. If a consult will aid you in a return to "normal" then go for it, a second opinion is not a bad thing and will likely bolster your resolve.

Hang in there,

Gary