scared to death!

garfield14681
garfield14681 Member Posts: 5
in Kidney Cancer #1
I have a history of stones in urinary bladder (detected when I was in the 7th Grade) followed by frequent occurances of stones in the right and left kidneys. Have taken a treatment for both. The stone in the bladder went away but the kidney stones keep coming back. From 3 or 4 months, I experience pain in my thighs, both front and back (just below the buttocks), back ache and pain in the flank region. I have read all posts related to RCC and found that my symptoms are exactly what some of members have experienced. I am scared to death of even thinking about it. Feels like my heart is sinking. I am 31 yrs old, an Instrument Engineer by Profession. I was seeing a GP for some time, but she only gave me some painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. She suspected some kind of vertebrae dislocation but said that I can go for an MRI. I am going to visit a doctor on the 30th, an orthopedic to begin with. But am so scared....I dont know whether or not I should have even joined this community since I am only sharing my fears here...but while surfing I came across it and felt like doing it...

I can now feel what a state of mind everyone on this forum must have been in...I really wish all a very healthy and happy life....and I cant help but pray for myself too...

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    garfield14681,

    While kidney stones may be remotely related to Kidney Cancer it would be rare for you to have it as a 31 year old male. If it shows up on an MRI they would follow up with a CT scan. Even if you had Kidney Cancer it tends to be a much smaller tumor when you are younger and close to 100% curable. Those of us on this Board have for the most part had Kidney Cancer and the surgery that follows and where caught early are for the most part doing fine. I am 5 weeks short of 10 years and the Kidney Cancer was just a little blip in my life. In summary it is a little early to worry about anything,


    Icemantoo
  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    garfield14681,

    While kidney stones may be remotely related to Kidney Cancer it would be rare for you to have it as a 31 year old male. If it shows up on an MRI they would follow up with a CT scan. Even if you had Kidney Cancer it tends to be a much smaller tumor when you are younger and close to 100% curable. Those of us on this Board have for the most part had Kidney Cancer and the surgery that follows and where caught early are for the most part doing fine. I am 5 weeks short of 10 years and the Kidney Cancer was just a little blip in my life. In summary it is a little early to worry about anything,


    Icemantoo

    What icemantoo said
    The RCC is largely asymptomatic in early stages. Stage 1 cancers are usually found by accident. Since you have symptoms, it probably is not related to any renal cell carcinoma.

    You are also very young for this cancer. It is a slow growing tumor, usually less than 1 cm/yr. Most people that get it are 15-30 years older than you (I am probably one of the younger people here at 48).

    Stage 1 RCC has a 95% cure rate from surgery.

    I am not going to lie (And I am only 1 week out of surgery rather than 10 years): The Radical Nephrectamy is major surgery. At one week, I am nowhere near 100%, but am recovering.
  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #4
    No reason to be scared till you here "You Have a Mass..."
    I do not mean for this to come out the wrong way, but without any diagnositic testing, there is no reason to assume your issues are related to Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Most people with RCC show no symptoms.

    There might be something real causing the pain (there is something real, but it could be minor), but it is probably not RCC. Follow up with the Dr. If they do the MRI, and there is a mass, they will see it.
  • garfield14681
    garfield14681 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    icemantoo said:

    garfield14681,

    While kidney stones may be remotely related to Kidney Cancer it would be rare for you to have it as a 31 year old male. If it shows up on an MRI they would follow up with a CT scan. Even if you had Kidney Cancer it tends to be a much smaller tumor when you are younger and close to 100% curable. Those of us on this Board have for the most part had Kidney Cancer and the surgery that follows and where caught early are for the most part doing fine. I am 5 weeks short of 10 years and the Kidney Cancer was just a little blip in my life. In summary it is a little early to worry about anything,


    Icemantoo

    Thank you all so so much for
    Thank you all so so much for sharing your thoughts.....just need a bit of a clarification...to what Icemantoo said....am actually a 31 yrs old female.....since you explicitly mentioned "male", does it mean that females with a history such as mine are more susceptible to having this kind of cancer.....am really sorry for crossing the t's and dotting the i's here....but am still scared...scared even to go visit a doc...
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    garfield14681 said:

    Thank you all so so much for
    Thank you all so so much for sharing your thoughts.....just need a bit of a clarification...to what Icemantoo said....am actually a 31 yrs old female.....since you explicitly mentioned "male", does it mean that females with a history such as mine are more susceptible to having this kind of cancer.....am really sorry for crossing the t's and dotting the i's here....but am still scared...scared even to go visit a doc...

    Male/female Kidney Cancer
    garfield14681,

    Sorry about the error. Kidney Cancer is an equal opportunity disease striking both males and females although about 60% of the cases are males. There are a few youngins on this board, but most people stricken with Kidney Cancer are between 50 and 70.

    Icemantoo
  • matchframe
    matchframe Member Posts: 58
    #7
    dhs1963 said:

    No reason to be scared till you here "You Have a Mass..."
    I do not mean for this to come out the wrong way, but without any diagnositic testing, there is no reason to assume your issues are related to Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Most people with RCC show no symptoms.

    There might be something real causing the pain (there is something real, but it could be minor), but it is probably not RCC. Follow up with the Dr. If they do the MRI, and there is a mass, they will see it.

    Kidney Stones
    I am not sure if kidney stone can contribute to RCC. My RCC was found as a result of a kidney stone. I had a stone in my right kidney and went to the ER since I did not know what was happening. This was my first stone. They did a CT Scan at the ER and confirmed the stone in the right kidney and oh by the way a mass on my left kidney. I wold not have known about the mass until much later since I did not have any symptoms. I call that stone my "God's Gift" I had part of my left kidney removed with clear margins and have now been declared "cancer free"

    The worst part of my whole ordeal was that one kidney stone, the rest was just going through the process of removing the mass. That process was more scary than painful, but since the mass was found when it was, the process was well worth it.

    I can't even image have stones many times like you have. They are very painful!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #8
    matchframe said:

    Kidney Stones
    I am not sure if kidney stone can contribute to RCC. My RCC was found as a result of a kidney stone. I had a stone in my right kidney and went to the ER since I did not know what was happening. This was my first stone. They did a CT Scan at the ER and confirmed the stone in the right kidney and oh by the way a mass on my left kidney. I wold not have known about the mass until much later since I did not have any symptoms. I call that stone my "God's Gift" I had part of my left kidney removed with clear margins and have now been declared "cancer free"

    The worst part of my whole ordeal was that one kidney stone, the rest was just going through the process of removing the mass. That process was more scary than painful, but since the mass was found when it was, the process was well worth it.

    I can't even image have stones many times like you have. They are very painful!

    Scared to death
    Garfield, you'll have to forgive iceman for his gender slip - he's getting old! But his words are as wise as ever. It's unlikely that you have kidney cancer but wouldn't be the end of the world even if you did, for the reasons he gave. dhs said don't worry until you hear the words "You have a mass". I'd say don't worry until you hear the words "We're having a mass".
    The best thing you can do is have a thorough medical examination sooner rather than later. Your worry right now is probably worse than any medical condition you have. Get the answers and you'll reduce your anxiety instantly. The odds are we won't have the dubious pleasure of needing to welcome you into our club.

    I share matchframe's thought about the stones! Have you had the best possible expert advice on diet and treatment for that problem?
  • garfield14681
    garfield14681 Member Posts: 5
    #9
    icemantoo said:

    Male/female Kidney Cancer
    garfield14681,

    Sorry about the error. Kidney Cancer is an equal opportunity disease striking both males and females although about 60% of the cases are males. There are a few youngins on this board, but most people stricken with Kidney Cancer are between 50 and 70.

    Icemantoo

    Thank you so much Sir, for
    Thank you so much Sir, for the clarification and sharing the facts...
  • garfield14681
    garfield14681 Member Posts: 5
    #10
    Texas_wedge said:

    Scared to death
    Garfield, you'll have to forgive iceman for his gender slip - he's getting old! But his words are as wise as ever. It's unlikely that you have kidney cancer but wouldn't be the end of the world even if you did, for the reasons he gave. dhs said don't worry until you hear the words "You have a mass". I'd say don't worry until you hear the words "We're having a mass".
    The best thing you can do is have a thorough medical examination sooner rather than later. Your worry right now is probably worse than any medical condition you have. Get the answers and you'll reduce your anxiety instantly. The odds are we won't have the dubious pleasure of needing to welcome you into our club.

    I share matchframe's thought about the stones! Have you had the best possible expert advice on diet and treatment for that problem?

    Thanks again, all of you who
    Thanks again, all of you who responded ! Totally agree with you Texas_wedge...its just to have a better understanding of my condition did I point out the gender thing...
    I did get loads of advice on diet for my stones...but I must say that I do not stick to it very religiously...I still remember though what the kidney stone pain felt like...
    well am going for my first visit to the doc tomorrow (for these symptoms am having ) have my fingers crossed...
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #11
    garfield14681 said:

    Thanks again, all of you who
    Thanks again, all of you who responded ! Totally agree with you Texas_wedge...its just to have a better understanding of my condition did I point out the gender thing...
    I did get loads of advice on diet for my stones...but I must say that I do not stick to it very religiously...I still remember though what the kidney stone pain felt like...
    well am going for my first visit to the doc tomorrow (for these symptoms am having ) have my fingers crossed...

    Visit to doc
    We'll all be hoping you don't ever qualify to be a member of this club (but you would always be welcome as a guest!).
    When you have the answer, please let us know - we'll be hoping that it will be a 'Goodbye, it's been nice speaking to you, keep on trucking' sort of message.
  • garfield14681
    garfield14681 Member Posts: 5
    #12
    Texas_wedge said:

    Visit to doc
    We'll all be hoping you don't ever qualify to be a member of this club (but you would always be welcome as a guest!).
    When you have the answer, please let us know - we'll be hoping that it will be a 'Goodbye, it's been nice speaking to you, keep on trucking' sort of message.

    next is visit to nephrologist
    Thanks again for the encouragement ... my visit to the doc went off OK....he did not relate my condition to my kidneys...just took my blood sample to check levels of calcium and vitamin D...am planning a visit to a nephrologist next as I am not very convinced by my orthopedist's opinion...

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