2 primary cancers, very confused

djm_2010
djm_2010 Member Posts: 52
in Kidney Cancer #1
Hello! My uncle has been diagnosed 2 weeks ago with stage 2 nasopharyngeal cancer, poorly differentiated, Stage 2. A routine ultrasound was done 5 days ago and they incidentally found a 6x 5 cms solid mass on his right kidney. His oncologist told us that this could be a different cancer and most probably not a mets. So instead of having his radiation treatments and chemo he will have his nephrectomy tomorrow. We are all very scared for him because we have read that renal ca is very hard to treat. And after removing his kidney, he still have to undergo radiation and chemo for his nasopharyngeal ca. Tis is very hard for us, he is still young and has 4 children. Please pray for him, for his surgery tomorrow that all we go well and this nightmare be over for us. Thank you!

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Look at the positive
    djm-2010,

    Your uncle believe it or not is one lucky person. If they had not incidentally found the mass on his kidney it would have grown and matastisised. At 6 cm surgery can still provide a complete and final cure. At 4 cm or smaller the surgical cure rate approaches 100%. Even at 6 cm the surgical cure rate is still very high if it has not metatisised and with the medications coming out there is even more reason for optimism. Sorry I can not offer any thoughts on the other cancer, but at stage 2 of most cancers now there is more and more reason for optomism. Having been active on this board for 2 and 1/2 years I hace not seen these 2 cancers connected.

    Best wishes,

    Icemantoo
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #3
    Be glad they found it now...
    djm,

    The iceman has hit the nail on the head, early stage RCC has a high rate of surgical cure and your uncle's was found early, stage 2 for RCC starts at 7.0cm. I know nothing of nasopharyngeal cancer, but his RCC will likely be of secondary concern following the surgery which will probably be the only treatment for it that he ever needs. There are a lot of caring and knowledgeable people here that will help you as things progress, keep us posted.

    Good luck and Godspeed,

    Gary
  • djm_2010
    djm_2010 Member Posts: 52
    #4
    garym said:

    Be glad they found it now...
    djm,

    The iceman has hit the nail on the head, early stage RCC has a high rate of surgical cure and your uncle's was found early, stage 2 for RCC starts at 7.0cm. I know nothing of nasopharyngeal cancer, but his RCC will likely be of secondary concern following the surgery which will probably be the only treatment for it that he ever needs. There are a lot of caring and knowledgeable people here that will help you as things progress, keep us posted.

    Good luck and Godspeed,

    Gary

    Thank you so much for your
    Thank you so much for your encouragement, I'll update you tomorrow after the operation and what the findings are. We're keeping our fingers crossed and still hope that this is not cancer. Godbless you all!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #5
    djm_2010 said:

    Thank you so much for your
    Thank you so much for your encouragement, I'll update you tomorrow after the operation and what the findings are. We're keeping our fingers crossed and still hope that this is not cancer. Godbless you all!

    2 primary cancers
    Dina, it does seem very unfortunate that your uncle may have 2 different cancers. Like iceman, I've never heard of any connections between renal cancer and nasopharyngeal and it seems unlikely that either occurrenece represents a metastasis of the other one.

    It sounds to me almost certain that the solid tumour in his kidney is cancerous, and I think you should assume it will be, but as you are well aware, huge numbers of people survive and live happy lives with some forms of cancer. I'm assuming your uncle is around 70 years old. Does he live in the Philippines? Nasopharyngeal cancer is almost unknown in the UK but is highly prevalent in southern China so I hope that he is in a place where there is a lot of expertise in treating it. Does he have access to experts in RCC?

    We look forward to hearing how the op. went and will give you all the help and support we can on this forum.
  • djm_2010
    djm_2010 Member Posts: 52
    #6
    Texas_wedge said:

    2 primary cancers
    Dina, it does seem very unfortunate that your uncle may have 2 different cancers. Like iceman, I've never heard of any connections between renal cancer and nasopharyngeal and it seems unlikely that either occurrenece represents a metastasis of the other one.

    It sounds to me almost certain that the solid tumour in his kidney is cancerous, and I think you should assume it will be, but as you are well aware, huge numbers of people survive and live happy lives with some forms of cancer. I'm assuming your uncle is around 70 years old. Does he live in the Philippines? Nasopharyngeal cancer is almost unknown in the UK but is highly prevalent in southern China so I hope that he is in a place where there is a lot of expertise in treating it. Does he have access to experts in RCC?

    We look forward to hearing how the op. went and will give you all the help and support we can on this forum.

    Thank you for your concern.
    Thank you for your concern. Yes my uncle also lives in the Philippines and works in the medical field, that's why he's so devastated because he was so busy caring for others selflessly and unfortunately he neglected his own body. A radical nephrectomy was done and the mass was even bigger that his kidney around 10x 9 cms, solid looking and according to his surgeon grossly it seems to be contained at just one kidney. We are still waiting for the complete histopath report. We're just hoping for the best and are wondering after the operation what will be treated first the kidney or nasopharynx. He is only 52yrs old has 4 kids and when he has recovered he will definitely log in in this site and get inspiration from you guys. Thank you so much and Godbless you all! Will update you again when the report of the pathologist is already in.
  • DogRescuer
    DogRescuer Member Posts: 52 Member
    #7
    djm_2010 said:

    Thank you for your concern.
    Thank you for your concern. Yes my uncle also lives in the Philippines and works in the medical field, that's why he's so devastated because he was so busy caring for others selflessly and unfortunately he neglected his own body. A radical nephrectomy was done and the mass was even bigger that his kidney around 10x 9 cms, solid looking and according to his surgeon grossly it seems to be contained at just one kidney. We are still waiting for the complete histopath report. We're just hoping for the best and are wondering after the operation what will be treated first the kidney or nasopharynx. He is only 52yrs old has 4 kids and when he has recovered he will definitely log in in this site and get inspiration from you guys. Thank you so much and Godbless you all! Will update you again when the report of the pathologist is already in.

    two primaries
    What a lucky guy to have such a caring niece!!

    Even though the tumor was larger than expected, the most important finding is that it was contained in the kidney. I had breast cancer 3 yrs ago and kidney cancer was found this year. My oncologist said it was a 2nd primary and that is BETTER than if it had metasticized.

    So I just wanted to share some of the positives for you and your uncle. I wish him well with his treatment for the nasopharynx. You can support him by sending lots of cards and positive thoughts.
  • Jeff2159
    Jeff2159 Member Posts: 108
    #8
    djm_2010 said:

    Thank you for your concern.
    Thank you for your concern. Yes my uncle also lives in the Philippines and works in the medical field, that's why he's so devastated because he was so busy caring for others selflessly and unfortunately he neglected his own body. A radical nephrectomy was done and the mass was even bigger that his kidney around 10x 9 cms, solid looking and according to his surgeon grossly it seems to be contained at just one kidney. We are still waiting for the complete histopath report. We're just hoping for the best and are wondering after the operation what will be treated first the kidney or nasopharynx. He is only 52yrs old has 4 kids and when he has recovered he will definitely log in in this site and get inspiration from you guys. Thank you so much and Godbless you all! Will update you again when the report of the pathologist is already in.

    Your Uncle
    DJM-- I'm a yr older with 2 less kids but Iam fighting the battle of 2 cancers too and tell your uncle to have patience,not to give up and continue praying. At the beginning the hard part is the unknown but over time your uncle will have a better understanding of what he is battling and how he will win it over. Good luck to him and your family

    Jeff
  • djm_2010
    djm_2010 Member Posts: 52
    #9
    Jeff2159 said:

    Your Uncle
    DJM-- I'm a yr older with 2 less kids but Iam fighting the battle of 2 cancers too and tell your uncle to have patience,not to give up and continue praying. At the beginning the hard part is the unknown but over time your uncle will have a better understanding of what he is battling and how he will win it over. Good luck to him and your family

    Jeff

    Hello guys! Thank you so
    Hello guys! Thank you so much for all your support and advices. The path report of my uncle showed a stage 2 RCC and no chemo is recommended. He is currently undergoing chemo and radiation for his nasopharyngeal ca. The docs are very concerned because the meds used are slightlynnephrotoxic and they must monitor his kidney function tests all the time. His chemo is being done weekly x 7 weeks and he has radiotherapy daily for 6 weeks. Hoping for the best and praying that the kidney cancer won't resurface again. Just praying that he will Finnish his chemo without damaging is remaining kidney. He's staying at our house and it's really very hard on my uncle and aunt being so helpless. Godbless you all!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #10
    djm_2010 said:

    Hello guys! Thank you so
    Hello guys! Thank you so much for all your support and advices. The path report of my uncle showed a stage 2 RCC and no chemo is recommended. He is currently undergoing chemo and radiation for his nasopharyngeal ca. The docs are very concerned because the meds used are slightlynnephrotoxic and they must monitor his kidney function tests all the time. His chemo is being done weekly x 7 weeks and he has radiotherapy daily for 6 weeks. Hoping for the best and praying that the kidney cancer won't resurface again. Just praying that he will Finnish his chemo without damaging is remaining kidney. He's staying at our house and it's really very hard on my uncle and aunt being so helpless. Godbless you all!

    Path report
    Dina,

    What was the grade and what sub-type - clear cell RCC? Do you know the cause of the nasopharyngeal cancer or why it is so common in the far east and rare in the west?

    It's good that your uncle is in expert hands and that such a valuable member of the community is being carefully returned to full health. Please give him best wishes from the UK and I know all out American friends will also be wishing him well.

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