stage 4 renal cell carcinoma

lucky7875
lucky7875 Member Posts: 5
in Kidney Cancer #1
My mother fell and broke her humerus in Sept 2011. Due to that fall, the Dr's found stage 4 renal cell carcinoma kidney cancer. They removed her right kidney and gave her a prosthetic left humerus and shoulder. She recently broke her right hip (didn't fall). The tumors grew so fast that when she turned, her hip broke. She now has a prosthetic right hip. Tumors in both lungs, both arms, both hips and scattered throughout her spine have been found. She refuses chemo because of how sick it made her. I have moved from Seattle, WA to Tampa, FL to care for her.
Realistically, without chemo, how long are we looking at? I only ask because I want to have my brother and sisters see her before its too late. We are scattered around the states and need to figure out how to get us all together. Thank you for any help and guidance.

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    The fall
    Dear Lucky.

    Without the fall in Sept. 2011 her Stge 4 Cancer would have further metaasized and grown and she would have an even bleaker outlook today or not even be with us. . Perhaps there is one or more of the new drugs she can tolerate, They do shrink tumous.

    As far as the other siblings seeing her they should do so as soon as possi=able, not to make sure they see her before she dies, but to see her before her condition gets worse so your mother can appreciate them more. As far as how long she has that is between God and her to work out the details on.

    These are my thoughts on a very personal subject and if you do not agree with then, ignore them.

    Icemantoo
  • lucky7875
    lucky7875 Member Posts: 5
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    The fall
    Dear Lucky.

    Without the fall in Sept. 2011 her Stge 4 Cancer would have further metaasized and grown and she would have an even bleaker outlook today or not even be with us. . Perhaps there is one or more of the new drugs she can tolerate, They do shrink tumous.

    As far as the other siblings seeing her they should do so as soon as possi=able, not to make sure they see her before she dies, but to see her before her condition gets worse so your mother can appreciate them more. As far as how long she has that is between God and her to work out the details on.

    These are my thoughts on a very personal subject and if you do not agree with then, ignore them.

    Icemantoo

    icemantoo,
    Thank you very
    icemantoo,
    Thank you very much for your reply. I am having my family come in as soon as they can. We are standing on God's word as I have seen Him heal people of cancer and MS.
    I am meeting with doctors next week to discuss options, but my mother really only wants to take pain meds and nothing else.
    Again, thank you sir.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #4
    lucky7875 said:

    icemantoo,
    Thank you very
    icemantoo,
    Thank you very much for your reply. I am having my family come in as soon as they can. We are standing on God's word as I have seen Him heal people of cancer and MS.
    I am meeting with doctors next week to discuss options, but my mother really only wants to take pain meds and nothing else.
    Again, thank you sir.

    Your Mother
    I'd like to associate myself with the sensitive and intelligent reply iceman has given you.

    Maybe the doctors can persuade your Mother to try one of the latest drugs, if that's possible, since some of them seem not to have the nasty side-effects of some of the earlier treatments.

    The situation is so serious and calls for such well-informed analysis that may I suggest that you also put your questions to the very knowledgeable folks on the ACOR list called KIDNEY-ONC?
  • lucky7875
    lucky7875 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    Texas_wedge said:

    Your Mother
    I'd like to associate myself with the sensitive and intelligent reply iceman has given you.

    Maybe the doctors can persuade your Mother to try one of the latest drugs, if that's possible, since some of them seem not to have the nasty side-effects of some of the earlier treatments.

    The situation is so serious and calls for such well-informed analysis that may I suggest that you also put your questions to the very knowledgeable folks on the ACOR list called KIDNEY-ONC?

    Thank you Texas. I am now
    Thank you Texas. I am now looking to ACOR.
  • renal scare 57
    renal scare 57 Member Posts: 16
    #6
    stage 4 rcc lucky
    Im so sorry you are having to see your mother this way, but I feel your pain along with everyone else. My husband also has this and the tumors they grow so so fast it seems like everyday or two another pops up. Last count I believe my husband has like 23. Just like your moms there are everywhere in the temple jaw ears top of skull arms thighs groin area stomach arms breast back and those are just the ones we see on the outside can only imange on the inside. I would like to give you better answer to your question but I cant either because I too have been looking and asking and noone knows. They have told me in May a few weeks and we still are fighting this horrible disease. I truly wish there was something we can do to stop this disease but keep the faith is all I can say. My hubby was told in Dec 2011 about it and he tried to do the chemo and his body just didnt want to take part in the treatments so the doctor stopped all treatments and told us in may few weeks go with end of life care and comfort and we have. I see him goin down just like with your mom and it breaks my heart but we keep the faith going, all we can do. There are so many things i could say but nothing you dont already know but know that you are another one added to the prayer list May God bless and give you strength
  • lucky7875
    lucky7875 Member Posts: 5
    #7
    renal scare 57 said:

    stage 4 rcc lucky
    Im so sorry you are having to see your mother this way, but I feel your pain along with everyone else. My husband also has this and the tumors they grow so so fast it seems like everyday or two another pops up. Last count I believe my husband has like 23. Just like your moms there are everywhere in the temple jaw ears top of skull arms thighs groin area stomach arms breast back and those are just the ones we see on the outside can only imange on the inside. I would like to give you better answer to your question but I cant either because I too have been looking and asking and noone knows. They have told me in May a few weeks and we still are fighting this horrible disease. I truly wish there was something we can do to stop this disease but keep the faith is all I can say. My hubby was told in Dec 2011 about it and he tried to do the chemo and his body just didnt want to take part in the treatments so the doctor stopped all treatments and told us in may few weeks go with end of life care and comfort and we have. I see him goin down just like with your mom and it breaks my heart but we keep the faith going, all we can do. There are so many things i could say but nothing you dont already know but know that you are another one added to the prayer list May God bless and give you strength

    Thank you for your prayers.
    Thank you for your prayers. Our faith in God is all we have.


    I read about people living for a while with RCC stage 4, but they seem to be doing treatment. My mother is doing radiation on the parts that are causing her pain. However, the ones in the lungs are growing, she now has a mass almost the size of a football on her right side and still refuses any chemo or other treatment besides radiation. Is it right to say that radiation alone will help?
  • lucky7875
    lucky7875 Member Posts: 5
    #8
    lucky7875 said:

    Thank you for your prayers.
    Thank you for your prayers. Our faith in God is all we have.


    I read about people living for a while with RCC stage 4, but they seem to be doing treatment. My mother is doing radiation on the parts that are causing her pain. However, the ones in the lungs are growing, she now has a mass almost the size of a football on her right side and still refuses any chemo or other treatment besides radiation. Is it right to say that radiation alone will help?

    Clots
    A recent ct scan has shown blood clots in my mothers lungs. Doc has her on coumadin but ever since her blood has been at the thinness that they want, she cannot walk, she can't feed herself or hold a phone. She keeps having muscle spasms and she just stares off and doesn't answer me most times. I am having to pick her up and put her in a wheelchair to go to the bathroom and then pick her up off the toilet. Pretty much pick her up whenever she needs moved. She is cold to the touch and very incoherent. She is sleeping an average of 18-22 hours a day. Is the normal for her condition and for someone on coumadin?
  • renal scare 57
    renal scare 57 Member Posts: 16
    #9
    lucky7875 said:

    Clots
    A recent ct scan has shown blood clots in my mothers lungs. Doc has her on coumadin but ever since her blood has been at the thinness that they want, she cannot walk, she can't feed herself or hold a phone. She keeps having muscle spasms and she just stares off and doesn't answer me most times. I am having to pick her up and put her in a wheelchair to go to the bathroom and then pick her up off the toilet. Pretty much pick her up whenever she needs moved. She is cold to the touch and very incoherent. She is sleeping an average of 18-22 hours a day. Is the normal for her condition and for someone on coumadin?

    clots
    my hubby is still hanging in there Hospic said we have maybe a month left but it is still up to the man above. It seems like my hubby and your mother are very much alike with this one he is very cold to the touch and he is starting to stare into space alot sometimes his nose is as cold as a freezer feels and can be sweating at the same time. Only reason they have giving me is that it has probabaly gotten into the thyroid because it controls the body temp. my hubby has started sleeping alot also. Thought it was the morphine but some days he is pretty much at himself and other days he isn't so I have come to the conclusion that it is the disease progression. He has so many tumors that i can feel that is just unreal and I think the weight he loses the bigger they are and more spreadout they seem.My thoughts are with you and everyone that fights cancer regardless of the kind.Someday cancer will be as treatable as heart bypass. May the good lord be with us all
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #10
    renal scare 57 said:

    clots
    my hubby is still hanging in there Hospic said we have maybe a month left but it is still up to the man above. It seems like my hubby and your mother are very much alike with this one he is very cold to the touch and he is starting to stare into space alot sometimes his nose is as cold as a freezer feels and can be sweating at the same time. Only reason they have giving me is that it has probabaly gotten into the thyroid because it controls the body temp. my hubby has started sleeping alot also. Thought it was the morphine but some days he is pretty much at himself and other days he isn't so I have come to the conclusion that it is the disease progression. He has so many tumors that i can feel that is just unreal and I think the weight he loses the bigger they are and more spreadout they seem.My thoughts are with you and everyone that fights cancer regardless of the kind.Someday cancer will be as treatable as heart bypass. May the good lord be with us all

    God Bless
    Bless both of you and your families. Again I am reminded of how lucky I am. I wish I had more of an answer to help. Stay strong.
    Fox.

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