Newbie trying to get treatment

Tigster
Tigster Member Posts: 3
in Kidney Cancer #1
I'm having a lung problem and my pulmonary dr orders a CT scan 9/14 that shows 10cm mass on my kidney. So he says need to get that addressed asap. Okay, so I make appt and wait 2 weeks to see dr @ UPMC. Says he'll get back to me and another week has passed and I can't get past the secretary. Okay, so I call Cleveland and now waiting on a callback from them. In the meamtime my lung problem ( probably related to the kidney problem) has deteriorated and yesterday my pulmonary dr freaked out on me because I hadn't done anything about the kidney mass. So the question is...do I just show up at an ER and have all my records & images in hand?? Tell them I have back pain??
I'm all packed and nowhere to go. :(

Comments

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #2
    Sorry about the Run Around
    I'm afraid the ER would just refer you to a specialist. My thought is to call your Pulmonary Dr and have him contact a urologist/surgeon/oncologist, and light a fire under whomever he calls. Obviously, something needs to be addressed. And soon.

    Friday is not a good time to try to do this, but at least try to get things started.

    Keep us posted.
    Donna
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    donna_lee said:

    Sorry about the Run Around
    I'm afraid the ER would just refer you to a specialist. My thought is to call your Pulmonary Dr and have him contact a urologist/surgeon/oncologist, and light a fire under whomever he calls. Obviously, something needs to be addressed. And soon.

    Friday is not a good time to try to do this, but at least try to get things started.

    Keep us posted.
    Donna

    Run Around
    Tigster, I would definately try and address this with the Medical Center Administration. A 10cm tumor needs to come out sooner rather than later. Good luck,


    Icemantoo
  • Tigster
    Tigster Member Posts: 3
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    Run Around
    Tigster, I would definately try and address this with the Medical Center Administration. A 10cm tumor needs to come out sooner rather than later. Good luck,


    Icemantoo

    yea! I got a callback
    I'm on my way, surgery scheduled for Oct 22. Got a call last night with apologies and they needed to get a chest dr. on board to examine the CT scan also. I'm really nervous, but so happy to be getting medical care.

    Now to just get through 9 sleepless nights...
  • Max Power
    Max Power Member Posts: 60
    #5
    Tigster said:

    yea! I got a callback
    I'm on my way, surgery scheduled for Oct 22. Got a call last night with apologies and they needed to get a chest dr. on board to examine the CT scan also. I'm really nervous, but so happy to be getting medical care.

    Now to just get through 9 sleepless nights...

    Glad to see things are moving for you.
    So is it a total nephrectomy (like I had) or partial or laproscopic? Have you got a medical proxy / living will etc.? (That will keep you busy!) Are they assuming the renal cancer has spread to the lungs? I guess that's what the chest Dr. is for. I'm thinking perhaps not, because mine spread to the lungs but I was asymptomatic - had no pulmonary problems.
    Best to you.
    Max
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    Max Power said:

    Glad to see things are moving for you.
    So is it a total nephrectomy (like I had) or partial or laproscopic? Have you got a medical proxy / living will etc.? (That will keep you busy!) Are they assuming the renal cancer has spread to the lungs? I guess that's what the chest Dr. is for. I'm thinking perhaps not, because mine spread to the lungs but I was asymptomatic - had no pulmonary problems.
    Best to you.
    Max

    Try and relax
    Tigster,

    While the Nephrectomy is major surgery it has been routine surgery for years and only a few people have complications from it. You will get thru the surgery fine. Yes you are going to feel sore afterwords but if I could get thru it, anybody can. Tou are going to ne grounded for about 10 days afterword so line up some family help. Treat yourself to a nice steak dinner while you are waiting, For my friends across the pond you can skip the Kidney Pie as your pre-surgery treat. Get back to us a few weeks after the surgery and let us know how you are doing.

    Icemantoo
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #7
    icemantoo said:

    Try and relax
    Tigster,

    While the Nephrectomy is major surgery it has been routine surgery for years and only a few people have complications from it. You will get thru the surgery fine. Yes you are going to feel sore afterwords but if I could get thru it, anybody can. Tou are going to ne grounded for about 10 days afterword so line up some family help. Treat yourself to a nice steak dinner while you are waiting, For my friends across the pond you can skip the Kidney Pie as your pre-surgery treat. Get back to us a few weeks after the surgery and let us know how you are doing.

    Icemantoo

    Dining delicacy
    Thought of you yesterday iceman and your celebrated celebratory celebrity dinner at the Falls. We'd been to see my new oncologist and were eating at a favourite lunch spot - the Parrot Cafe in Dundee. We were having delicious spinach pancakes (apologies to Mike if he ever visits) and salad. The proprietrix, a very old friend by now, was chatting to the customers at the next table about her kidney pie. I felt it would be indelicate to ask her to stop and just had to smile instead!
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #8
    Texas_wedge said:

    Dining delicacy
    Thought of you yesterday iceman and your celebrated celebratory celebrity dinner at the Falls. We'd been to see my new oncologist and were eating at a favourite lunch spot - the Parrot Cafe in Dundee. We were having delicious spinach pancakes (apologies to Mike if he ever visits) and salad. The proprietrix, a very old friend by now, was chatting to the customers at the next table about her kidney pie. I felt it would be indelicate to ask her to stop and just had to smile instead!

    good luck
    Good luck Tigster. Now you will be making progress. Be patient and do well.
  • jennsam
    jennsam Member Posts: 14
    #9
    foxhd said:

    good luck
    Good luck Tigster. Now you will be making progress. Be patient and do well.

    GOOD LUCK
    8 weeks post op for a partial !!! You will be good !!! Mine was clear cell T1G2...contained ! We shall see what the future holds good luck to you !!!
  • Tigster
    Tigster Member Posts: 3
    #10
    icemantoo said:

    Try and relax
    Tigster,

    While the Nephrectomy is major surgery it has been routine surgery for years and only a few people have complications from it. You will get thru the surgery fine. Yes you are going to feel sore afterwords but if I could get thru it, anybody can. Tou are going to ne grounded for about 10 days afterword so line up some family help. Treat yourself to a nice steak dinner while you are waiting, For my friends across the pond you can skip the Kidney Pie as your pre-surgery treat. Get back to us a few weeks after the surgery and let us know how you are doing.

    Icemantoo

    Trying to relax
    Thank you for the encouragement. We're headed to Pittsburgh a few days early and I found a Morton's Steak House. I've read the high protein isn't so good for my kidneys, but one small filet....yum.

    It'll be a total and they're thinking the mediastinal(?) lymph nodes and maybe the lung and I don't even know what else.

    I feel like the Mars Voyager is about to land...little scoops for samples and cameras for photos.

    I'll let you know how it all works out.
    Thanks again for your kind words of encouragment,
    Cindy
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #11
    Tigster said:

    Trying to relax
    Thank you for the encouragement. We're headed to Pittsburgh a few days early and I found a Morton's Steak House. I've read the high protein isn't so good for my kidneys, but one small filet....yum.

    It'll be a total and they're thinking the mediastinal(?) lymph nodes and maybe the lung and I don't even know what else.

    I feel like the Mars Voyager is about to land...little scoops for samples and cameras for photos.

    I'll let you know how it all works out.
    Thanks again for your kind words of encouragment,
    Cindy

    Good luck
    Cindy,


    Good luck; know we'll be thinking of you.
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #12
    alice124 said:

    Good luck
    Cindy,


    Good luck; know we'll be thinking of you.

    Small filet at Mortons
    Cindy,

    Those filets at Mortons are soo small. Enjoy, you are entitled to. And yes that liquid plumber on Sunday. Not fun. The surgery is the first and most important step in your recovery. At 10cm you may face other challanges ahead. Have and keep a positive attitude. That is half the battle. Best of luck Monday. You should be able to watch our Tigers in the World Series later in the week.


    Icemantoo
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #13
    icemantoo said:

    Small filet at Mortons
    Cindy,

    Those filets at Mortons are soo small. Enjoy, you are entitled to. And yes that liquid plumber on Sunday. Not fun. The surgery is the first and most important step in your recovery. At 10cm you may face other challanges ahead. Have and keep a positive attitude. That is half the battle. Best of luck Monday. You should be able to watch our Tigers in the World Series later in the week.


    Icemantoo

    Playoff Series - Side note
    Michigan friends,

    Wish it were our Orioles playing the Tigers, but wish the Detroit tigers the best of luck.

    To my Yankee fan friends--O's will be back next year!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #14
    alice124 said:

    Playoff Series - Side note
    Michigan friends,

    Wish it were our Orioles playing the Tigers, but wish the Detroit tigers the best of luck.

    To my Yankee fan friends--O's will be back next year!

    Orioles
    Alice,

    I have a daughter and 3 granddaughters in Baltimore (Owings Mills). They are all in mourning. I am sure the O's would have put up a better fight than the Yankees against our Tigers.


    Icemantoo

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