Bumpy Year

250xcfw
250xcfw Member Posts: 30
in Kidney Cancer #1
As some of you may know I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in May. I had my left kidney removed 4 weeks ago and need to go in and have a partial on my right kidney in a few weeks. This makes for a busy summer.
I went in for an upper GI last week to find out I now have esophageal cancer not related to the kidney cancer. What the hell do I do now! The cancer is in the earliest stage possible thanks to all the scans I’ve had for kidney cancer. I have 2 choices remove my esophagus or a partial with an endo scope. I need to do more research and I’ll let you know what I find.
Thanks
John

Comments

  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #2
    Bumpy Year
    John, Sorry for the tough diagnosis. I have no idea what one does with such a diagnosis but I am sure a good medical team will point you in the right direction. Please keep us posted on your options, decisions and attitude. We'll be here to lend an ear and offer support anyway possible. Stay tough!
  • 250xcfw
    250xcfw Member Posts: 30
    #3
    Home again
    Been home for one week after having my esophagus (MIE) removed and now waiting to hear when they want to do my next kidney. The MIE surgery was a massive surgery taking 8.5 hrs and 3 teams of surgeons. I guess that makes the next kidney surgery a breeze.
    I would like to thank everyone for help on both the kidney and esophagus sites.

    John
  • DogRescuer
    DogRescuer Member Posts: 52 Member
    #4
    250xcfw said:

    Home again
    Been home for one week after having my esophagus (MIE) removed and now waiting to hear when they want to do my next kidney. The MIE surgery was a massive surgery taking 8.5 hrs and 3 teams of surgeons. I guess that makes the next kidney surgery a breeze.
    I would like to thank everyone for help on both the kidney and esophagus sites.

    John

    Our club is unfortunately growing
    As you can see with the recent posts, there seems to be quite a few of us with 2nd primary cancers. Please know that there's lots of us standing with you during this difficult time. I can relate to all the surgeries--2 mos after my left kidney was removed I had 3 level spine surgery. Along with several surgeries in recent years, I felt like I was getting to know the staff.

    Goodness, the least they could do for us is give us our own private pre-op room or name a wing after us, huh?

    Linda
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #5
    250xcfw said:

    Home again
    Been home for one week after having my esophagus (MIE) removed and now waiting to hear when they want to do my next kidney. The MIE surgery was a massive surgery taking 8.5 hrs and 3 teams of surgeons. I guess that makes the next kidney surgery a breeze.
    I would like to thank everyone for help on both the kidney and esophagus sites.

    John

    welcome home John
    all i can say is WOW you have been thru alot,well i guess thats 2 down 1 to go then back to your life.
  • jason n
    jason n Member Posts: 12
    #6
    fellow offroader
    Hi John,
    I too am a dirt biker with a missing left kidney as a result of a RCC diagnosis in november of 2000. Had it removed via laproscopic hand assit that december.
    Just thought I would drop you a post because if you are anything like me, you wonder if riding played any part in bringing you to this cancer. I still wonder from time to time about all the races I did in the nasty new england woods and all the pre mix I was breathing in during those years, of coarse we will never know for sure. But I could not give it up, because like most hardcore dirtbikers, its what I live for. I am gonna have my first scan in nearly five years this week. I will let you know the results as I hope it will give you (and me) the confidence that your riding days are not over or are they the source of or cancer.
    In the words of Dave despain "keep your wheels on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"
    Talk to you soon
  • tmcjay
    tmcjay Member Posts: 35
    #7
    250xcfw said:

    Home again
    Been home for one week after having my esophagus (MIE) removed and now waiting to hear when they want to do my next kidney. The MIE surgery was a massive surgery taking 8.5 hrs and 3 teams of surgeons. I guess that makes the next kidney surgery a breeze.
    I would like to thank everyone for help on both the kidney and esophagus sites.

    John

    Your a strong guy John
    Hi John,
    Not sure if you remember me but I posted in response to your condition when you first came on the board. I too have kidney cancer and esophageal cancer, but my kidney cancer is just in the right kidney. I have also had the surgery for removal of the right kidney. You are right the ec surgery is super tough, but now you have that one behind you. Have they told you when they are doing the surgery on the other kidney? I still haven't had mine. Hang in there, and I hope you heal quickly. Thinking of you.
  • tmcjay
    tmcjay Member Posts: 35
    #8
    tmcjay said:

    Your a strong guy John
    Hi John,
    Not sure if you remember me but I posted in response to your condition when you first came on the board. I too have kidney cancer and esophageal cancer, but my kidney cancer is just in the right kidney. I have also had the surgery for removal of the right kidney. You are right the ec surgery is super tough, but now you have that one behind you. Have they told you when they are doing the surgery on the other kidney? I still haven't had mine. Hang in there, and I hope you heal quickly. Thinking of you.

    sorry
    meant to say i have had surgery already on my esophagus, not on my kidney. oooops
  • 250xcfw
    250xcfw Member Posts: 30
    #9
    250xcfw said:

    Home again
    Been home for one week after having my esophagus (MIE) removed and now waiting to hear when they want to do my next kidney. The MIE surgery was a massive surgery taking 8.5 hrs and 3 teams of surgeons. I guess that makes the next kidney surgery a breeze.
    I would like to thank everyone for help on both the kidney and esophagus sites.

    John

    Lung questions
    Quick update.Everything is going good almost back to normal as far as eating and day to day life after my esophagus surgery.
    Questions.
    My two problems are cough and energy levels related to lung capacity. The walking has been going fine but I don’t feel it’s helping much with my lungs and it hurts my back after a few miles. Working with weights has helped my back pain and started putting back on muscle mass to my upper body. Just started riding my bike on Tuesday for just a few minutes and it felt like my lungs were going to explode. So does anyone have any advice on helping lungs recover from surgery or what I should expect? FYI they colapsed both my lungs for surgery.

    Thanks for all the great comments.


    John
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    #10
    250xcfw said:

    Lung questions
    Quick update.Everything is going good almost back to normal as far as eating and day to day life after my esophagus surgery.
    Questions.
    My two problems are cough and energy levels related to lung capacity. The walking has been going fine but I don’t feel it’s helping much with my lungs and it hurts my back after a few miles. Working with weights has helped my back pain and started putting back on muscle mass to my upper body. Just started riding my bike on Tuesday for just a few minutes and it felt like my lungs were going to explode. So does anyone have any advice on helping lungs recover from surgery or what I should expect? FYI they colapsed both my lungs for surgery.

    Thanks for all the great comments.


    John

    Hi John
    i needed to use an inhaler for a couple of months,maybe that would help you
  • 250xcfw
    250xcfw Member Posts: 30
    #11
    jason n said:

    fellow offroader
    Hi John,
    I too am a dirt biker with a missing left kidney as a result of a RCC diagnosis in november of 2000. Had it removed via laproscopic hand assit that december.
    Just thought I would drop you a post because if you are anything like me, you wonder if riding played any part in bringing you to this cancer. I still wonder from time to time about all the races I did in the nasty new england woods and all the pre mix I was breathing in during those years, of coarse we will never know for sure. But I could not give it up, because like most hardcore dirtbikers, its what I live for. I am gonna have my first scan in nearly five years this week. I will let you know the results as I hope it will give you (and me) the confidence that your riding days are not over or are they the source of or cancer.
    In the words of Dave despain "keep your wheels on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"
    Talk to you soon

    Riding
    I like to think of pre mix smoke more as a cancer therapy because nothing could have possibly lived through it.
    I'm glad to see you're still riding. My general Dr. told me to quit riding/racing because it was to dangerous and I said " what about cancer isn't it dangerous too ". When I recover I will ride again but I don't know about racing because it's so hard on the body.
    I hope your scan go's well.

    Thanks
    John
  • 250xcfw
    250xcfw Member Posts: 30
    #12
    tmcjay said:

    Your a strong guy John
    Hi John,
    Not sure if you remember me but I posted in response to your condition when you first came on the board. I too have kidney cancer and esophageal cancer, but my kidney cancer is just in the right kidney. I have also had the surgery for removal of the right kidney. You are right the ec surgery is super tough, but now you have that one behind you. Have they told you when they are doing the surgery on the other kidney? I still haven't had mine. Hang in there, and I hope you heal quickly. Thinking of you.

    Surgeries
    tmcjay
    I hope everything is going good. When do you plan on having your next surgery? My next kidney surgery hasn't been scheduled but it should be by the end of November, December time frame. I'm hoping to start 2013 out cancer free and not think about it again.
    If you did well with the EC surgery the kidney should be a breeze. If you have any question feels free to ask.

    John
  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #13
    250xcfw said:

    Riding
    I like to think of pre mix smoke more as a cancer therapy because nothing could have possibly lived through it.
    I'm glad to see you're still riding. My general Dr. told me to quit riding/racing because it was to dangerous and I said " what about cancer isn't it dangerous too ". When I recover I will ride again but I don't know about racing because it's so hard on the body.
    I hope your scan go's well.

    Thanks
    John

    Sorry to hear about the two
    Sorry to hear about the two cancers. My mom 80 might be facing the same thing. I wanted to know since the esophagus cancer was caught early why couldn't they treat it instead or removing it the whole thing? That surgery sounds tough for an 80 year old. Thank you for sharing. I am praying for everyone.
  • jason n
    jason n Member Posts: 12
    #14
    250xcfw said:

    Riding
    I like to think of pre mix smoke more as a cancer therapy because nothing could have possibly lived through it.
    I'm glad to see you're still riding. My general Dr. told me to quit riding/racing because it was to dangerous and I said " what about cancer isn't it dangerous too ". When I recover I will ride again but I don't know about racing because it's so hard on the body.
    I hope your scan go's well.

    Thanks
    John

    My docton told me to stop
    My docton told me to stop also, back in 2000, I have only missed a dozen sundays since then!
    Scan showed a .7 size spot on my remaining kidney, he said not to worry because he does not think it is malignant. He said come back and see me in a year,,,seems a long time, buts thats what he said so I am not gonna worry,,,
    Hope all is going well with you.
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #15
    jason n said:

    My docton told me to stop
    My docton told me to stop also, back in 2000, I have only missed a dozen sundays since then!
    Scan showed a .7 size spot on my remaining kidney, he said not to worry because he does not think it is malignant. He said come back and see me in a year,,,seems a long time, buts thats what he said so I am not gonna worry,,,
    Hope all is going well with you.

    2 is not better than 1
    Especially when it's cancer. I can relate...last year at this time I was dancing between appointments to find out if I had a new thyroid cancer on top of RCC. Not, thank you very much.
    Regarding the esophogeal. My now retired co-worker had his esophogus removed in Sept. 91; and a friend in the Cancer Support Group had his removed in 88. Both had to go to small meals, not drinking liquids prior to meals, sleeping with the head of the bed raised, and a few other minor inconveniences. But they are out there playing golf or hunting deer/elk and enjoying themselves. As Dale says, "I'm to ornery to die."
    Stick around and recover from all this ####. We need more ornery people in the world.
    Donna

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