I am terrified!!!

keimic said:

Get a Full Diagnosis That You Can Trust

Mandy I feel for you.  I found out that I had kidney cancer 6 1/2 years ago when I went to the doctor with unusual abdominal pain.  He ordered a CAT Scan which revaaled a large growth on my left kidney.  By the way that growth was not what was causing the pain.  I have learned that it is not uncommon for people to discover that they have kdney cancer when they get a CAT Scan for some unrelated problem - like an auto accident.  I never had blood in my urine.  Two weeks later I had a total nephrectomy of my left kidney.  Now 6 1/2 years later, I am about to go in for a partial (hopefully) nephrectomy of my right kidney because I have had a recurrence - which is unusual in the great scheme of things.

I am telling you all this to emphasize the fact that I had no way of knowing that I had cancer, or a recurrence of cancer, without the use of imaging diagnostic techniques - CAT Scans, MRIs, and PET Scans.  Kidney cancer is not alway accompanied by unusual urine.  And, unusual urine can be the sign of many problems other than cancer, including some that are quickly treatable.

You haven't said what treatment you have sought.  I recommend that you see your primary care physician and ask her/him for a referral to a urologist.

 

Good luck to you.

Mindy,

There are many things which can cause your symtoms. Find out what is wrong thru the tests the doctor orders  and if it turns out that it is Kidney Cancer we will help you through it. No fun being told you have KidneyCancer or any other Cancer, but there are a lot of worse things out there, Mine was almost 11 years ago and I am doing fine.

Icemantoo

Hi Mandy,

I understand that you are frightened, it is very worrying when you are faced with health problems, particularly when you don't know what is causing it. Try not to become consumed with fear, because before you know it you will have a whole doomsday scenario playing out in your head. You will have yourself convinced that this can only end badly and your stress levels with be up through the roof.

There are many, many things that could be causing your problem. My husband recently was passing visible blood protein in his urine. He was treated for an infection but still had blood identified. He had a kidney stone which was causing the problem, he had no pain so it was a surprising find, and easily treated.

I have had oral cancer, cancerous polyps in the bowel and kidney cancer twice, I am currently just recovering from a partial nephrectomy on my kidney. The point is that each one was caught in good time and I recovered? I know it is hard to deal with but please don't let your fears take over. Once you have a diagnosis you will be able to deal with it and whatever is causing the problem you will have a crack team of medical experts to help you. 

Do you have family and friends around you to support you?

wow djinnie, you really are a trooper with a great attitude.  do you mind me asking you did you have kidney cancer in the same kidney twice?  

eims x

Djinnie said:

Hi Eims

Hello Eims,

Unfortunately the answer is yes, same place and the same size as the first one. I had Radiofrequency treatment in Dallas ten years ago. I have since come back to Europe and now live in France. It was rather like déjà vu, went to the doctor with stomach pain, had a range of scans then low and behold there was a tumor. I have been very fortunate each time, thank god for my sensitive stomach. 

Are you in the USA or Europe?

hi djinnie, im in ireland....i was sent originally with suspected gall stones but they found the tumor then completely by accident.  i suppose its like most other people here!!  pure chance really.

eims x

Djinnie said:

Hi Eims

Hi Eims,

I wondered if you were in Europe, a lot of your terminology indicated it. I hope I have not added to your concerns with my response about the second bout of cancer. I wanted to assure you that I have been advised that if I had undergone a nephrectomy the first time instead of Radiofrequency I probably would not be in this position. The tumor was probably too big for the first treatment to be successful.

All the best

 

i was originally having a partial nephrecomy djinnie but when they got in there the roots of the tumour were too far into the kidney itself so they decided to take the whole lot...as my consultant said he wasn't prepared to take the chance!!

eims x

Mandy, being scared of the diagnosis happens. My advice would be to talk to your doctor, hug your son, talk to counselor or priest, and see where you can find some peace. Has your doctor ordered any tests?  Waiting for results stinks but it is better than not knowing.

Hang in there. It gets easier to deal with as time passes. Reading the forums here helps to understand that if it is cancer it is beatable, and you can go on to recover and have a full and healthy life.  Oh, and no one is going to try to kick you off of here because you haven't had an official diagnosis yet. It would be better if you didn't have to look for this place because you had this concern but since you are here you are more than welcome. We will just all hope that it isn't cancer or some other terrible kidney disease that you have. If it isn't we will all cheer you on and be incredibly happy for you. If it is, well, we will be here to listen and support you how we can.