Possible kidney cancer

elpasorudy
elpasorudy Member Posts: 84
in Kidney Cancer #1

I had CT scan Wednesday and learned Friday that there is a soft tissue mass (1.2 x 2 cm) on my left kidney. Tried to schedule an appointment with my urologist for early this week, but he is on vacation. The earliest they could get me in was Friday, so I switched to a new urology group. Have appointment tomorrow at 10 a.m. This is nothing to fool around with. I underwent the scan because an ultrasound showed that I had an enlarged lymph node in my right groin. I thought I had a hernia due to a burning senation in the groin when I walk two or mile miles or stand on my feet for more than three hours. The scan showed no enlarged lymph node. The major organs all seemed good. I imagine I will have a biopsy. The results of the scan are definitely unsettling. My wife died June 1 from an aggressive uterine cancer. I am a cancer survivor. Had prostate cancer surgery in 2006, and my PSA has been undetectable since then. Past CT scan indicated I had a kidney cyst. Don't remember on which side. Will need to dig out the old reports. But no cyst was mentioned on this scan. Hoping for the best. My wife, who battled cancer for nearly five years, received great support from the Cancer Survivors Network.

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Welcome

    Welcome to our club which nobody volunteers to join. We are a minority among Cancers. Only 3% and we have our own protocols.

    Usually the CT can distinguish between a cyst and a tumor. Biopsys are the exception rather than the rule. At 2 cm you are one of the lucky ones where surgery usually cures Kidney Cancer. At 2 cm usually their are several options which could include freezing the tumor or zapping it as well as laproscopic surgery involving the removal of a part or a whole kdiney. Mine was 11 yearss ago at a  then young 59. Faye across the street had hers 18 years ago and she is only 82.

    Sorry to here about your wife and prior battle. This should be a lot easier than what your wife went thru.   Usually in a group Urology practice there are a few young guys who do this, so you may or may not be scheduled with the one doing who may do your surgery tomorrow.

    The Kidney surgery is a little more invasive than the prostate, but it beets the alternative.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Gordon Charles
    Gordon Charles Member Posts: 91
    #3
    What a coincidence....

    Greetings Elpa..sounds like we'll both be seeing a Dr. at 10am on Monday....  time for my periodic assessment post nephrectomy.  CT on Friday... results on Monday.  I can understand with your history why your CT results are concerning.  Hopefully your experience has also brought the wisdom that as stated things look very good for you.  As my oncologist likes to point out... even if it IS cancer...it's a small amount of disease.  It's tiring to think of gearing up for another battle with cancer.  So don't until you have to.  See the doc,  have a good lunch, and report back to us.  With any kind of luck you'll be saying...."Never Mind!"

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
    #4
    Possibly Kidney Cancer

    Hi, I am sorry to hear you are faced with the possibility of kidney cancer, you have been through so much already. The main thing is that if it turns out to be cancer it has been caught early. 

    I see your appointment is today, I hope it goes well:) let us know the outcome. Be assured that you will always get whatever support you need on this site. 

    Djinnie x

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
    #5
    Gordon Charles said:

    What a coincidence....

    Greetings Elpa..sounds like we'll both be seeing a Dr. at 10am on Monday....  time for my periodic assessment post nephrectomy.  CT on Friday... results on Monday.  I can understand with your history why your CT results are concerning.  Hopefully your experience has also brought the wisdom that as stated things look very good for you.  As my oncologist likes to point out... even if it IS cancer...it's a small amount of disease.  It's tiring to think of gearing up for another battle with cancer.  So don't until you have to.  See the doc,  have a good lunch, and report back to us.  With any kind of luck you'll be saying...."Never Mind!"

    Scan Results

    Hi Gordon,

    I like your Oncologist's way of thinking! I hope all goes well with your appointment today:)

     

     

    Djinnie x

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    #6
    ElPasoRudy

    I am assuming that means you are in El Paso or from there! Cool  What a great town!

    It's not at all comforting to hear those words, especially since you've had some experience with them before.

    Take heart in the fact that yours is small at this point, a good bit smaller than mine and many others here, and that you have great resources available to you. Now you are here, you also have the care and support of every member of this awsome group of folks!  The price of membership here is high, but, since you've already joined by virtue of your diagnosis, you may as well reap what benefits we offer.

    Please, stay in touch, often, and let us know how things are progressing. I'm looking forward to hearing about your visit to the Doctors office today!

    Take heart that you are among friends and allies.

    Michael

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #7
    MDCinSC said:

    ElPasoRudy

    I am assuming that means you are in El Paso or from there! Cool  What a great town!

    It's not at all comforting to hear those words, especially since you've had some experience with them before.

    Take heart in the fact that yours is small at this point, a good bit smaller than mine and many others here, and that you have great resources available to you. Now you are here, you also have the care and support of every member of this awsome group of folks!  The price of membership here is high, but, since you've already joined by virtue of your diagnosis, you may as well reap what benefits we offer.

    Please, stay in touch, often, and let us know how things are progressing. I'm looking forward to hearing about your visit to the Doctors office today!

    Take heart that you are among friends and allies.

    Michael

    Hi EPR

    OK.. good catch..!  One of the few symptoms of Kidney Cancer is some minor discomfort of the (mostly) left Testie or groin area..  Sounds like very early detection, if it is indeed Cancer.  As stated by others above, should be one of the easier procedures (if it is Cancer).  Keep us posted.. hang in there..!

    Ron

  • elpasorudy
    elpasorudy Member Posts: 84
    #8
    Next step

    I met with urologist yesterday. He showed me my scan and walked me through a variety of options, from watchful waiting to surgery. He said he would do a biopsy if I asked for one. But he seemed to be opposed to the idea, explaining that even with a clean biopsy I could still have cancer. He said I could have a CT scan every six months and monitor the tumor. I don't believe in doing nothing, to me watchful waiting is waiting for the cancer to spread. His recommendation was a partial nephrectomy done robotically. What are your thoughts? He said the tumor is slow growing and the operation did not have to be done immediately. I am still dealing with banking and insurance issues related to my wife's recent death. Need to get them done first. The tentative plan is to have surgery in about a month or so. I may go to Moffitt Cancer Center for a second opinion. I had my cancer surgery done there. The downside is that Moffitt is two hours from my home, and I had a heck of a time contacting the surgeon after my surgery. What do you guys think? Would like feedback ... I lived in El Paso for eight years and visit the city once or twice a year; I have a brother and sister there. My father retired from the Army at Fort Bliss and remained in El Paso. I loved the Mex-Tex culture and the desert Southwest.

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    #9
    elpasorudy said:

    Next step

    I met with urologist yesterday. He showed me my scan and walked me through a variety of options, from watchful waiting to surgery. He said he would do a biopsy if I asked for one. But he seemed to be opposed to the idea, explaining that even with a clean biopsy I could still have cancer. He said I could have a CT scan every six months and monitor the tumor. I don't believe in doing nothing, to me watchful waiting is waiting for the cancer to spread. His recommendation was a partial nephrectomy done robotically. What are your thoughts? He said the tumor is slow growing and the operation did not have to be done immediately. I am still dealing with banking and insurance issues related to my wife's recent death. Need to get them done first. The tentative plan is to have surgery in about a month or so. I may go to Moffitt Cancer Center for a second opinion. I had my cancer surgery done there. The downside is that Moffitt is two hours from my home, and I had a heck of a time contacting the surgeon after my surgery. What do you guys think? Would like feedback ... I lived in El Paso for eight years and visit the city once or twice a year; I have a brother and sister there. My father retired from the Army at Fort Bliss and remained in El Paso. I loved the Mex-Tex culture and the desert Southwest.

    One Old Fool's Opinion

    If you can afford a second opinion, thats the direction I would consider.  Otherwise, surgery always carries risk. At the relative size you are talking about it seems reasonable, at least to me, to forego surgery until you see if it shows any growth. Of course that is dependent on proximity to major blood vessels.  I put my surgery off for two months out of work considerations, but I do understand your concerns.

    I wish you luck on your decision. Keep us posted regardless.

    I lived in the desert Southwest (S.E. New Mexico) for 20+ years. I absolutely loved it but find I can no longer tolerate the high heat and dust nearly as well as I could as a younger man.  Sad really, but I still have many fond memories, especially for the food and the Mexican culture.  I hear Juarez is no longer nearly as welcoming.  Too bad!

    Michael

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #10
    elpasorudy said:

    Next step

    I met with urologist yesterday. He showed me my scan and walked me through a variety of options, from watchful waiting to surgery. He said he would do a biopsy if I asked for one. But he seemed to be opposed to the idea, explaining that even with a clean biopsy I could still have cancer. He said I could have a CT scan every six months and monitor the tumor. I don't believe in doing nothing, to me watchful waiting is waiting for the cancer to spread. His recommendation was a partial nephrectomy done robotically. What are your thoughts? He said the tumor is slow growing and the operation did not have to be done immediately. I am still dealing with banking and insurance issues related to my wife's recent death. Need to get them done first. The tentative plan is to have surgery in about a month or so. I may go to Moffitt Cancer Center for a second opinion. I had my cancer surgery done there. The downside is that Moffitt is two hours from my home, and I had a heck of a time contacting the surgeon after my surgery. What do you guys think? Would like feedback ... I lived in El Paso for eight years and visit the city once or twice a year; I have a brother and sister there. My father retired from the Army at Fort Bliss and remained in El Paso. I loved the Mex-Tex culture and the desert Southwest.

    Watch vs. cut...

    Hi Rudy,

    First let me offer my condolences on the loss of your wife, coupled with the possibility of cancer you must be reeling hard.  Your mass is only about the size of the tip of your pinky, there is almost no chance that it will spread any time soon.  At this point it is so small that it can't be said with any degree of certainty that it is in fact cancer.  Watching and waiting with small growths like yours is a more modern approach, in some cases they actually go away on their own, but even though the chance of spreading if it is cancer is extremely low it is possible.  It boils down to what you are most comfortable with, if you are going to wonder and worry every day, then get it out and move on, the stress isn't worth it and it sounds like you've had plenty of that lately.

    Godspeed,

    Gary

  • elpasorudy
    elpasorudy Member Posts: 84
    #11
    Update

    The acutal size is 2.5 x 1.8 centimeters, a little larger than I reported initially, a soft tissue density mass ... Have an appointment July 16 at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa for a second opinion.

     

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #12
    elpasorudy said:

    Update

    The acutal size is 2.5 x 1.8 centimeters, a little larger than I reported initially, a soft tissue density mass ... Have an appointment July 16 at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa for a second opinion.

     

    OK...thumb size...

    You still have time to make an informed decision that you are comfortable with, second opinion is a step in the right direction.

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