Diagnosed at age 39 with Stage 1 Renal Cell Carcinoma

vfelty
vfelty Member Posts: 21
in Kidney Cancer #1

My surgery date is 10/21 to remove my left kidney.  I am in shock.  I just found out 2 days ago.  Any advice on what surgery will be like?  What will my diet be like post-surgery?  I am in Tucson, AZ. :)

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Welcome to the club-almost

    Vfelty,

    From your bio you were offered a Cyro option so I am going to assume your tumor is small (under 4 cm.)

     

    In orde to officially join the club you have to have the surgery. Not fun. We have all been through it. Barring any complications, you will be home a few days later, on the couch for a week or two and then gradually day by day for the next 6 or 8 weeks getting back to your usual activities although nothing real extreme for the next few months.

     

    Barring any complications your surgery alone should lead to a full recovery and normal life.

     

    Usually you can eat fairily normal after surgery. Drink plenty  of water. Cut down on salt. Keep you blood pressure normal. High bblood factor leads to decresed kidney function, which you wil already have some of by losing one kidney.

    Stick around, read all the posts and try not to laugh at some of our jokes the first few weeks with all those stiches.

     

    Icemantoo

  • vfelty
    vfelty Member Posts: 21
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Welcome to the club-almost

    Vfelty,

    From your bio you were offered a Cyro option so I am going to assume your tumor is small (under 4 cm.)

     

    In orde to officially join the club you have to have the surgery. Not fun. We have all been through it. Barring any complications, you will be home a few days later, on the couch for a week or two and then gradually day by day for the next 6 or 8 weeks getting back to your usual activities although nothing real extreme for the next few months.

     

    Barring any complications your surgery alone should lead to a full recovery and normal life.

     

    Usually you can eat fairily normal after surgery. Drink plenty  of water. Cut down on salt. Keep you blood pressure normal. High bblood factor leads to decresed kidney function, which you wil already have some of by losing one kidney.

    Stick around, read all the posts and try not to laugh at some of our jokes the first few weeks with all those stiches.

     

    Icemantoo

    Thank you!

    Thank you for commenting! I guess I did jump the gun by posting when I haven't had my surgery yet, lol (sorry!).  Well, in about a month I will be a bonafide member.   I am nervous but find comfort in reading how others have survived and moved past this.  I am just grateful it was caught early.  I will post again after my surgery. Laughing

     

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    Welcome to the club-almost

    Vfelty,

    From your bio you were offered a Cyro option so I am going to assume your tumor is small (under 4 cm.)

     

    In orde to officially join the club you have to have the surgery. Not fun. We have all been through it. Barring any complications, you will be home a few days later, on the couch for a week or two and then gradually day by day for the next 6 or 8 weeks getting back to your usual activities although nothing real extreme for the next few months.

     

    Barring any complications your surgery alone should lead to a full recovery and normal life.

     

    Usually you can eat fairily normal after surgery. Drink plenty  of water. Cut down on salt. Keep you blood pressure normal. High bblood factor leads to decresed kidney function, which you wil already have some of by losing one kidney.

    Stick around, read all the posts and try not to laugh at some of our jokes the first few weeks with all those stiches.

     

    Icemantoo

    What?

    I never had surgery and neither did MegStrong3. Am I not officially in the club yet? Have I been living a lie?

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #5
    vfelty said:

    Thank you!

    Thank you for commenting! I guess I did jump the gun by posting when I haven't had my surgery yet, lol (sorry!).  Well, in about a month I will be a bonafide member.   I am nervous but find comfort in reading how others have survived and moved past this.  I am just grateful it was caught early.  I will post again after my surgery. Laughing

     

    Wishing you the best!

    It seems like are one of the lucky ones who have been diagnosed early. Your visit here will hopefully be short lived and you'll be looking back years from now saying "Remember when I had Cancer?"

    Prayers and best wishes to a healthy and LONG future for you.

    BLKJAK

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #6
    BLKJAK said:

    What?

    I never had surgery and neither did MegStrong3. Am I not officially in the club yet? Have I been living a lie?

    All are welcome.

    Stories are different. Or maybe they are similar. But the diagnosis of kidney cancer affects us all. Patient or caregiver. Damn scarey...Please don't be offended. Many here are proof of potential to live until their teeth and hair fall out from being a hundred. Some of us are working a little harder. But we are here because we seek support and information. And this is a great place to seek comfort. I for one am getting tired of watching new people having to even be here. I wish this problem would be solved. But until then we share experience, We share the terror, the exhilaration and the reality of cancer. Most importantly this board is populated by people who are alive. Don't forget that.

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #7
    foxhd said:

    All are welcome.

    Stories are different. Or maybe they are similar. But the diagnosis of kidney cancer affects us all. Patient or caregiver. Damn scarey...Please don't be offended. Many here are proof of potential to live until their teeth and hair fall out from being a hundred. Some of us are working a little harder. But we are here because we seek support and information. And this is a great place to seek comfort. I for one am getting tired of watching new people having to even be here. I wish this problem would be solved. But until then we share experience, We share the terror, the exhilaration and the reality of cancer. Most importantly this board is populated by people who are alive. Don't forget that.

    to address my comment

    I just looked at my picture and the info below it. I've posted over 1300 times! To all, Pull yourself together and make plans for your future. Read, learn and take charge. With the advances in immunological therapy, we may eliminate this forum in time.

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #8
    All should go fine and you

    All should go fine and you should be good as new!  Glad it was caught early as well!

     

    I am with Fox...too many people seem to be popping up on the boards, it seems like alot! Also, it seems like they are getting younger and younger! WHY?  I sure do hope they rush the trials on cd:47.  We can use something curable in this 21st century!  Is it totally unreal that they have no cure yet?  I remember one doctor said the future should go like this:  "You have cancer, take this medicine and come back to scan in  a month, it should be gone!"  I really hope that one day that will be the case!

     

    Blavkjack, how have your scans been? I didn't realize you didn't have surgery yet.  Are they planning to give you surgery at some point?  

    Love and hugs to all!

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #9
    angec said:

    All should go fine and you

    All should go fine and you should be good as new!  Glad it was caught early as well!

     

    I am with Fox...too many people seem to be popping up on the boards, it seems like alot! Also, it seems like they are getting younger and younger! WHY?  I sure do hope they rush the trials on cd:47.  We can use something curable in this 21st century!  Is it totally unreal that they have no cure yet?  I remember one doctor said the future should go like this:  "You have cancer, take this medicine and come back to scan in  a month, it should be gone!"  I really hope that one day that will be the case!

     

    Blavkjack, how have your scans been? I didn't realize you didn't have surgery yet.  Are they planning to give you surgery at some point?  

    Love and hugs to all!

    angec....

    Megstrong3 and I are oddities on this site. Perhaps our treatments are the future of RCC treatment unless surgery would guarantee NED? My last set of scans in July showed shrinkage of all the tumors. I have another scan and bloodwork coming up on Monday with the results on Tuesday. No surgery yet, nor is it planned. The idea is to continue treatment with Votrient until it stops working then move to the next miracle drug. I need to get the exact details of this, but there is thought that if the main tumor is taken out, the RCC could kick up and the tumors would spread even more.

    Hope you are doing well!

    BLKJAK

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #10
    BLKJAK said:

    angec....

    Megstrong3 and I are oddities on this site. Perhaps our treatments are the future of RCC treatment unless surgery would guarantee NED? My last set of scans in July showed shrinkage of all the tumors. I have another scan and bloodwork coming up on Monday with the results on Tuesday. No surgery yet, nor is it planned. The idea is to continue treatment with Votrient until it stops working then move to the next miracle drug. I need to get the exact details of this, but there is thought that if the main tumor is taken out, the RCC could kick up and the tumors would spread even more.

    Hope you are doing well!

    BLKJAK

    Thanks for the info

    Thanks for the info BLKJAK.... I understand!  Ok, that sounds like something! The tumors are shrinking, that is great! If one gets to keep their kidney, even better! All my best to you, let us know how it goes next week! I know you have scanxiety, breath deeply and focus on the good, positive all the way!  

     

    Ang

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #11
    foxhd said:

    All are welcome.

    Stories are different. Or maybe they are similar. But the diagnosis of kidney cancer affects us all. Patient or caregiver. Damn scarey...Please don't be offended. Many here are proof of potential to live until their teeth and hair fall out from being a hundred. Some of us are working a little harder. But we are here because we seek support and information. And this is a great place to seek comfort. I for one am getting tired of watching new people having to even be here. I wish this problem would be solved. But until then we share experience, We share the terror, the exhilaration and the reality of cancer. Most importantly this board is populated by people who are alive. Don't forget that.

    My reply...

    My reply wasn't exactly serious. It's my birthday today and I'm feeling giddy to be alive to see it, even though I have to work. I know everyone is welcome here and you folks have certainly made that crystal clear since I joined. I'm interested to see if others have or will join that aren't having surgery done first. Perhaps this is a new trend of treatment? Perhaps my oncologist wants to get ahead of the tumors before scheduling the surgery. It's my fault for not getting clarification on my treatment.

    Now, I want everyone out there to have a great weekend! Put cancer on the back burner and crank up the fire under life!

    BLKJAK

  • BLKJAK
    BLKJAK Member Posts: 108
    #12
    angec said:

    Thanks for the info

    Thanks for the info BLKJAK.... I understand!  Ok, that sounds like something! The tumors are shrinking, that is great! If one gets to keep their kidney, even better! All my best to you, let us know how it goes next week! I know you have scanxiety, breath deeply and focus on the good, positive all the way!  

     

    Ang

    Oddly I have no scanxiety

    While I am fairly new to this, I honestly don't have scanxiety this time. I'm a very logical person and I've come to the realization that I cannot change what will be revealed to me on Tuesday. All I can do is accept what is said and move forward from there. Of course I want to hear of more shrinkage, but I'd be OK with stability. If there is growth, I'll have to try something else. Giving up is not an option.

    BLKJAK

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #13
    BLKJAK said:

    Oddly I have no scanxiety

    While I am fairly new to this, I honestly don't have scanxiety this time. I'm a very logical person and I've come to the realization that I cannot change what will be revealed to me on Tuesday. All I can do is accept what is said and move forward from there. Of course I want to hear of more shrinkage, but I'd be OK with stability. If there is growth, I'll have to try something else. Giving up is not an option.

    BLKJAK

    Blkjak, i see you paving the

    Blkjak, i see you paving the way in front of us! You have a good mindset, one that can only get stronger! I think more shrinkage is on the way!  Giving up is not an option! Giving up is not an option!  xxoo

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    #14
    BLKJAK said:

    My reply...

    My reply wasn't exactly serious. It's my birthday today and I'm feeling giddy to be alive to see it, even though I have to work. I know everyone is welcome here and you folks have certainly made that crystal clear since I joined. I'm interested to see if others have or will join that aren't having surgery done first. Perhaps this is a new trend of treatment? Perhaps my oncologist wants to get ahead of the tumors before scheduling the surgery. It's my fault for not getting clarification on my treatment.

    Now, I want everyone out there to have a great weekend! Put cancer on the back burner and crank up the fire under life!

    BLKJAK

    Happy Birthday!
    Now take your

    Happy Birthday!

    Now take your own advice and go live it until the wheels fall off!

    Michael

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