9 Year RCC Survivor!!

cubsfan9
cubsfan9 Member Posts: 69 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

Good Morning!

Exactly 9 years ago we were in the hospital and Dennis was having his kidney/adrenal/large cancerous tumor removed.  That makes him a 9 year cancer survivor!!  I am thankful that he is still around!!  Statistics for 5 yr survival were pretty bleak in 2004.  After that surgery we thought we were out of the woods and the cancer was gone.  While we weren’t happy when it came back and took up residence on his pancreas last year, we are thankful that there are now several drugs available for treatment. Sutent was approved by the FDA in January 2006.  So…while we don’t enjoy some of its side-effects, we are thankful that it is available and working!!

Comments

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #2
    Times have changed...

    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!  When my father in-law was diagnosed 14 years ago with stage IV RCC the oncologist told him that there was no effective therapy available and keeping him comfortable was all they could offer.  Ten years later when I was diagnosed there were several newer options including Sutent, but fortunately mine was caught early, small tumor, and so far I have remained NED.  I am hopeful that a true cure is on the horizon, but in the mean time many are able to manage RCC as a chronic desease thanks to the progress made just in the last few years.

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #3
    Congratulations!

    Happy to hear such good reports. What stage was your husband in 2004?

    Enjoy celebrating!

     

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #4
    Cubsfan... thanks..!!  You

    Cubsfan... thanks..!!  You give us Stage 4 folks hope and inspiration.!!

    Ron

  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315
    #5
    High five

    As a fellow 9-year survivor (5 as stage IV) I rejoice in your anniversary! We all love to hear stories like yours. Don't forget to post next year!!!

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    nine beats eleven

    Your nine years dealing with obstacles, beats my eleven years sliding by with Stage 1.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • cubsfan9
    cubsfan9 Member Posts: 69 Member
    #7
    icemantoo said:

    nine beats eleven

    Your nine years dealing with obstacles, beats my eleven years sliding by with Stage 1.

     

     

    Icemantoo

    Thanks

    Good Morning!

    Thanks for the encouraging comments!  Yes, things have changed in the last 9 years, and we can pray that they continue to change and a true cure will be found!

    Jojo, he was stage 3 when they did the surgery due to the size of the tumor and "venous invasion".  However, the doctor said he would say it was "on the lower end of stage 3" as it appeared contained.  We thought they cut it out...it's all gone...end of story.  Thankfully, he is a urological oncologist and continued to do regular follow up.  So, Iceman, we were pretty oblivious until last December when the metastasis to the pancreas was found. (7 cm mass on head of pancreas.)  Now we live with cancer being treated as a chronic disease.  We live day to day and scan to scan.  But, WE LIVE and are truly thankful for each new day!!   ~Sharon

  • siluet
    siluet Member Posts: 12
    #8
    cubsfan9 said:

    Thanks

    Good Morning!

    Thanks for the encouraging comments!  Yes, things have changed in the last 9 years, and we can pray that they continue to change and a true cure will be found!

    Jojo, he was stage 3 when they did the surgery due to the size of the tumor and "venous invasion".  However, the doctor said he would say it was "on the lower end of stage 3" as it appeared contained.  We thought they cut it out...it's all gone...end of story.  Thankfully, he is a urological oncologist and continued to do regular follow up.  So, Iceman, we were pretty oblivious until last December when the metastasis to the pancreas was found. (7 cm mass on head of pancreas.)  Now we live with cancer being treated as a chronic disease.  We live day to day and scan to scan.  But, WE LIVE and are truly thankful for each new day!!   ~Sharon

    Happy anniversary!!! its

    Happy anniversary!!! its indeed so great to hear great news from fellow caregivers. Hoping for more anniversaries to come!

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #9
    cubsfan9 said:

    Thanks

    Good Morning!

    Thanks for the encouraging comments!  Yes, things have changed in the last 9 years, and we can pray that they continue to change and a true cure will be found!

    Jojo, he was stage 3 when they did the surgery due to the size of the tumor and "venous invasion".  However, the doctor said he would say it was "on the lower end of stage 3" as it appeared contained.  We thought they cut it out...it's all gone...end of story.  Thankfully, he is a urological oncologist and continued to do regular follow up.  So, Iceman, we were pretty oblivious until last December when the metastasis to the pancreas was found. (7 cm mass on head of pancreas.)  Now we live with cancer being treated as a chronic disease.  We live day to day and scan to scan.  But, WE LIVE and are truly thankful for each new day!!   ~Sharon

    Sharon, glad they did find

    Sharon, glad they did find the mass and are dealing with it! That is why i always recommend close follow up with whole body pet/ct scans. Those are better than just an abdomen scan and xrays of the lungs. xrays don't always pick up mets to lungs.  Glad they are staying on top of him and seem to be doing a great job! There are alot of new things on the horizon also. It is very encouraging to hear you continue to live each day fully!  Enjoy the simple pleasures.  We never know what will take us out, as is evidenced by all of the natural disasters we see each day!  So while we worry about our health, just maybe our health will hold up nicely!  Meant to ask you if he was on any meds at the moment like Votrient or Sutent?

     

  • cubsfan9
    cubsfan9 Member Posts: 69 Member
    #10
    angec said:

    Sharon, glad they did find

    Sharon, glad they did find the mass and are dealing with it! That is why i always recommend close follow up with whole body pet/ct scans. Those are better than just an abdomen scan and xrays of the lungs. xrays don't always pick up mets to lungs.  Glad they are staying on top of him and seem to be doing a great job! There are alot of new things on the horizon also. It is very encouraging to hear you continue to live each day fully!  Enjoy the simple pleasures.  We never know what will take us out, as is evidenced by all of the natural disasters we see each day!  So while we worry about our health, just maybe our health will hold up nicely!  Meant to ask you if he was on any meds at the moment like Votrient or Sutent?

     

    Yes, on Sutent

    Good Morning!

    Yes, he is on Sutent, 37.5 mg, 4weeks on/2 weeks off --currently almost at the end of round 7.  The tumor had been getting smaller, then showed no change in October scans.  Next scans are scheduled for January, at the end of round 8.

    He had CT scans every 6 months at first, then after 5 yrs went to alternating CT/abdominal Ultrasound + chest x-ray yearly.  In retrospect this may have been caught earlier if he had been having CTs annually rather than US/x-ray...but the dr was following the protocol being advised at the time.  He is a urological oncologist.   They have been watching some spots in the lungs for several years, but they have remained unchanged...until one showed some shrinkage on Sutent.  Hmmm...Hindsight is always  20/20!  We can't go back and change anything, so we keep looking forward.  And, thanks to these discussion boards, can encourage others to be vigilant.    ~Sharon

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    #11
    cubsfan9 said:

    Yes, on Sutent

    Good Morning!

    Yes, he is on Sutent, 37.5 mg, 4weeks on/2 weeks off --currently almost at the end of round 7.  The tumor had been getting smaller, then showed no change in October scans.  Next scans are scheduled for January, at the end of round 8.

    He had CT scans every 6 months at first, then after 5 yrs went to alternating CT/abdominal Ultrasound + chest x-ray yearly.  In retrospect this may have been caught earlier if he had been having CTs annually rather than US/x-ray...but the dr was following the protocol being advised at the time.  He is a urological oncologist.   They have been watching some spots in the lungs for several years, but they have remained unchanged...until one showed some shrinkage on Sutent.  Hmmm...Hindsight is always  20/20!  We can't go back and change anything, so we keep looking forward.  And, thanks to these discussion boards, can encourage others to be vigilant.    ~Sharon

    Good for you!

    By the way, I just expect to be here another 9 years. Lots of crap to deal with but......I will stay strong. Thanks for the affirmation that we can do this.

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