Help...kind of freaking out

Septemberzoe
Septemberzoe Member Posts: 49
in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi! Sorry I have bern away for awhile. Had a partial nephrectomy on sep 3rd. My tumour was about 3.5 cm grade 2 clear cell rcc. Right after the surgery I had a chest CT which showed 2 nodules...2mm in one lung and 3mm in the other. Went yesterday for my 3 month follow up scans...pelvic abdominal and chest ct with and without contrast. See dr on the 12th for results. Guess I just needed to talk to someone who understands...the anxiety is so difficult. If biofuels in lungs have grown does that move me from stage 1 to stage 4? Will be doing these scans every 3 months and feel liany than living in3 month chunks...does this get easier? Sorry for going on...just having kind of as rough day...thanks 

Comments

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #2

    The Stage 1 means it's self contained within the kidney and not larger than 7 cm.  it it has metastacised to another organ, it becomes Stage 4.

    Without having to leave this site to look things up, I would refer you to doing a web search for something such as Kidney Cancer Staging.

    Be hopeful and go for the drug treatments.  I had Stage 4-with it in the liver and nodes.  My friend in support group had Stage 1, that went to the lungs a year later. She had a lobee removed, and then IL2 a year later.  Both of us started the journey in 2006 and are here to encourage you as you join the "Roadmap Abdomen Crew."

    And yes, there are rough days.  Hope this is a short one.

    Donna

     

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #3
    It may not be as bad as you think,

    Zoe,

     

    My neighbor Faye across the street was first diagnosed with Rcc because of nodes on a chest xray which led to a Neph. etc. She was a young 64 than and is only 82 now.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Septemberzoe
    Septemberzoe Member Posts: 49
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    It may not be as bad as you think,

    Zoe,

     

    My neighbor Faye across the street was first diagnosed with Rcc because of nodes on a chest xray which led to a Neph. etc. She was a young 64 than and is only 82 now.

     

    Icemantoo

    Thanks

    My dr says the nodules may not be related to the rcc...this 3 month scan will show if they have changed at all...

  • srbelle1
    srbelle1 Member Posts: 123
    #5
    having just gone through my

    having just gone through my husband's first 3 month scans, the anxiety was horrific; his results are posted online to his chart so I read the reports and used google every other word.

    the oncologist visit a few days later told us what his interpretation was and although I had much of it right, clearly not what he said.

    he told us 3 months but mistakenly wrote 6 months and I half wish we could stall it.

    as someone said, it may not be as bad as you fear. If the cancer has left the kidney for another organ, it is stage 4.

    sarah

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #6
    srbelle1 said:

    having just gone through my

    having just gone through my husband's first 3 month scans, the anxiety was horrific; his results are posted online to his chart so I read the reports and used google every other word.

    the oncologist visit a few days later told us what his interpretation was and although I had much of it right, clearly not what he said.

    he told us 3 months but mistakenly wrote 6 months and I half wish we could stall it.

    as someone said, it may not be as bad as you fear. If the cancer has left the kidney for another organ, it is stage 4.

    sarah

    Oh Zoe....  Based on your

    Oh Zoe....  Based on your pathology, it is unlikely that those spots are RCC.  And at 3 MM or less, they are too small to know much for sure... and too small to treat, and I think you said you only have 2 of them.  Those spots could be nothing... hope so...

    BUT, going zonkers won't change anything... it is, what it is... soon you will know for sure... then in the (unlikley) event it is Cancer, well you would have several options... well most likely more than just several...  So try to think good thoughts and enjoy if possible..

     

    Ron

  • Septemberzoe
    Septemberzoe Member Posts: 49
    #7
    GSRon said:

    Oh Zoe....  Based on your

    Oh Zoe....  Based on your pathology, it is unlikely that those spots are RCC.  And at 3 MM or less, they are too small to know much for sure... and too small to treat, and I think you said you only have 2 of them.  Those spots could be nothing... hope so...

    BUT, going zonkers won't change anything... it is, what it is... soon you will know for sure... then in the (unlikley) event it is Cancer, well you would have several options... well most likely more than just several...  So try to think good thoughts and enjoy if possible..

     

    Ron

    Thanks

    Thanks Ron...trying my best to think good thoughts! :)

  • Darron
    Darron Member Posts: 310 Member
    #8
    Septemberzoe said:

    Thanks

    Thanks Ron...trying my best to think good thoughts! :)

    Scars

    At 3mm there is a good chance it is just scar tissue from a previous infection. If they get bigger, it is stage IV.

    it has been a year since I had any lung issues, but I recall my Dr saying 70-80% of people have some sort of lung nodules even without cancer

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    #9
    hope today's a better day

    I hope you're in a better place today.  Anxiety is vicious!!   I know it's easier said than done, but try to relax and stay focused on positive thoughts. 

     

    Try to enjoy the holidays!

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