Tons of questions; first my story

Nana4life
Nana4life Member Posts: 78 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

I'm 54 years old, mother of 3 adult children and Nana to 3 amazing little grandsons. Last October I felt like I was having an appenticitis so went to ER. Had CT. CT scan showed 5cm lesion on right kidney. Doctor noticed that 8 years earlier on a CT scan from an emergency gallbladder removal situation There was a 4 cm lesion. (Never heard about that). Anyways went to Urologist he had me do CT with contrast. Sure enough tumor on right kidney. He then requested a renal biopsy . Had biopsy and yesterday confirmed right kidney tumor is cancer and about 1 inch. He suggested partial nephrectomy. Doctor does not know what kind of cancer. ?

also I have been experiencing all kinds of weird physical things, funky weird dizziness. Intense headaches and left side pain, hot flashes, just feel weird And strange. Scares me because I think my cancer is taking over. Are these symptoms normal?

I am in holding pattern for scheduling surgery (insurance approval I think?) I want to get these thing out of me as quick as possible!! The waiting sucks bad.  

So thankful for you people . 

Nana

Comments

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

    Nana,

     

    Whether 1 nch or 5 cm it is still a small tumor. I inch=2.54 cm. Your symptoms appear normal. We all imagine when we are told we have Cancer. I however can not speak to the hot flashes as they are above my paygrade. Mine was similar in size and I waited almost 2 months. You have to keep in mind that this is the surgeon's golf season. What you do not want is one of those big tumors where they put you at the head of the line. You will be fine and it still holds what I told you earlier, that you will be at the weddings of each of those 3 grandsons.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #3
    Things will move quickly

    Cancer is bad and scarey. But 1 inch is small and easily dealt with. Just the name of it can make you feel bad and experience all sorts of discomforts. Tell your doctor, the best policy is to be open about such things. Most of them will be nothing.

    Its not bad or abnormal to be scared. We all are. Insurance companies do not help matters, but dont worry, the hospital will be on your side and will sort out insurance problems

    The most common symptom of cancer is fear. Fear can make us worry about all sorts of things. I reckon you'll be fine.

  • Nana4life
    Nana4life Member Posts: 78 Member
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    Welcome again

    Nana,

     

    Whether 1 nch or 5 cm it is still a small tumor. I inch=2.54 cm. Your symptoms appear normal. We all imagine when we are told we have Cancer. I however can not speak to the hot flashes as they are above my paygrade. Mine was similar in size and I waited almost 2 months. You have to keep in mind that this is the surgeon's golf season. What you do not want is one of those big tumors where they put you at the head of the line. You will be fine and it still holds what I told you earlier, that you will be at the weddings of each of those 3 grandsons.

     

     

    Icemantoo

    Thank you for your kind words again : )

    Thank you so much. It is so nice to talk to people who know. I am confident in my doctor he specializes in kidney cancer. He is actually a professor at the medical school. I am going to a teaching hospital so that makes me wonder if that could slow things down. 

    Hmmm?

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #5
    Nana4life said:

    Thank you for your kind words again : )

    Thank you so much. It is so nice to talk to people who know. I am confident in my doctor he specializes in kidney cancer. He is actually a professor at the medical school. I am going to a teaching hospital so that makes me wonder if that could slow things down. 

    Hmmm?

    Teaching hospital

    Best place to be. It means that you're being treated by the best in the field. I confess I also rather enjoyed being interviewed by students and have them listen to my lung and discuss diagnoses and the creaks and moans of my lungs and heart

  • Nana4life
    Nana4life Member Posts: 78 Member
    #6
    Footstomper said:

    Things will move quickly

    Cancer is bad and scarey. But 1 inch is small and easily dealt with. Just the name of it can make you feel bad and experience all sorts of discomforts. Tell your doctor, the best policy is to be open about such things. Most of them will be nothing.

    Its not bad or abnormal to be scared. We all are. Insurance companies do not help matters, but dont worry, the hospital will be on your side and will sort out insurance problems

    The most common symptom of cancer is fear. Fear can make us worry about all sorts of things. I reckon you'll be fine.

    Sensitive to contrast and CT scans

    It seems like I started feeling really weird right after the CT with contrast.  I don't know if it psychological or what. 

    ? So much ? 

  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    #7
    Wow... 8 years later and it

    Wow... 8 years later and it only grew an inch?  Are they really sure it is cancer? If it is, that is the slowest growing cancer! That is a good thing!  Hopefully it comes out and you go back to normal.  The othe symptoms, most likely,   is menopause. As soon as you hear the cancer word then every pain or symptom makes you worry.  I bet all is ok!  Like Iceman said, that is a small tumor and surgery can be the cure.

    The only thing I would suggest is that you find the surgeon and doctors you had 8 years ago and ask them why they failed to mention that you had a kidney mass.  That could have been dealt with years ago.  That doctor would not want to see me again!   Also, it is a good idea to get a full ct pet scan if they allow it, the insurance and doctor. It is always best to get checked from head to toe early on, then let the doc decide what will be scanned every three months for a while. Always get a copy of all of your reports and keep them in a folder.  I know you can't wait to get it out!  Prays and hugs! XXOO

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #8
    angec said:

    Wow... 8 years later and it

    Wow... 8 years later and it only grew an inch?  Are they really sure it is cancer? If it is, that is the slowest growing cancer! That is a good thing!  Hopefully it comes out and you go back to normal.  The othe symptoms, most likely,   is menopause. As soon as you hear the cancer word then every pain or symptom makes you worry.  I bet all is ok!  Like Iceman said, that is a small tumor and surgery can be the cure.

    The only thing I would suggest is that you find the surgeon and doctors you had 8 years ago and ask them why they failed to mention that you had a kidney mass.  That could have been dealt with years ago.  That doctor would not want to see me again!   Also, it is a good idea to get a full ct pet scan if they allow it, the insurance and doctor. It is always best to get checked from head to toe early on, then let the doc decide what will be scanned every three months for a while. Always get a copy of all of your reports and keep them in a folder.  I know you can't wait to get it out!  Prays and hugs! XXOO

    Welcome to our club! Sorry

    Welcome to our club! Sorry about the initiation!

    Some of the information is a bit unclear, as Ange indicated. Please don't be afraid to ask lots of questions - and even a second opinion.

    Yes the waiting is the hardest part! But once you have the surgery, you will be surprised at how fast you start feeling better. (Oh and the other symptoms you mentioned, could well be just plain old hormones, that was my first thought - but it doesn't hurt to ask your doctor!)

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #9
    Nana4life said:

    Sensitive to contrast and CT scans

    It seems like I started feeling really weird right after the CT with contrast.  I don't know if it psychological or what. 

    ? So much ? 

    It doesn't matter

    If its psychological or not. If its causing you real anxiety (and all anxiety is real) or discomfort, talk about it. Its what the Drs and nurses are there for. They will be glad to help.

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