kidney cancer or something else

mrcsbud2
mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
in Kidney Cancer #1

So since march maybe a little before I had these flank pains on both sides, eventually it went to both sides of the lower back & mid back, and then the abdomen & both hips. Its a sharp/aching/dull low pain. This of course scared me and in April I went to a quickcare where they found microscopic blood in my urine and said I had a uti. They did a culture but never called back.

I took all my meds and whole doing so felt worse! I went from 200lbs to about 193 in a week from just not feeling well and not wanting to eat. I eventually went to my doctor where he did two urine test, blood work, and ordered an ultrasound of the kidneys. About 2 weeks later he said blood work was normal, no blood in the urine (also he said because I have sickle cell trait sometimes blood can be present microscopically) and the ultrasound he said everything looked normal, no stones, no mass, everything looked normal. He than said its probably muscular issues because I powerlift ( but nothing is sore to the touch) he gave me flexeril and ibprofen for pain but I've never had pain bad enough to take anything (3-4\10). It seems to be achy and dull in the morning and when lying down, and sharp if doing stuff. Some days I actually feel nothing & others it can come and go all day. I've heard if it was cancer it would of progressively gotten worse but I really don't know. My weight has gone back up (193-209lbs) because I'm eating again and lifting heavy. I know the last thing some of you want to hear is me being scared but Id just like to know if it sounds like cancer to you?

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Does not sound like Kidney Cancer

    mrcsbud2,

     

    While the aches and pains and blood in the urine could be symtoms of Kidney Cancer, they could also be a hundred other things. An Ultrasound of the kidney showing no mass would seem to this attorney to rule out Kidney Cancer. The important thing is what does your doctor think. If you are not already seeing one, a consult with a uroligist for his thoughts may be in order.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Does not sound like Kidney Cancer

    mrcsbud2,

     

    While the aches and pains and blood in the urine could be symtoms of Kidney Cancer, they could also be a hundred other things. An Ultrasound of the kidney showing no mass would seem to this attorney to rule out Kidney Cancer. The important thing is what does your doctor think. If you are not already seeing one, a consult with a uroligist for his thoughts may be in order.

     

     

    Icemantoo

     
     
    how accurate are

     

     

    how accurate are ultrasounds? Also would the bloodwork of showed something out of wack? It was a full cbc. Also if there was a mass of some sort wouldn't the kidneys be running abnormal?

  • Sheeple
    Sheeple Member Posts: 19
    #4
    mrcsbud2 said:

     
     
    how accurate are

     

     

    how accurate are ultrasounds? Also would the bloodwork of showed something out of wack? It was a full cbc. Also if there was a mass of some sort wouldn't the kidneys be running abnormal?

    They are more than accurate

    They are more than accurate enough to tell if you need a follow up ct scan or mri. When I had rcc my bloodwork was normal, and my kidneys were working fine. I think you can really put the thought of it being cancer to rest. If it was kidney cancer that was causing the flank pain the ultrasound should have seen something as flank pain is usually a late stage symptom.

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #5
    Sheeple said:

    They are more than accurate

    They are more than accurate enough to tell if you need a follow up ct scan or mri. When I had rcc my bloodwork was normal, and my kidneys were working fine. I think you can really put the thought of it being cancer to rest. If it was kidney cancer that was causing the flank pain the ultrasound should have seen something as flank pain is usually a late stage symptom.

     
     
    thank you for the reply,

     

     

    thank you for the reply, wouldn't the flank pain be quite painful as well? Mine is pretty mellow. Also its both sides and isn't the flank pain usually one side?

     

  • Sheeple
    Sheeple Member Posts: 19
    #6
    mrcsbud2 said:

     
     
    thank you for the reply,

     

     

    thank you for the reply, wouldn't the flank pain be quite painful as well? Mine is pretty mellow. Also its both sides and isn't the flank pain usually one side?

     

    Indeed, that is typically the

    Indeed, that is typically the case when pain is present. There is always the possibility of bilateral rcc but that is much less common.

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #7
    Sheeple said:

    Indeed, that is typically the

    Indeed, that is typically the case when pain is present. There is always the possibility of bilateral rcc but that is much less common.

     
    even so, wouldn't I have

     

    even so, wouldn't I have symptoms like weight loss or fatigue? I do seem to have lots of body aches, but i also powerlift so heavy weight I contributed that too. But I know anything is possible, if symptoms worsen I would be more nervous, but as of now they are pretty much the same

  • Sheeple
    Sheeple Member Posts: 19
    #8
    mrcsbud2 said:

     
    even so, wouldn't I have

     

    even so, wouldn't I have symptoms like weight loss or fatigue? I do seem to have lots of body aches, but i also powerlift so heavy weight I contributed that too. But I know anything is possible, if symptoms worsen I would be more nervous, but as of now they are pretty much the same

    Weight loss sometimes does

    Weight loss sometimes does accompany RCC but not always. RCC is fickle and one's symptoms will vary from another's. In my case I lost over 60 pounds in just a few months and that was without a change in appetite. I could eat and eat and just not gain weight. After they cut the little 2.5 cm tumor out of me I started regaining weight within a couple months. 

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #9
    Sheeple said:

    Weight loss sometimes does

    Weight loss sometimes does accompany RCC but not always. RCC is fickle and one's symptoms will vary from another's. In my case I lost over 60 pounds in just a few months and that was without a change in appetite. I could eat and eat and just not gain weight. After they cut the little 2.5 cm tumor out of me I started regaining weight within a couple months. 

     
     
    ya I figured that

     

     

    ya I figured that everyone is different. So you don't think I should worry at this point?

  • Sheeple
    Sheeple Member Posts: 19
    #10
    mrcsbud2 said:

     
     
    ya I figured that

     

     

    ya I figured that everyone is different. So you don't think I should worry at this point?

    Worry about it being kidney

    Worry about it being kidney cancer? Not at all. But I wouldn't ignore your symptoms either. Watch them and if things persist have them checked out again to see if they are being caused by some other malady. 

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #11
    Sheeple said:

    Worry about it being kidney

    Worry about it being kidney cancer? Not at all. But I wouldn't ignore your symptoms either. Watch them and if things persist have them checked out again to see if they are being caused by some other malady. 

      I keep an eye out, like I

     

     

    I keep an eye out, like I said the pain hasn't gotten any worse and sometimes I rarley have any, and I figure if its cancer it would be getting worse because it would be growing, esp if it started march. I just wonder other things it could be? I feel like I keep thinking its cancer that is spreading ECT but id figure I would be in more pain and daily things would be a chore due to being tired

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #12
    mrcsbud2 said:

      I keep an eye out, like I

     

     

    I keep an eye out, like I said the pain hasn't gotten any worse and sometimes I rarley have any, and I figure if its cancer it would be getting worse because it would be growing, esp if it started march. I just wonder other things it could be? I feel like I keep thinking its cancer that is spreading ECT but id figure I would be in more pain and daily things would be a chore due to being tired

    Since you're that worried why

    Since you're that worried why not have a CT scan if covered by your insurance? That would support the lack of finding anything by the US and your mind would be at ease. I doubt it's cancer not because you're not in worse pain, or losing more weight, but because the US didn't show anything. By the time a tumor causes flank pain like you had it would certainly be large enough for a US to detect it. And as said above, it's unlikely that it would be on both sides, even if it was cancer. But to me it'd be worth the peace of mind to repeat the scan or have a CT done.

    Also, you said you went to your doctor, who I assume is a GP. Maybe see a urologist. A second opinion by a specialist can only help.

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #13
    APny said:

    Since you're that worried why

    Since you're that worried why not have a CT scan if covered by your insurance? That would support the lack of finding anything by the US and your mind would be at ease. I doubt it's cancer not because you're not in worse pain, or losing more weight, but because the US didn't show anything. By the time a tumor causes flank pain like you had it would certainly be large enough for a US to detect it. And as said above, it's unlikely that it would be on both sides, even if it was cancer. But to me it'd be worth the peace of mind to repeat the scan or have a CT done.

    Also, you said you went to your doctor, who I assume is a GP. Maybe see a urologist. A second opinion by a specialist can only help.

     
     
    that will be the next

     

     

    that will be the next step esp if it gets worse. Right now I was more curious than anything, seeing if anyone else had my symptoms (like these pains in both hips) I would go see a urologist soon if I was covered, it will be out of pocket and right now if most of you think it is nothing to worry about (at least now) I will play a little waiting game. Thank you for all the replies!

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #14
    APny said:

    Since you're that worried why

    Since you're that worried why not have a CT scan if covered by your insurance? That would support the lack of finding anything by the US and your mind would be at ease. I doubt it's cancer not because you're not in worse pain, or losing more weight, but because the US didn't show anything. By the time a tumor causes flank pain like you had it would certainly be large enough for a US to detect it. And as said above, it's unlikely that it would be on both sides, even if it was cancer. But to me it'd be worth the peace of mind to repeat the scan or have a CT done.

    Also, you said you went to your doctor, who I assume is a GP. Maybe see a urologist. A second opinion by a specialist can only help.

    Kidney Cancer?

    If youre worried enough to ask us, you should take your worries to a doctor, then put your worries behing you.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #15
    Footstomper said:

    Kidney Cancer?

    If youre worried enough to ask us, you should take your worries to a doctor, then put your worries behing you.

    I agree. I would not go by

    I agree. I would not go by the fact that since most of us don't seem to think it's cancer it's ok to play the waiting game. I realize out of pocket expenses could be prohibitive but here must be some urologists who take your insurance plan. Definitely investigate that and go see one just to put your mind at ease. 

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #16
    APny said:

    I agree. I would not go by

    I agree. I would not go by the fact that since most of us don't seem to think it's cancer it's ok to play the waiting game. I realize out of pocket expenses could be prohibitive but here must be some urologists who take your insurance plan. Definitely investigate that and go see one just to put your mind at ease. 

     
     
    peace of mind is quite

     

     

    peace of mind is quite important I agree, esp if you suffer from anxiety. I've heard it from others it could be fibromyalgia also but idk anything about that..in terms of muscular issues like a bad disc is possible I'd think too, even tho the pain isn't sensitive to the touch, achy in the am. Again thank you for taking the time to reply everyone

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #17
    APny said:

    I agree. I would not go by

    I agree. I would not go by the fact that since most of us don't seem to think it's cancer it's ok to play the waiting game. I realize out of pocket expenses could be prohibitive but here must be some urologists who take your insurance plan. Definitely investigate that and go see one just to put your mind at ease. 

      I agree peace of mind is

     

     I know the last thing you all wanna hear is someone complain when they aren't even diagnosed

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    #18
    mrcsbud2 said:

      I agree peace of mind is

     

     I know the last thing you all wanna hear is someone complain when they aren't even diagnosed

    My gosh, I am so sorry for
    My gosh, I am so sorry for all you have been going through. Although, to my knowledge, flank pain does not usually affect both sides of body, who knows. I would suggest you bring all your records and copies of your tests to a Urologist. God from there.

    Not sure if you know, but did they ultrasound your whole abdomen?

    Again, see an Urologist and follow their orders.
    Let us know if you need anything else from us.
    And no, you are not complaining. After all, this is affecting YOUR life!

    Warmly, Jan
  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    #19
    Jan4you said:

    My gosh, I am so sorry for
    My gosh, I am so sorry for all you have been going through. Although, to my knowledge, flank pain does not usually affect both sides of body, who knows. I would suggest you bring all your records and copies of your tests to a Urologist. God from there.

    Not sure if you know, but did they ultrasound your whole abdomen?

    Again, see an Urologist and follow their orders.
    Let us know if you need anything else from us.
    And no, you are not complaining. After all, this is affecting YOUR life!

    Warmly, Jan

    That should have read "go

    That should have read "go from there" instead of "God from there"

    but whatever works! LOL

  • mrcsbud2
    mrcsbud2 Member Posts: 21
    #20
    Jan4you said:

    That should have read "go

    That should have read "go from there" instead of "God from there"

    but whatever works! LOL

     
     
    yes they did the whole

     

     

    yes they did the whole abdomen & both kidneys to my knowledge. Again ill keep an eye on it, its hard for anyone to take me serious esp of cancer if my flank pain hasn't gotten any worse since march

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