Doc 99.9 percent sure my sis has kidney cancer.

runt1964
runt1964 Member Posts: 33
in Kidney Cancer #1

I have a sister who is 59 years old has been sick for several years in and out of the hospital with lung diease. At Thanksgiving time she started to say she was having pain while breathing, short version, a new doctor she went to had an MRI done and noticed a tumor about the size  a large muffin, come to find out the hospital had it noted in their reports 10 years ago but never said anything. Yesterday they froze it and took a biopsy 99.9 percent sure it's cancer.  She will not be having any further treatment i.e...Kidney removal, radiation, chemo. They will  just watch it. I'm scared for her, I know that her life has been shortened by her lung problems but how much shorter now? And I'm so ticked off that this wasn't mentioned years ago when it was first seen. Has anyone had this freezing procedure done with no other treatment? 

Comments

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #2
    I am so sorry to hear about

    I am so sorry to hear about your sister. It sounds like she has already been through so much. I believe that if the tumor is large, it usually is cancer. They usually don't take biopsies as it has chance of leaking and spreading the cancer. Why won't they be doing the surgery or any other treatment? Is it because of her lung condition? My tumor was a huge one too....stage 3....and so far, removal has been the only treatment needed. Maybe get another opinion or two from experts.

    I am not aware of anyone having done this freezing thing, but I could very well be wrong. Someone will chime in here soon with more facts and experiences.

    Please keep us posted!

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #3
    Jojo61 said:

    I am so sorry to hear about

    I am so sorry to hear about your sister. It sounds like she has already been through so much. I believe that if the tumor is large, it usually is cancer. They usually don't take biopsies as it has chance of leaking and spreading the cancer. Why won't they be doing the surgery or any other treatment? Is it because of her lung condition? My tumor was a huge one too....stage 3....and so far, removal has been the only treatment needed. Maybe get another opinion or two from experts.

    I am not aware of anyone having done this freezing thing, but I could very well be wrong. Someone will chime in here soon with more facts and experiences.

    Please keep us posted!

    Im not sure

    Hi Jojo, 

    Im not sure but I think it's because she is on oxygen 24/7 her having this last surgery was a hold your breath and pray.  She was suppose to have it done last week but her oxygen was at 50% and rescheduled for yesterday. We were told that freezing it should kill it, however, we were also told they are sure it will come back and she has to be seen every few months. 

    I hope you are doing better and pray for you.  Thank you for sharing and replying. Hugs to you. 

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #4
    runt1964 said:

    Im not sure

    Hi Jojo, 

    Im not sure but I think it's because she is on oxygen 24/7 her having this last surgery was a hold your breath and pray.  She was suppose to have it done last week but her oxygen was at 50% and rescheduled for yesterday. We were told that freezing it should kill it, however, we were also told they are sure it will come back and she has to be seen every few months. 

    I hope you are doing better and pray for you.  Thank you for sharing and replying. Hugs to you. 

    Welcome

    I'm sorry to hear about this situation with your sister.  I will pray for both of you. 

    You say she's on oxygen 24/7 and her oxygen was 50%.  I have a couple of questions regarding that since I'm a former Respiratory Therapist for many years.  Did you mean she's receiving 50% oxygen?....or that is her saturation level via a device?  If that is a saturation reading, it's not really compatible with life (assuming it's an accurate reading) and she would immediately be hospitalized. 

    I hope you have the opportunity to get another opinion with a urologist / oncologist.

    Donna~

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #5
    hardo718 said:

    Welcome

    I'm sorry to hear about this situation with your sister.  I will pray for both of you. 

    You say she's on oxygen 24/7 and her oxygen was 50%.  I have a couple of questions regarding that since I'm a former Respiratory Therapist for many years.  Did you mean she's receiving 50% oxygen?....or that is her saturation level via a device?  If that is a saturation reading, it's not really compatible with life (assuming it's an accurate reading) and she would immediately be hospitalized. 

    I hope you have the opportunity to get another opinion with a urologist / oncologist.

    Donna~

    Her level was 50%

    Hi Donna,

    Her actual oxygen level was 50% it was measured by a device the first time they tried to do the surgery and was sent home, on they way home my other sister noticed she was turning blue and took her to another hospital that admitted her and she was there for two days. Every four  six months she is in the hospital due to bronciti or pneumonia.  She was hoping to be released yesterday but they kept because she hasn't been able to urinate.

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #6
    runt1964 said:

    Her level was 50%

    Hi Donna,

    Her actual oxygen level was 50% it was measured by a device the first time they tried to do the surgery and was sent home, on they way home my other sister noticed she was turning blue and took her to another hospital that admitted her and she was there for two days. Every four  six months she is in the hospital due to bronciti or pneumonia.  She was hoping to be released yesterday but they kept because she hasn't been able to urinate.

    I'm scared

    Just got a phone called from one of my sisters, my sister that just had surgery is bleeding internally they are going to be doing  to try  stop it. 

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #7
    Hi,
    I am so sorry. It is

    Hi,

    I am so sorry. It is scary. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and hoping they get this internal bleeding under control.

    Big hugs

    Jojo

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #8
    Jojo61 said:

    Hi,
    I am so sorry. It is

    Hi,

    I am so sorry. It is scary. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and hoping they get this internal bleeding under control.

    Big hugs

    Jojo

    Thank You!

    It's been a tough week. Two blood transfusions and pnemonia BUT she goes home tomorrow! Thank you for the prayers! 

  • JoanneNH
    JoanneNH Member Posts: 115
    #9
    runt1964 said:

    Thank You!

    It's been a tough week. Two blood transfusions and pnemonia BUT she goes home tomorrow! Thank you for the prayers! 

    Where are you located?  We

    Where are you located?  We might be able to recommend a super doctor for you.

  • Eliezer2
    Eliezer2 Member Posts: 85
    #10
    treatment

    kidney probably needs to go but lungs can be cleared out with opdivo+yervoy.  for me, my lung capacity was very low, was on oxygen, and over 90% cleared in 6 months of treatment

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #11
    JoanneNH said:

    Where are you located?  We

    Where are you located?  We might be able to recommend a super doctor for you.

    I live in a different state

    My sister lives in the Pocono mountains of PA, she is also back in the hospital. She fell when trying to stand up and could get back up my other sister whom she lives with thought she felt hot and took her temp, it was 103.3 she then called an ambulance and they admitted  into the hospital with pneumonia again she also had an MRI done of her spine because of the pain and not being able to walk. Is it possible the cancer could  spread that quick to her spine? 

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #12
    Eliezer2 said:

    treatment

    kidney probably needs to go but lungs can be cleared out with opdivo+yervoy.  for me, my lung capacity was very low, was on oxygen, and over 90% cleared in 6 months of treatment

    She has been on oxygen

    She has been on oxygen for about 15 years hasn't been ablet not to have it. What is opdivo? And thanks for your reply.

  • NewDay
    NewDay Member Posts: 272
    #13
    runt1964 said:

    She has been on oxygen

    She has been on oxygen for about 15 years hasn't been ablet not to have it. What is opdivo? And thanks for your reply.

    Treatments

    Opdivo is an immunotherapy drug used to treat kidney cancer that many people have had success with.  There are now 8 FDA approved drugs for RCC, but with her existing lung issues, she may not be a candidate for all of them.  Have they mentioned whether she has tumors anywhere other than her kidney?  If possible, try to get her to see an oncologist that has a lot of experience with kidney cancer because it is different from other cancers.

    I'm sorry she and your family are having to deal with this, especially when she was already struggling.  I know this is a hard road.   I will pray for her and your family.

    Kathy

  • runt1964
    runt1964 Member Posts: 33
    #14
    NewDay said:

    Treatments

    Opdivo is an immunotherapy drug used to treat kidney cancer that many people have had success with.  There are now 8 FDA approved drugs for RCC, but with her existing lung issues, she may not be a candidate for all of them.  Have they mentioned whether she has tumors anywhere other than her kidney?  If possible, try to get her to see an oncologist that has a lot of experience with kidney cancer because it is different from other cancers.

    I'm sorry she and your family are having to deal with this, especially when she was already struggling.  I know this is a hard road.   I will pray for her and your family.

    Kathy

    Thank you!

    Thank you for the prayers! Because of her other issues so  they aren't doing anything else. She  be going in every few months to be monitored. The weakness in her legs is happening do  a pinched nerve and she will be going to a spine specialist. She is home now but is still in an awful lot of pain. 

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