Recently Diagnosed

Ithhampton.

You sound like me 14 years ago when out of the blue they tell you that you have Kidney Cancer and the first thing they do is that they want to yank your kidney out (there were no partials then) WTF

While tumors 4cm and under can spread, that is the exception rather than the rule. You are very lucky that it was caught early.

I predict that you will be around to welcome those grand children 20 to 30 years from now as well as being around to see them (the grandchildren) graduate fro High School.

Icemantoo

PS: We were all scared sh--less in the begining. That too shall pass.

I went through the same emotions 3 weeks ago when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer yeah I know it is a different type of cancer but you stilll have the same feelings. I know people can tell you not to worry and such things but it is just normal to worry. I have found that firends and family and the most important thing, THE LORD, has really helped me through this so far. I had a eco done of my heart the other day. And the lady doing it told me that a surgeon she once worked for told her that he could tell who would beat the cancer and who would'nt by thier attitude. The surgeon said that 60% of winning the battle is attitude. When you first hear the news it kind of takes you off guard. But now you need to get up and dust off and do a bunch of research on the net about cancer. I'am taking( laetrile called b17) plus other vitamins And yeah I have read a ton of stuff about B17 way more good then bad. And most of the bad comes from the folks who are on the big drug companies payroll. So for your own sake research and dont go by those stupid survival rates that where done 15 years ago God bless you and I will pray for you.

I'm going to chime in with everyone else.  PLEASE get a second opinion before you let anyone do this surgery and make sure that it is with someone who has done a LOT of robotic partial nephrectomies.  

It won't do any good for me to tell you not to worry, but do try not to panic.  Can you tell us where you are being treated? We may be able to recommend a doctor or institution in your area that we know has experience.

Kathy

Lots of negative connotations, but rest assured, it is NOT a death sentence.  Don't be mistaken though, it does create a terror within.  I can look at it postively now, in that I got things in order that I'd been reluctant to prior to that diagnosis.  I was 59 at the time and although my kids are grown, my thoughts were of my grandkids and missing out on those blessings.

Mine ( Bob the Blob ) was about a cm smaller than yours and I too had the partial nephrectomy via robotics.  As others have mentioned, get a second opinion.  And by all means, watch that video that Medic Jason mentioned.  My surgery was 3+ years ago and I just watched it, it's awesome and wish I'd have seen it years ago.  It'll provide some clarity for you, not only about the mass and surgery, but recurrence rates vs mass size.  So much good information.

Keep us posted.  I'll be praying for you,

Donna~

lthhampton,

Doctors sure can be consoling and compassionate sometimes... OF COURSE cancer has the nature to spread.  You don't need 5 years of medical school to know that.  But there is one major risk factor to take into account with metastasis... TIME.  The reason large tumors are "more likely" to spread is because they have been there a while.  

I was also 35 and my tumor also was partially cystic with solid areas.  At MRI, they pegged it at 3.8cm, but pathology put it at 2.8cm.  So there is a chance your total size can come down.  The main thing to figure is that this was certainly found early.  No doctor will ever quote you a "0%" chance of recurrence... but my doctors have told me "less than 2%."  So I'll take that.  We have long, full lives ahead of us.  

Don't let it rule you.  Don't forget about it, but don't let it rule you.

- Jay 

We're here for you all the way if you want us to be next to you.  I wonder if this doctor, which I suspect is a Urologist does many of these type operations for kidney cancer? As most want a CT to get a better look. I had both a cyst and a suspected "neoplasm" and he showed me the difference.  You don't remove the Cysts but the margins on the tumor were more like cancer he said.

You are also stage I most likely so do not spend your precious energy on worrying over things you have no control over. I have been cancer free for 2.5 years now. My tumor was about the size of yours too.

Robatic/laproscopic is the way to go. Little incisions about an inch at the most. Yet you DO have to rest and cannot exercise for at least a month so your insides can heal up. You don't want anything to rupture.

I also used a lumbar wrap used for bad backs found in drug store. It held in those aching abdominal muscles. I even put dry ice packs inside the wrap but not directly on the skin and that reduced any swelling where the incisions were. It helped a lot. As a result I was not on opiate pain pills for very long.

Ask any questions, will be here for you! You're going to be okay. Just make sure you have someone to help with the kidsand tell your hubby etc you cannot overdo it even when you start to feel better.

Hugs, Jan

Greetings, and welcome to the most supportive and wonderful group of people I've found anywhere . . . 

I started posting on this board about 2 weeks ago when I learned I had a 3.5-4cm mass on my kidney that was likely cancerous.  I had my partial nephrectomy (robotic) on Monday, and got my labs back today: confirmed renal cell carcinoma, and confirmed that margins are clear!  So about two weeks after learning that I probably had cancer, I learned I am cancer free.

Your tumor is small, and as others have said here, highly unlikely that it has spread.  I also agree that you need a second opinion; something fluid filled is much more likely a cyst, NOT cancer (which generally presents as a solid mass).  So do some due diligence and then go after the right treatment with all you've got.  I have a 3 year old and a 5 year old, and I absolutely understand your fear.  That said, if this thing is cancer, you caught it early and you located it in a duplicative organ.  Well done!  

Lean on this group - they are amazing.  And I'm here to join and reinforce them.  You are ok.  This will be ok.

-Robyn