1st meeting with Urogolist

todd121 said:

Staging

They really can't tell much until they get it out. You're right. I believe 7 cm is the cutoff between Stage 1 and Stage 2. However, they can't even tell what kind of cancer is it until they do the pathology. Are you a candidate for a partial nephrectomy? That might save some of your kidney function. I had a 6.9 cm tumor but I was not able to have a partial because of the location of the tumor.

Hope it goes well for you. There's always a chance it's something benign, or something not so serious. It happens. Living with the unknown is something we struggle with in this situation. You're not alone.

Hugs,

Todd

 

Hi Todd, I am not a candidate for a partial. It's in a bad place and they need to remove it. I have realized it could have been found later. So, I count my blessings that it was discovered now instead of a year or two.

Thanx for your support.

Iggy

Thanx to everyone for your comments and support. My Urologist informed me the location of the tumor made it difficult for a partial. (The tumor is located on the top of the kidney). I have thought about a second opinion, but all my doctors are under a health care system that is pretty large here in my area. They have a specilized Cancer Center that is accedited. My sister in law recently had cancer surgery there to remove breast cancer and they did a great job on her.

I asked my doctor if he did the laprosocpic surgery and he said yes. He then explaned the procedure to me and assured me that he had a lot of experience with the procedure.  He also told me I was the third person who came into his office this week with cancer. If he did not performed laprospopic surgery, I would have found a Dr. who did. The hospital where my surgery will take place has a dedicated cancer center which includes surgery and they do a lot of it.

I can get a second opinion, but right now I'm ok with my doctors and the hospital where I will have my surgery. I am also concerned with the size of my tumor and want it out ASAP.

Thank you all for your advice and support.

Iggy

marosa said:

hello Iggyrip

I had a partial neph 2 years ago this month for a tumor your size and it was sitting on the top right of my kidney. My doctor was a Professor in cancer urology but yes there were risks and I fell into that low risk porcentage.  Had an internal hemorrague 12 hours after surgery and had to be transfused.  Tough and scary recup but I got to keep 3/4 of my kidney and get 6mm of clean margins.  So far so good and feeling great!  Its important to trust your doctor.  Good luck and see you soon here doing the rest-recup bit!

Hi Marosa, thanx for your post. I may look into a second. Scary stuff, glad you kept part of your kidney.

Jan4you said:

Hi there, Iggyrip! Have you

Hi there, Iggyrip! Have you ever had any abdominal surgeries? And is your surgeon trained in robatic, laproscopic? I too had to have a radical due to the position of my tumor 4.2cm near a blood supply. And I used a lumbar wrap to wear as I left the hospital, even in bed/chairs as it helped me to get up. Most folks rest in a recliner, but I didn't have one then.

I would place dry ice packs inside my lumbar wrap over the largest incision and it really helped reduce the swelling. Therefore I used less pain meds and I didn't need pain meds for long.

We're here for you for any questions or concerns you might have. Remember you will be under the medications used in general anesthesia which won't be out of your system completely for a few days, while already starting on oral pain meds AND they use that gas to pump up your abdomen so the surgeon can SEE past other organs. That gas gets trapped in weird places, usually in the shoulder. That was my worse pain, so I just kept circling my arms around to move it out.

Hang in there,  you'll be okay. BUT you must rest and not exercise for at least 30 days, even if you feel like it. You can walk though. You'll be a little more tired too for a bit. So please don't rush this return to work.

Sending  you calmness, serenity and a healing hug!

Jan

Hi Jan, I have never had abdominal surgery. I don't think my Urologist is doing Robotic Surgery. He told me he will do Laproscopic Surgery. I asked him if he did Robotic, but he did not say he did.  (I am looking into a second opinion. Hopefully, I can see another Urologist who does the Robotic). I just want someone who knows what he is doing and time it ticking away. Thank you for the advice and information regarding the surgery and recovery. Right now, I am scheduled to take a Colonoscopy because they want to rule out someone they saw.  In the meantime, I wait and try to keep things in perspective.

Thank you for your time,

Iggy

Allochka said:

Please do not forget to do

Please do not forget to do breathing exercises after surgery, otherwise you can end up with pneumonia or similar. Those exercises are really important!

OK, thanx.