Feel Like I am Going Crazy

Pandabear1011 said:

Hi Sandy, I was diagnosed

Hi Sandy, I was diagnosed with a 6cm X 4.5cm X 3.5cm grade 2 kidney tumor back in May 2014. I had my right kidney removed at MD Anderson here in Texas. My doctor said my prognosis was excellent and so far so good! Its been almost 3 years and no recurrence. A 6cm tumor is considered Stage 1.

A 6 cm tumor that hasn't grown outside the kidney in any way NOR grown into any of the veins or arteries in the kidney is Stage 1 (in other words, fully contained). Also, it assumes no other tumors anywhere in the body (it's the only tumor).

You don't really know the stage until 1) that tumor has been to pathology so they can stage it and 2) you've had thorough workup to make sure no other tumors are present. This workup should include a CT with contrast if possible of the chest/abdomen and pelvis, and possibly a nuclear bone scan and a brain MRI. This is what they do when you go into a drug trial to make sure of your staging.

Also, the stage is not the only information that is important. Very important is the type of RCC and what grade it is. You don't know this until after pathology either.

I keep posting about this, because I was completely shocked when I was told I was Stage 1, and I came on here and everybody (inlcluding my surgeon) said I was probably cured only to find out that I was Stage 3, Grade 3 and had a very high probability of it returning.

Given all of this, remember that a prognosis is not really helpful information. Nobody can tell you what will happen to you. There's no glass ball for reading the future. So try not to worry about it too much.

Best wishes,

Todd

sandy23 said:

We are back from his

We are back from his appointment and the chest x-ray was clear and so was the CT scan with contrast.  He did say that since it is on the right side though, that it isn't possible to see in between the liver and kidney but he doesn't anticipate it being in the liver (now I am worried that it is there and they just can't see it).  The cystoscopy was clear and looked good.  He will have his first appointment with the doctor actually doing the surgery on February 2nd and surgery will be scheduled at that time.

I am probably going to really need you guys a lot during that time.  If I become annoying, just tell me.

My tumor was also on the right side, but much, much smaller than any of the ones mentioned by others (1.5cm at diagnosis, 1.7-1.8 cm on removal).  All of my CT's (and I think I had a total of 5 over the 30 months between diagnosis and removal) were able to see the liver just fine and no other part of my abdomen had anything odd other than my intestines, which had the evidence of two previous non-cancer related surgeries.  A chest x-ray from one month ago, which was six months post-surgery, showed nothing unusual.

sandy23 said:

I have so many questions

I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you guys have said.  Just the fact that you took so much time to type your responses means the world.  Thank you.

Do any of you know about blood in the urine?  My husband has that and I read that means that it is already in the advanced stages and prognosis is not good.  I'm sorry to be so personal but did any of you have that?

Means that you've got blood in your urine. It means many things Gallstones, cancer. For me it was cancer on May1st 2013. It is no indicator of anything apart from something wrong somewhere. It is no indicator of stage or progress in cancer.

Stop consulting Dr Google! He is either out of date or crazy. Perhaps Lizard monsters are taking over out innards, but I doubt it.

Everyone is giving such good advice that I doubt I can add any. Try not to panic. Your imagination will imagine the worst. Be aware that that is what is happening. I have never met a cancer patient who found that the reality lived up to their imaginings, so try not to panic.