One year

Kat23502
Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

One year ago today I was having my robot assisted partial nephrectomy for a 2.9 cm clear cell, grade 2 RCC. I am so thankful to have found it on myself thanks to my profession, thankful for each day, and thankful to all of you for the support!! I still worry every single day, but I'm also enjoying each and every minute.

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    One down

    Kat,

     

     

    One down.many more to come.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    #3
    Steve.Adam said:

    Kool Kat

    I missed being in the Tuesday club but at least I can you in the February club.

    Do you really worry every day about cancer returning?

    Steve.

    Hey Steve. I would say yes,

    Hey Steve. I would say yes, but not every moment and it's gotten better. It's not a worry that's constant or overwhelming. It's more that I think about my son getting older and it crosses my mind that I hope I'm around. Or I have an ache and worry, or I see a commercial for a cancer drug and I am reminded. It's more fleeting now and I think it will get better and better. 

     

    Welcome me to the February club! How are you feeling? Home now right?

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    #4
    icemantoo said:

    One down

    Kat,

     

     

    One down.many more to come.

     

    Icemantoo

    That's my plan!

    That's my plan!

  • Bay Area Guy
    Bay Area Guy Member Posts: 620 Member
    #5
    Anniversary wishes Kat!

    Anniversary wishes Kat!

    Mine was robotic, about half your size, chromoophobe, and on a Wednesday.  June 22, 2016 to be precise.  I can't say that I think every day about the cancer potentially returning, but it does pop into my mind from time to time.  And when that thought does return, I just return to a note the surgeon wrote me that said my particular form of RCC is very unagressive.  It grows slowly; it rarely if ever spreads; and it rarely, if ever returns.

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    #6
    Bay Area Guy said:

    Anniversary wishes Kat!

    Anniversary wishes Kat!

    Mine was robotic, about half your size, chromoophobe, and on a Wednesday.  June 22, 2016 to be precise.  I can't say that I think every day about the cancer potentially returning, but it does pop into my mind from time to time.  And when that thought does return, I just return to a note the surgeon wrote me that said my particular form of RCC is very unagressive.  It grows slowly; it rarely if ever spreads; and it rarely, if ever returns.

    My thoughts about it are more

    My thoughts about it are more fleeting now than they used to be but definitely crosses my mind each day. I hope that gets better and better and I think of it less and less.

  • daisybud
    daisybud Member Posts: 541 Member
    #7
    Happy one year Kat!

    I'm in that February club and same day too! 

    Kim

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #8
    Kool Kat

    I missed being in the Tuesday club but at least I can you in the February club.

    Do you really worry every day about cancer returning?

    Steve.

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    edited February 2017 #9
    Kat23502 said:

    Hey Steve. I would say yes,

    Hey Steve. I would say yes, but not every moment and it's gotten better. It's not a worry that's constant or overwhelming. It's more that I think about my son getting older and it crosses my mind that I hope I'm around. Or I have an ache and worry, or I see a commercial for a cancer drug and I am reminded. It's more fleeting now and I think it will get better and better. 

     

    Welcome me to the February club! How are you feeling? Home now right?

    That seems normal to me

    I was worried that you were having daily anxiety attacks or something similar.

    It's a pretty big thing in a person's life, that's for sure. I will think of it often.

    Yes, I am home and doing well.  No pain and no worries.  The guys here didn't sell my stuff on ebay while I was away.

    I just need to figure out what to do with the rest of my (long) life... :-)

    Steve.

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #10
    daisybud said:

    Happy one year Kat!

    I'm in that February club and same day too! 

    Kim

    Happy anniversary Kim. 

    Smile

    Happy anniversary Kim. 

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    #11
    daisybud said:

    Happy one year Kat!

    I'm in that February club and same day too! 

    Kim

    Yes! You're my surgery buddy.

    Yes! You're my surgery buddy. We made it a year, here's to many, many more!

  • foroughsh
    foroughsh Member Posts: 779 Member
    edited February 2017 #12
    I'm very happy for finding it

    I'm very happy for finding it so soon, hopefully that little one is gone for ever. I had my surgery two and a half years ago and i still think about recurrence not only every day but also every few hours. Although it doesn't hurt as it used to. I'm more hopeful and optimist every passing day. I wish you optimism and less worriness, these negative thoughts will go away one day and we should look for that day to come, mean while let's enjoy every moment

  • stub1969
    stub1969 Member Posts: 986 Member
    edited February 2017 #13
    Anniversary

    Certain events have an incredible impact on our lives to the point they brand our memory.  Just like I remember exactly what I was doing when President Reagan was shot.  I'm sure I'll never forget the office, the doctor, or the grip of my wife's hand in mine when I was told about my cancer.  I remember vividly the feelings I had, the process leading up to my surgery, and each nurse that cared for me after.  I'm looking forward to reaching my 1 year anniversay...then my 2, and so on, but I know I'll never forget the events listed above.  People comment that they think about their "cancer" less and less as time goes by.  I'm starting to feel that too, but it's always there.  The trick is to cover those memories or thoughts with better and more current things. 

    Congratulations on this milestone and to many more!

    Stub

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #14
    It'll be three years for me

    It'll be three years for me next month but I still worry also. No, not every minute, nor is it overwhelming, but I'd by lying if I said it doesn't cross my mind. Congrats on one year down and many more to go :)

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #15
    Wow, that was a fast year!

    Doesn't seem that long ago.....not to me anyway.  I completely understand your thoughts about recurrence, it's in our face ALL the time, but it does get better as time ticks on.

    Congratulations!

    Donna~

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #16
    Congratulations!

    The anxiety will go down with time. The thoughts will come, but less anxiety. At least that's my experience.

    Todd

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,074 Member
    #17
    One year has passed already?

    One year has passed already? Amazing, it seems to me that I was reading your first  posts couple of months ago... Congratulations on anniversary and wishing you many NED years!

    My husband had surgery 2 years ago. I'm noticing lately that I am not thinking about recurrence possibility anymore. And this is an achievement, taking into account my hypochondria :-) Give yourself more time, and these intrusive thoughts will pass...

  • Jan4you
    Jan4you Member Posts: 1,330 Member
    edited February 2017 #18
    Congrats!

    Congrats!

    Sending you less anxiety and reminders as you live your life.

    But really, ask ourselves, what do we ever gain by using up much needed energy?

    Hopefully it will be less and less as you gain more confidence.

    Hugs, Jan

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    edited February 2017 #19
    A year behind you....and

    A year behind you....and every NED year after lessens the chance of it recurring.  It always is a worry. But I always say, worrying doesn't change the outcome, and worrying allows cancer to win by taking part of your sanity.

    You are doing great!!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Kat23502
    Kat23502 Member Posts: 179 Member
    edited February 2017 #20
    Thank you all for the well

    Thank you all for the well wishes, you've been such an amazing source of support. I look forward to many, many, years ahead.:)

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    #21
    daisybud said:

    Happy one year Kat!

    I'm in that February club and same day too! 

    Kim

    Happy anniversaries -- !

    Happy anniversaries, Kim and Kat!

    Last year at this time, I was in a daze following a week's adventure with kidney stones.  Oy.  Didn't have the kidney-mass-news yet.  It does get better with time, though. Definitely!

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