An incidental finding=RCC

bee,

At 7cm a radical nepherectomy is almost a given. Seven cm is also the division between Stage 1 and Stage 2. The exact size and pathology will not be determined until after surgery. There are members here with larger tumors who have had no problems since surgery and they will chime in. Mine was a little larger than 4 cm and so far so good with almost 15 years behind me. The surgery is not fun, but you should have it easier than me as you are a bit younger. The only uncertain part of your surgery will be whether it is laproscopic or open and there are a lot of factors that go into that decision such as location of the tumor. Sometimes they start with a lap and make a game time decision to go open. Get some help lined up  to handle the young ones for the first few weeks after surgery. We all went thru the not so fun time when we were told we had Kidney Cancer and the first thing we were told is that they want to yank out your kidney. That feeling will subside over time. It took me almost 11 months after surgery to get back up on water skis. No roller coasters this simmer.

Icemantoo

I have to admire your attitude about this, calling it a blessing, but, you are absolutely right.  Your tumor was discovered at a time when it can still be treated relatively easy and you should have no problems going forward.

I'm nine months out from having a baby lesion (1.8cm) taken out in a robotic assisted partial, so my surgical experience isn't really pertinent to your situation.  But I do recall my initial attitude when finding out about the diagnosis was no where near as good as yours.  Had I had hair, I would have been running around pulling it out in the first few hours.  Fortunately for me, my sister is a nurse practitioner (in a different field), so she was able to explain a lot of things to me and calm me way down.

Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a full recovery.

beemurguia said:

Hello there Steve,

Hello there Steve,

Yes, I have already learned a lot just from reading many posts and I feel very conforted arminng myself with knowledge and peoples personal experiences.  So do you feel like your back to your usual or still recovering physically? How often do you have to go for follow up exams? I hope you have good results at your next blood evaluation!

Thanks for taking the time to welcome me to the group.  I hope to offer relevant information once I get through my phase of treatment!

Cheers!

Bee

Yes, I feel pretty much back to normal. I am still being careful about lifting etc., but everything else is fine. My energy levels are ok. No pain, no discomfort. I do feel something a little different inside when I take a deep breath.

I haven't yet had any follow up visits to the Urologists, just to my local doc to get my staples out.

Now that it is all done I feel like a character in a story that I just finished reading.

Actually I felt a bit like that before the surgery. I was the star of my own (medical) reality show.

That feeling probably helped me to put some distance between me and the events I was living/acting/watching.

What will the next chapter bring? 

Steve.

I'm glad you found this site.  I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it many times in the future....this site is a wonderful place.  The members will reach out and support you and offer their stories and experiences to help.  I'm just over 6 months post-surgery and doing well.  I've been back to running and exercising without issues at 3 months post-surgery. 

Can I ask where you are being treated?  Do you know if your doctor specializes in RCC?  I ask because it seems odd that surgery is out over a month for you.  As Iceman said 7cm is the right on the line of a stage 1 and 2.  Surgery for me was a couple weeks after I met with the urologist.  My intent is not to add to your anxiety, I'm just curious.

Take care,

Stub

Glad you found us.  We are all in the same boat, bailing out the leaks, and rowing the best we can.  

If you have two young kids, who are not at the help out with the wash and dishes or meals... yes, you better get help lined up.  

A radical neph means a good sized incision, lots of inards getting pushed and shoved around to get to the back kidney area.  You will be told not to lift anything heavy... like over 5 lbs.  Be aware, as a mom of two young ones, your purse probably weighs more than 5 lbs... so wake up girl !  It is major surgery.  You will have to take time to let your body get over the shock !  Makes me smile, glad you have an amazing husband.  He better start the transformation now, as a working Mom, you likely believe you are supermom... and this kidney tumor removal will be your kryptoenite.. or however it is spelled.  

Jan 4 you has advice for the tummy swelling and a binder that works wonders.  Use it.  The hardest thing getting used to after the surgery was asking for help.. something I had not ever done before. It was hard.  If your husband will get other family and friends to organize a dinner delivery to your house, and perhaps someone to come in to keep the wash and housework under control, at least for a few weeks after you come home.  Let everyone help who say they want to.... make a list, and have them take a task.  

You will get over the tired fatigue, the soreness, the inability to sleep.  Do not think the "no pain, no gain" montra...  it is stupid in this day and age.

You will be fine. The best thing to do is get well.  Then you will be able to take charge again, and keep your house together.  This cancer is a BIG DEAL.  Your attitude of finding this, and dealing with what may come down the road is good, and will help you tremendously.  Keep a sense of humor, know that the whole lot of us here have your back, and keep us up to date on your progress.

We care.  We are glad you found this site.  Others will chime in I am sure, with good advice .... all from personal experiences.  Good luck

Pam

marosa said:

Hi Bee!

You have such a positive attitude!  That is fantastic and it will carry you a long way, hang in there, you will be fine!  I too had a pretty long wait, a little over 5 weeks from the time of diagnosis.  My tumor was almost the size of yours but I, like Steve, had an artery leak hours after the surgery. In my case it went with the  risk of going with a partial at that tumor size.  

It looks like you will pass thru this with flying colors!  Keep up your positive attitude and your spark for life!  It will do wonders for you and we will definitely profit from it too!  May this few weeks go by fast for you.

I should have read your 'my csn' page earlier. I thought I was the only one here who'd had that problem.

Mine was also T1b Grade 2 and my hospital stay was also 9 days.

I had a very easy recovery and I have wondered if the long stay in hospital helped.

Steve.

beemurguia said:

Thanks for sharing your story

Thanks for sharing your story.  Im sorry you had a slight complication. How was that? did you feel like something was wrong? that is very scary.  Im glad your well now.  My step mother passed away three years ago from many complications of breast cancer.  It was her second round in a 15 year period.  She unfortunately became negative, mad, resentful, toxic.  It was very sad to see her go through such a change in her character and I strongly believe it added to her loosing her fight to stay alive.  I think that if I stay positive and grateful for what I have and experience that good things/experiences will come as a result.

May the next couple of weeks be a blurrrrrrr!!! :-)

I was still unconscious after the surgery when the complication (leaking artery) happened. It seems to be quite rare. Marosa is the only other case I heard of here since I joined in October. There was one other case but I don't remember where I read about it. That was an artery cutting tool that malfunctioned and cut an artery without clamping it. Similar to Marosa's and mine but more serious and also very, very unlikely.

I updated 'My CSN' the other day and told my story briefly there.

I went to the hospital alone. But... When friends/family phoned the hospital to find out how I was they were told that there had been a complication and that I had (or was having) emergency surgery.

So I got more visitors than I would have otherwise, but none brought chocolate... (I don't eat sugar anyway, so no worries.)

Even without the complication I realise that I underestimated the surgery. I was prepared to be tired and to rest for a week or two, but it just turned out to be bigger than I was expecting, even after reading stories here.

Even though I had a fairly easy time really, it was still a shock to my system, emotionally and physically. There is some kind of spiritual effect too, but I'm not sure what that is. Maybe just smelling and seeing the flowers more clearly.

Steve.