Stage 3 kidney cancer with diabetes/afib

EBD
EBD Member Posts: 10
in Kidney Cancer #1

My husband was just diganosed yesterday with stage 3 kidney cancer - tumor is 4" long. 

He is 54 years old and also has diabetes and afib..  we are curently waiting for more test results to see if the cancer has spread.

Because he has had diabetes for 20 years he already had a little kidney damage.  The Dr said they will probably need to remove the entire bad kidney ..but only if the "good" kidney can work on its own. 

My question is has anyone in this group had these same type of health problems with kidney cancer (or know someone who has)  and what was your treament?

We are both numb right now but ready to tackle this head on.

Thank you for any encouraging words.

 

 

Comments

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #2
    Hi again EBD

    I got so excited about diet that I forgot about your cancer.

    Welcome to the group!

    I actually don't have any advice for you except to please feel free to talk about anything here and to ask any question. We will support you as far as we are able.

    Some people here have reduced function in their remaining kidney. It is sometimes a topic for discussion (not surprising!).

    The surgery itself seems to go well for everyone. There are no horror stories here, though some have changed doctors prior to surgery. 

    Steve.

     

  • EBD
    EBD Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2017 #3
    Steve.Adam said:

    Hi again EBD

    I got so excited about diet that I forgot about your cancer.

    Welcome to the group!

    I actually don't have any advice for you except to please feel free to talk about anything here and to ask any question. We will support you as far as we are able.

    Some people here have reduced function in their remaining kidney. It is sometimes a topic for discussion (not surprising!).

    The surgery itself seems to go well for everyone. There are no horror stories here, though some have changed doctors prior to surgery. 

    Steve.

     

    Thank you so much for your reply...yes afib is atrial fibrillation..

    We are fairly certain the Dr will recommend surgery to remove the bad kidney.

    I am not sure of my husband's glucose numbers but he checks his sugar all the time although he does not eat right..cutting carbs def helps everything.

    Just waiting for test results to come back to see if it has spread anywhere..that is what is the most frightening...although I have read a few posts from people that have stage 4 and are long time survivors after surgery.    This group has calmed some fears..but still afraid.

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    edited March 2017 #4
    Everyone's fear

    Yes, I think that is everyone's fear. My tumour was stage 1 and is theoretically gone forever. The recurrence rate is about 2% so... I will surely be nervous at my regular scans like everyone else here.

    That means that even if we are NED for the rest of our long lives we are still never quite free of cancer.

    I am also 54, by the way. I reckon I'll stop worrying on my 90th birthday...

    Let's have a big party in August 2052. :-)

    Steve.

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    edited March 2017 #5
    Hi EBD

    Is afib atrial fibrillation?

    I have type 2 diabetes and had cardiac stents inserted in 2008 and 2009 so I'm in the heart disease category too.

    My diabetes was diagnosed a couple of years after that and got steadily worse until my a1c was 9.7% in January 2015. The highest blood gluose I measured was about 27 mmol/L (486 mg/dL) so you can see that I wasn't controlling it well. I was on 2000mg of metformin.

    In February 2015 I started removing carbohydrates from my food. 6 months later my a1c was 4.5 and I was 24 kg (53lb) lighter. I've kept to the diet reasonably well since then so my diabetes is effectively in remission. I am not taking any medication. My blood pressure also normalised.

    So by the time my kidney tumour was discovered my diabetes was not an issue. The kidney was removed 2 monhs ago. Next week I will have some blood tests and find out about my current kidney function.

    My most recent eGFR with two kidneys was good (>90) so I just hope my previous high blood glucose did not damage them too much.

    It s easy to find information on low carb eating. There are some great youtube talks.

    Steve.

     

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    edited March 2017 #6
    "Let's have a big party in August 2052"

    how about: "Let's PARTY until august 2052"

  • CRashster
    CRashster Member Posts: 241 Member
    edited March 2017 #7
    2045

    In 2045 I'm going back to drinking whiskey, so you guys will have to catch up.

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    edited March 2017 #8
    I'll second that

    Partying until 2052, that is. Any attempts at catching up on drinking whiskey would be seriously unfun, having a rather negative impact on my quality of life issues (and consequently, anyone else's). 

  • Steve.Adam
    Steve.Adam Member Posts: 463 Member
    #9
    Well said, Fox.

    Well said, Fox.

    I'll bring some low carb pizza and beer.

    Steve.

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

    I'll second that

    Partying until 2052, that is. Any attempts at catching up on drinking whiskey would be seriously unfun, having a rather negative impact on my quality of life issues (and consequently, anyone else's). 

    Don't worry Jerzy

    If you make a fool of yourself on scotch we'll all laugh at you in a nice, friendly way.

    Steve.

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