My turn

Your story sounds just like a friend of mine's.  He had all of that plus a section of his liver removed.  That was over 3 years ago and he has been fine, so will you!!  Hang in there!

Glad that you have found us here. Keep the positive energy going and prepare physically for recovery as you've said. All the best and wish you an uneventful recovery!

Carmen

Your surgery and recovery will most likely go so much better because you've been so active and are in otherwise good physical condition. The day after the surgery, you'll still probably be wondering if somebody got the license number of the truck, but each day gets better after surgery. 

Sorry you need to be here, but if you need to be here, this is a good place to be.  Keep us posted. 

I'm so happy you found this site and have had a chance to read the posts and gather information.  My reaction was a little different.  When I found out about the mass on my right kidney I started plowing through google and reading most anything I could about RCC.  What I found elevated my anxiety and had me almost spinning into a breakdown.  Fortunately, I found this site and the members jumped into action to help me understand that things weren't so bleak.  They helped me take the appointments one at a time, provided guidance on what to expect and prepared me for my recovery. 

I have a  couple questions for you that may help us help you better.  First and foremost, are you seeing an RCC specialist?  Are you in the US and if so what part of the country?  You mention that you recieved more bad news after the MRI--do you have involvement in other organs or bones?

Take care and keep us posted.

Stub

I had much as you had in 2006.  A larger tumor on the r kidney, mets to the liver, other spots they resected from the liver (neg.), and the paracaval nodes under the kidney with 2 of 11 positive.  Un-dx'd that year was the positive node attached to the IVC and duodenum, so more surgery in 2007. And in 2008, there was another enlarging node attached to the posterior side of the Aorta where it divides in the pelvis to supply each leg.

There was no way in H. that I was going to give up, not in 2006 or subsequent years; and I was 63 at the time of diagnosis.  I'm not the super jock that you appear to be; but had been a PE and Health teacher and remained fit and watched my weight all my life.

So enter this new phase of your life with gusto and enjoy many years to come.  Be kind to yourself during recovery.  After I had to have surgical repair of knee ligaments following a skiing crash-a kid went over the tips on a downhill run, the PTA reminded me that for every day of inactivity, it would take 3 days to recover. And of course being in a cast and on crutches for 6 1/2 weeks put me way back.

Hugs to the Big Island.

donna_lee

It's nice to meet you. Good health, fitness and optimism should see you through.  I will be very interested to follow your posts to see how you go.

I've been following all the newcomers here since I joined 6 months ago.  People's reactions to their illness are generally similar.  I guess that's why we come here.

We are shocked, surprised and afraid when we first get the news.  After a while we calm down a little, especially when we find out that many RCC patients have a fairly good prognosis.  Then we settle down for the long and frustrating wait for surgery.  Tests and scans help pass the time but anxiety builds up.  Finally the surgery and recovery take over your life.  By this time you know a lot more about the disease and your individual prognosis and you can have practical ideas about your future.

I hope you can get out in to nature often before your surgery.  Your love of nature will probably intensify over the coming weeks and months.  That can actually seem quite magical at times.

Steve.