Scanning.

In time, the scanxiety lessons.  I am 5 years from diagnosis, and 4.5 years ned.  I am at six month scans, after the next one, it will be one year.

I assume CT on your avitar is your image.  If so, the acorn shaped kidney had a big tumor (the hat of the acorn).  You were easily stage II.  

You got lucky.  But you need to remain vigilent to stay lucky.

CRashter,

Judging by the picture of your scan in your profile (and it's hard to judge your situation because you haven't updated your profile info; I highly recommend you do that it helps members help you) I would say you had a 7-8 cm tumor?  Even though I only had a 2.8cm tumor, I am not interested in ever stopping scans.  

Yes, it takes a psychological toll.  Yes, it costs money.  But the chances that a doctor can help you when a met shows up early rather than 2 or 3 years down the road are infinitely greater.  I had a horrendous time with my last scans... they called me back for more pictures because they wanted a closer look at something... and even though those 24 hours were some of the worst of my life I will still get scans religiously every year.  

It is all we can do for our families that we remain vigilant and stay on top of this.

- Jay 

To me, keeping up with the scans would be less anxious than going without scans.  Catching RCC early is everything and all of us have a significant risk of recurrence.  Please reconsider.

While I believe in lifelong imaging, I actually think it's less the 10 year and more the 2-3 year you should be so concerned about. As someone that does this for a living, I can't understand the mindset. The short term worry for a few wars in exchange for life for many, many, years seems like an easy choice to me. If something is caught early, you can likely be treated. If caught late or not at all, perhaps you'd wish for those scans. You can always speak to your physician about spacing them out a bit more or doing other sorts of imaging. Everyone has to make the best decision for themselves and I think we will all respect that. However, I would really suggest you find out more about your cancer: stage, grade, size. Then, you can do your research and make the best decision for yourself. 

CR,

you said that cancer is smth you can't control. Well, for me it is different - with regular scans you'll have the control over situation. When caught early, a lot can be treated. Choosing to have scans is being responsible and in charge. Choosing not to - like Donna said, "head in the sand" and passing all control to cancer.

My husband had no hesitations what to choose. He chose follow up and being in control.

Please reconsider

CRashster said:

It may sound strange

but I don't have that much interest in my cancer. It's not that I don't care, but it's more like something I can't control. It had the perfect chance to kill me, but it didn't. Will it kill me yet? Maybe, but I feel like I can't really control that either. I'm done worrying about stuff I can't control.

You can't control it, no. A surgeon can in many ways though. Supposed a lung met developes, it is small and a surgeon does a wedge resention of your lung and you are now disease free. It stays because you didn't have scans and that one met sends out more cells and your one met becomes multiple that are inoperable. NOW, you've lost control. Mets propagate, they are not all from the original source.