Need Help Again Sorry

It is so common to have every little pain cause fear that your cancer has spread.  I have diagnosed myself with so many types of cancer (none of which were accurate) after my kidney cancer diagnosis that I have lost count! Most of the time before they even allow you to schedule the DaVinci surgery they already know that it has not spread.  However, call your doctor to talk to them.  They understand.  I found that I had severe anxiety after my diagnosis, and I finally asked for help.  I am currently taking medication for my anxiety.  I am almost 18 months post-op and still cancer free!  I, too, had the DaVinci surgery, and the recovery is so much easier!  Just remember walk, walk, walk as it will help your recovery.  Drink plenty of fluids.  Don't push yourself - FOLLOW THE LIFTING RESTRICTIONS.  I had a 1.7cm tumor that was removed with clear margains from this surgery.  Sending you thoughts and prayers!!! 

Annie,

You are in a state of mind know as hyper vigilance.  Anytime you find something wrong, or out of the normal, with your body you will automatically assume the worst.  It took me about a year to get past this in my head.

Here is something you DO NOT want to happen and that is letting this turn into PTSD.  You will survive this and it would really suck to spend the rest of your life worrying about it returning or coming back.  There is a mental battle you will fight with cancer and that is a battle you may need help with try and find a good therapist and psychiatrist.  That's what I did and it helped so much.

I've worked in healthcare for over 20 years, mainly emergency medicine, as an EMT and now as an RN so you can always inbox me if you have any questions.

To answer your questions:

Do you think that this is a sign that things have spread to lymph nodes: No

Will they look at the lymph nodes whilst doing a partial:  Unless they saw swollen nodes on the CT Scan I suspect they will not remove any.       

Hang in there!

Jason

sitting at top of the right side kidney (6cm) but had a partial and kept 70% of that kidney and no lymph nodes were removed.  It will be 3 years the 30th of September.  Hang on, its a difficult time but you will go thru and have your life back.  I did not believe this at the time but it is true!  And your fears you will learn to tame them.  We loose so much energy worrying!  I know its easy for me to say that now but please trust us.  Hang in there, you will be fine.  Put trust in your caregivers and in yourself.  

As a guy, I can't comment about those particular pains.  However, as someone else pointed out, once you are diagnosed with cancer, every new pain that comes up makes you think it has spread somewhere else.  This has happened to me many times only to find in my next scan that I am just fine.   I do understand the fear.  I live it every day. Be happy that you caught this early.  That is a wonderful thing. 

Annie...

Didn't you have surgery yesterday?   How are you doing? 

I'm sorry you are having a rough recovery!  My tumor was also under fat. It's part of the kidney make up from what I was told. Its hard to say cured. Cancer free is what I've said. In 6 months I hope to say my scans show I'm still cancer free. Everyday you will get a little better. Don't rush it. I'm 2.5 weeks post op. Going back to work onsite tomorrow for at least half a day.  Everything tires me. Not used to not being able to do things I did  up till surgery.  Try to remember we have had a major surgery and our bodies will take time and energy to heal. Good thoughts and prayers for your continued healing and that your pain lessens. 

Angie

Just wanted to weigh in on this.  I had a partial open nephrectomy in February, 2011. Have regular scans since then that show the surgeon got it all and there is nothing growing anywhere around the area. For some reason, just before I go in for scans, I start getting weird pains in my back, in the area of my kidneys.  I always think that it has returned. It hasn't, it's just my mind playing tricks on me, I guess.

Sending  you prayers and positive energy that your results are the same as mine.

Mary H. said:

Several years post-op

Just wanted to weigh in on this.  I had a partial open nephrectomy in February, 2011. Have regular scans since then that show the surgeon got it all and there is nothing growing anywhere around the area. For some reason, just before I go in for scans, I start getting weird pains in my back, in the area of my kidneys.  I always think that it has returned. It hasn't, it's just my mind playing tricks on me, I guess.

Sending  you prayers and positive energy that your results are the same as mine.

This happens to me too and I realized from others it is related to anxiety, in our case "Scanxiety". When I was diagonoised last year, I thought I was told that it's my right kidney has the tumor and got flank pain on the right side for days until I saw my speciliast who told me it is on the left side... I still have pain everytime days before my scan....