Was just diagnosed

Sal7864
Sal7864 Member Posts: 52

with kidney cancer , 5cm growth on right kidney, meeting with specialist tomorrow for a plan of attack. My general doctor does not think it has spread. Not going to lie. I am scared as heck about this.

 

I am hoping that he only removes bad part and keeps the kidney, as I have read that if you only have one, it could be overworked causing chronic kidney issues down the roar, but don't know how true that is. I will ask my dr. tomorrow , my primary does not think that I will need and chemo or radiation, I hope he is correct

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Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Welcome to the club

    Sal'

    You sound like I did over 15 years ago. At that time they did not due partials. They only yanked the whole kidney out. Unless you have other kidney issues you can lead a normal life with one kidney. Hopefully when you meet with the surgeon a partial is still in the cards if it is appropriate for you. Sometimes they go for a partial and make a game time decision otherwise.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    Ice, thank you very much, I

    Ice, thank you very much, I will post an update after meeting with dr. tomorrow

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    Welcome Sal

    These days they can tell a lot by film, but make no mistake, they need a pathology to be certain that it truly is cancer.  One of our other newbies just found out he did not have kidney cancer after his surgery. 

    There are crazy emotions that go along with all of this though, so I'm sure you are scared.  We all were.  It's a wild ride and it's a process.

    We're all here for you, so if you have questions, need guidance on what to ask the docs, what to expect, etc etc.....fire away.

    Praying for you,

    Donna~

  • Wehavenotimeatall
    Wehavenotimeatall Member Posts: 488 Member
    Hi Yes it’s scary

     Very Scary

    Frm what you say signs are good

    have you had any chest tests done

     

    Hugs

    Annie

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    Most likely the surgery will

    Most likely the surgery will be the end of it with no other treatment required. Yes, it's scary to be told it might be cancer but soon it'll be gone and you'll be on the way to recovery. The surgery and recovery is not nearly as bad as I had feared so don't worry too much about that aspect. Wishing you the very best!

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2017 #7
    Thanks all for the encouraging words

    I will keep you posted!

  • Angie1496
    Angie1496 Member Posts: 154
    Hi Sal!  I had a 4.5 cm mass

    Hi Sal!  I had a 4.5 cm mass on my right kidney. I had a partial nephrectomy September 6th. I know how freaked out you are right now and worrying about everything. But caught under 7cm is typically a really good thing. Depending on the location of the tumor you probably will only lose part of the kidney and it’s good to get it out of there regardless of cancer or not because it will still grow and destroy the kidney.  Know that as scary as it all seems this  a very treatable disease especially when caught early.  keep us posted and welcome to our group!

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2017 #9
    Update

    Met with Dr, he wants to do a biopsy first on off chance that it is not malignant, 20% chance. If so, no surgery  and we monitor. If cancer, we take kidney out( too tricky a location for a partial) I am going in with a mindset that it is cancer, so i won't be disappointed and if not, it a bonus. Pushing  for biopsy next week and if surgery is needed ASAP (which he said won't be an issue) 

    I will update as I get more info

    Thanks all, you are all GREAT rescources!!

      

       

  • ImNotDeadYet
    ImNotDeadYet Member Posts: 244
    The waiting can be tough...

    ...but do your best to stay positive and not obsess over endless possiblities (as I tend to do with everything). It sounds like you're doing everything you need to and are dealing with this quickly and head-on. I hope it's just a growth and you get the best results possible. And if not, we're all here to help you deal with whatever comes next.

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    Anyone ever had a kidney biopsy?

    Just wondering what all is involved

  • DreamOnDeb
    DreamOnDeb Member Posts: 112
    Sal7864 said:

    Anyone ever had a kidney biopsy?

    Just wondering what all is involved

    Hi Sal,

    Hi Sal,

    Yes.....my husband had a kidney biopsy in June.  He had to have a biopsy because there was a chance that it could have been "Transitional Cell Carcinoma" as opposed to "Renal Cell Carcinoma."  Transitional Cell Carcinoma acts more like a bladder cancer even though the tumor is located in the kidney.  If it turned out to be Transitional Cell Carcinoma, it would have been a different operation, where they would have had to remove the ureter, along with the kidney.  He was also told there was a 20-25% chance that it wasn't cancerous.

    Well, to make a long story short, it was not Transitional Cell Carcinoma.....thank God.  It was Renal Cell Carcinoma though, and he had a full nephrectomy in August.  He had to have a full nephrectomy as opposed to a partial because of the location of the tumor.  He is doing really well now.

    After having the biopsy, he had to remain in the hospital for a few hours, and then he was sent home.  He was told to do absolutely nothing that evening but rest.  It wasn't painful.  

  • Wehavenotimeatall
    Wehavenotimeatall Member Posts: 488 Member
    edited November 2017 #13
    Sal

    Never had a biopsy but Danny on the Chromophone post said his wife had a biopsy which came back negative but was actually cancer when kidney removed

    At 5cm you will still want it out 

    Good Luck I will be praying for you

     

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    silly question or not?

    when I have the biopsy done and the surgery a week or so later, won't a needle biopsy open me up enough where the cancer may spread? 

  • DreamOnDeb
    DreamOnDeb Member Posts: 112
    edited November 2017 #15
    Sal7864 said:

    silly question or not?

    when I have the biopsy done and the surgery a week or so later, won't a needle biopsy open me up enough where the cancer may spread? 

    No.....the cancer will not

    No.....the cancer will not spread because of a biopsy.  With modern biopsy methods, using coaxial sheaths, and fine needle aspiration, there is no risk of spreading cancer.  Interventional Radiologists are highly experienced in safe biopsy methods.

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 783 Member
    Myself I would skip the

    Myself I would skip the biopsy and just get it out. That’s what I’m doing. Mine is 3cm a bit smaller than yours. It’s been there for a year and a half as I had to deal with colon cancer surgery etc. first. 

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    Personally

    I'd pass on the biopsy, but then that's an individual choice.

    God bless you,

    Donna~

  • Wehavenotimeatall
    Wehavenotimeatall Member Posts: 488 Member
    edited November 2017 #18

    Myself I would skip the

    Myself I would skip the biopsy and just get it out. That’s what I’m doing. Mine is 3cm a bit smaller than yours. It’s been there for a year and a half as I had to deal with colon cancer surgery etc. first. 

    Have you got a date

    yet Sandy

  • Sal7864
    Sal7864 Member Posts: 52
    no date for biopsy yet

    and curious  for a reason to those who would pass on it ?  Or I wonder if a PET scan would confirm it?

  • ImNotDeadYet
    ImNotDeadYet Member Posts: 244
    Sal7864 said:

    no date for biopsy yet

    and curious  for a reason to those who would pass on it ?  Or I wonder if a PET scan would confirm it?

    PET scan should pick up a 5cm mass

    I had a PET for some lung nodules, but they were too small for the PET scan to pick up anything. At 5cm, and on the kidney, you should be OK. As for your question about why someone would forego a needle biopsy, I can only answer from personal experience. I had a bad experience with one on my lung a few months ago that made me lose faith in my hospital's Interventional Radiology department. I would say in your case, considering the location and size of the tumor, the biopsy should be effective. My situation is rather unique, but it does speak to why someone might not want the procedure. It really depends on circumstances such as location and size of the tumor, and in my case, past experience with the IR team. Good luck to you - I'm sure they'll get this figured out soon.

  • Magayon
    Magayon Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2017 #21
    I had the kidney biopsy

    I had the kidney biopsy before my radical nephrectomy. It was done as outpatient in Interventional Radiology because it was CT guided. I only was given Fentanyl and Versed for concious sedation. I was out and didn't feel a thing. Stayed a couple of hours in the recovery room to watch for any bleeding.

    Good luck to you.