Solid 1.8cm

Keaston57
Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
in Kidney Cancer #1

Just found out I have a 1.8 cm tumor in the upper lobe of my right kidney. This was found after complaint of lower ab cramping on left side.  Still dont know why cramping.   local urologists says with out biopsy 80% sure cancer.  But so small just leave it alone and watch it.  I am not so sure about this and feel like if they know where cancer is then get it out.  But evidently it is in a complicated area.  Just wanted some input.  I think I will for sure get another opinion from St. Louis.

 

Very nervous

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Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Its just a little puppy

    Keaston,

    Uro's opinion sounds on point. Get the second opinion. Still very small. Your prognosis at that size should be excellent. We were all nervous and scared in the begining. None of us liked hearing the C word. That was me almost 16 years ago.

     

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #3
    Definitely get a second

    Definitely get a second opinion. As Iceman said, it's small so even if cancer the chances that surgery will be the end of it is very good. Did you have a CT scan with and without contrast?

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,045 Member
    #4
    Two heads better than 1

    in this case, definitely.  Especially in a large metro area.  1.8 is still really small. ( mine was 8.1 on it's smalled dimension)  

    My opinion is always to have it and anything else that looks like cancer REMOVED.  No matter how large or small, they still she cells that can get into the blood stream.

    Find a Dr. you like and go for it.

    donna_lee

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    edited January 2018 #5
    If it is in

    a complicated area now, does your dr. think it will be less complicated later? Doesn't sound right to me. Get someone more experienced.

  • Kidneybeans
    Kidneybeans Member Posts: 39
    #6
    I would want it out asap and

    I would want it out asap and I would want a Dr who was confident in his/her ability to do so.  

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    #7
    APny said:

    Definitely get a second

    Definitely get a second opinion. As Iceman said, it's small so even if cancer the chances that surgery will be the end of it is very good. Did you have a CT scan with and without contrast?

    scans

    yes ct with and with out contrast and MRI with and without.  Thanks for your opinion

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    #8
    Thanks to all of you

    Appreciate all your inputs.  I am definetly having second opinion.

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    #9
    foxhd said:

    If it is in

    a complicated area now, does your dr. think it will be less complicated later? Doesn't sound right to me. Get someone more experienced.

    No he doesnt.  He just thinks

    No he doesnt.  He just thinks that why bother something so small.  But small area and dont actually deal with many cases.  So I will go to STL in Feb.  The waiting for Feb is hard, though

    Thank You

  • Bay Area Guy
    Bay Area Guy Member Posts: 620 Member
    #10
    I had a similar sized lesion

    I had a similar sized lesion in my right kideny, although it was in a pretty accessible location.  My urologist told me that the standard of care for a lesion that size is observation.  Mine was discovered in December, 2013, but I did not have surgery for it until June, 2016.  However, my urologist did say that if I was uncomfortable with the thought of the lesion inside me, he would arrange to get it taken out.

    I think the second opinion is a good idea if for no other reason than to give you more peace of mind.

  • Kidneybeans
    Kidneybeans Member Posts: 39
    #11
    I originally went to Dr for

    I originally went to Dr for lower left abdominal pain  It felt like cramping at times and every so often I’d get a pain that was like an electrical shock. That’s how my right side tumor was found. The abdominal pain ((finally saw GI Dr) turned out to be gastritis and IBS

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2018 #12
    Line of treatment

    Hello, Dr. called me today suggesting a Cryotherapy (cryoablation)  Any one else have an opinion on this?  He is doing a biopsy next week and wanted to do the ablation at the same time, but right now I am not comfortable with it.

  • Kidneybeans
    Kidneybeans Member Posts: 39
    #13
    Ive read that biopsies can

    Ive read that biopsies can give false negatives. I've also read that crypoblyation isn't as ideal as surgery. I'd want another opinion.

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #14
    Get the second opinion

    Get the second opinion first. By St Louis I assume you mean Barnes jewish at Washington University which is one of the best in the country.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    edited January 2018 #15
    Second Opinion

    I'd get that second option before any procedures (biopsy or otherwise). Cryoablation destroys the lesion and then you don't know what it was (no pathology result). Personally, I wouldn't want that. I'd rather know if it was or wasn't cancer so I would know what to do concerning followup care. From my understanding you also don't get to know for sure if all of the lesion was destroyed with cryo. With surgery, they will know from the pathology if the margins were negative or not. From the pathology if it is cancer, they will be able to tell you the grade and type, which is very important for followup care if it comes back.

    1.8cm is small, but it is not "tiny".

    You don't mention your docs specialty and training. I would want to see either a urologic oncologist (preferably with training and experience in partial nephrectomy and robotic assisted laparascopy) with experience in RCC or a medical oncologist who specializes in treating RCC. I would not go with a general urologist.

    So far from you descriptions, it doesn't sound like your doc has a lot of experience with RCC. Could you please let us know his/her specialty/training and experience? It helps us to know whether to categorize the advice into good/bad categories and learn so that when others come in and ask, we know. Thanks.

    Best,

    Todd

  • AnnissaP
    AnnissaP Member Posts: 632 Member
    edited January 2018 #16
    I would def get a 2nd opinion

    I would def get a 2nd opinion. I did! He said if it was him he would take it out and move on with life. It is uncomfortable knowing you have that in your body. They never biopsied mine. I was told it is always treated as cancer until proven otherwise. They also said too many false negatives with biopsies. They could take 10 pieces/samples  and miss where the cancer cells are. No thanks!

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #17
    Agree with everyone. Get the

    Agree with everyone. Get the second opinion before doing anything. Cryoablation was explained to me as an option for soemone whose age and/or health would comprommise surgery. The gold standard is partial or whole nephrectomy, depending on size and tumor location. I would not have been comfortable with cryoablation. As Todd said, pathology is impossible and you don't get description of margins. Please find a specialist in RCC and one comfortable with partial nephrectomies. Yours being so small is most likely a candidate for partial but location will determine it.

  • Wehavenotimeatall
    Wehavenotimeatall Member Posts: 488 Member
    edited January 2018 #18
    Agreed

    if you are fit for surgery.. do it 

    you know it is gone

    you Get a full histology report so you award of what was inside your kidney and can plan your future health

    if it is nothing. .. you can relax and perhaps have checking in the future 

    if it is cancer... you are prepared  and aware and  can get yourself regular tests 

    though it is small and the surgery is a interruption in your life.. it will give you peace of mind and knowledge

    be pleased you have found it.. now

    i read about someone who had   Cyroabaltion done with a mass just over 2cm and it came back years later and by that time was very aggressive and sadly passed away

    with RCC it is not worth the risk

     

    you have the chance to have a complete Cure and never have to deal with cancer again

     

    Good Luck

    Annie

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    #19
    icemantoo said:

    Get the second opinion

    Get the second opinion first. By St Louis I assume you mean Barnes jewish at Washington University which is one of the best in the country.

     

     

    Icemantoo

    Yes Barnes
    Thank You

    Yes Barnes

    Thank You

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2018 #20
    todd121 said:

    Second Opinion

    I'd get that second option before any procedures (biopsy or otherwise). Cryoablation destroys the lesion and then you don't know what it was (no pathology result). Personally, I wouldn't want that. I'd rather know if it was or wasn't cancer so I would know what to do concerning followup care. From my understanding you also don't get to know for sure if all of the lesion was destroyed with cryo. With surgery, they will know from the pathology if the margins were negative or not. From the pathology if it is cancer, they will be able to tell you the grade and type, which is very important for followup care if it comes back.

    1.8cm is small, but it is not "tiny".

    You don't mention your docs specialty and training. I would want to see either a urologic oncologist (preferably with training and experience in partial nephrectomy and robotic assisted laparascopy) with experience in RCC or a medical oncologist who specializes in treating RCC. I would not go with a general urologist.

    So far from you descriptions, it doesn't sound like your doc has a lot of experience with RCC. Could you please let us know his/her specialty/training and experience? It helps us to know whether to categorize the advice into good/bad categories and learn so that when others come in and ask, we know. Thanks.

    Best,

    Todd

    He is a urologists.  Local

    He is a urologists.  Local hospital.  From what I read on here I maybe should have the second opinion before a biopsy.  He says he has done numerous Cryo's and nephrectomies (I am sure misspelled) , but he is not a urologic onocologist.   Got to think more now.  Thanks for your input .  All this really helps

  • Keaston57
    Keaston57 Member Posts: 8
    #21
    Thank You all

    Thanks to all your comments.  They really have helped me out.

    I am now scheduled in STL at Barnes on Feb 2.  Now to develope some patience

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