Six weeks from surgery and it appears to be back

I'm sorry to hear that you have these areas of concern.  Are they just suspicious areas, or are they sure that it's mets?  You asked if anyone else had this happen.  My husband was diagnosed as stage 4 back in January 2012.  He also had the tumor growing up the vena cava, so we knew it had entered the blood supply.  He was also diagnosed with bone mets.  He was told that there were other really small spots in other places, like lung, thyroid, liver.  But he was also told being so small it could just be scar tissue in these organs.  It's been 7 years now and those spots have not changed, so we are all assuming they are just scar tissue.  I hope the same thing for you.  I certainly understand how scary it is to be told this.  

Hi, Tom--Beyond being stage three at surgery, did your pathology give your doctor any clues about agressiveness of your RCC?

I'm sorry about these developments and added anxiety this is causing you.  I'm hopeful your doctor is on top of this and is working on a plan for your care. 

Blessings to you.

Stub 

I had a very similar experience. Six weeks after my surgery the cancer came back with a vengence. Within 2 months of first hearing the words "you have cancer" I was Stage IV and began systemic treatment (immunotherapy).  This is certainy not the norm - for many it never comes back and for others when it does come back it comes back slowly.  Mine grew new 2+ cm tumors in multiple distant sites within 6 weeks.

Are you still under the care of urology or have you been referred to oncology? There are so many options with small & limited mets - local treatments and surgical options.  Your oncologist will be able to put together a plan to make the cancer regret it dared to come back.

Best of luck to you! Try to stay positive and just take it one day at a time.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I think the other growths were there all along, but just not seen on the scans.  A physicist on smart patients can explain this in detail.  It can be so small it isnt seen, plus whether or not you have contrast.  She also talked about the quality of the machines themselves, not to mention who is reading the scan.

My husband and I travel a couple hours to have his scans done at the same facility each time.  It's a major medical center.  

Wish I could be more eloquent.  I dont think those additional spots just came out of nowhere, fast.  I think they were too small to be seen.  I hope that is a comfort in some small way.  I know my husband felt better knowing this.

a_oaklee said:

I think the other growths

I think the other growths were there all along, but just not seen on the scans.  A physicist on smart patients can explain this in detail.  It can be so small it isnt seen, plus whether or not you have contrast.  She also talked about the quality of the machines themselves, not to mention who is reading the scan.

My husband and I travel a couple hours to have his scans done at the same facility each time.  It's a major medical center.  

Wish I could be more eloquent.  I dont think those additional spots just came out of nowhere, fast.  I think they were too small to be seen.  I hope that is a comfort in some small way.  I know my husband felt better knowing this.

Scans can be misread and things can be missed.  There are so many variables and I agree that it is very possible that these things were there on that scan on 2/1 - just missed.  My story is a little extreme.  The tumors which appeared in my scans on 5/31/18 showed several new small sub CM nodules as well as a couple of new growths over 2cm.  I know that there are some over at Smart Patients who will tell you that just isn't possible - these tumors grow slowly - and they are usually correct - but not always. The largest tumor in my lung was not present on the CT with contrast nor was it on the MRI taken on 3/31/18.  In 2 months it was 2.4 cm.  On 11/29 it was 5.4 cm.  I had a tumor in my leg that wasn't there in March 2018 but grew to the size of a baseball from May 2018 to July 2018 before it started to shrink (IPI/NIVO did the trick there).  I had a tumor appear in my abdomen in May, grew to 3 cm by September and 7 cm in November.  All of my scans have been done at Mayo Clinic.  I have no doubt in my mind that these tumors grew that fast.  

I am not writing this to scare anyone - I just think it is important to understand that while not common it is possible for new growths to appear and grow rapidly. It all depends on the type and features of the cancer.  My doctors have told me the accelerated growth is due to the sarcomatoid features in the cancer.  I can't stress enough how important it is to seek immediate medical attention and start treatment as fast as possible.  Had I delayed going in another month I might not be here today. Again my case is extreme.  

a_oaklee said:

I'm sorry Mark that you have

I'm sorry Mark that you have had this experience of fast growth.  It's good that you share with others what can be more rare, but does indeed happen.   Do you mind sharing what your cancer type was, grade etc.?   My husband was diagnosed as a stage 4. Clear cell, grade 3.

The pathology report after my surgery was Stage III unclassified RCC. The tumor was Grade 4 with sarcomatoid and rhabdoid features with necrosis present. I am now Stage IV. 

TomHop,  Obviously a bit of a shock to have found out you have mets so soon after your op.  Are they still considering you for the Ipi/Nivo treatment?  It did work very well for me (see my profile) but then every one and every cancer is different.

Best of Luck and stay on top of this thing.

Fred 

Thinking about you Tom.  How are you feeling?  Did you get the bronchoscopy done?