stage 3a RCC at 43

ryanf
ryanf Member Posts: 5 Member
edited June 2023 in Kidney Cancer #1

Good morning. I'm new here. Last November i had my right kidney removed due to an 8cm tumor which turned out to be RCC. i have approximately a 10 inch scar. the cancer hadn't spread to my lymph nodes just a tiny bit to some adjacent fat. i am on keytruda as a precaution for a year and already had my first ultrasound 5 months after operation. i get my bloods taken every 3 weeks. i was always a hypochondriac all my life and this seems to be my greatest nightmare come through. every ache i feel i am now convinced it is cancer, and its a continuous struggle.

I wish health and happiness to all people in distress.

Comments

  • eug91
    eug91 Member Posts: 471 Member
    #2

    Welcome ryanf-

    The mental part of the process is probably as hard or worse than the physical. But you sound like you're on top of things. Stay positive - you can do it!

  • ryanf
    ryanf Member Posts: 5 Member
    #3

    Thanks for your kind words. Im a mess right now.

  • Lisa 1102
    Lisa 1102 Member Posts: 17 Member
    #4

    Hi, Ryan. I had a partial nephrectomy of my right kidney in October, 2020. I have had mild discomfort/ache in that area since the surgery and asked my surgeon if discomfort was common with partial nephrectomies and he said that it was common with ALL surgeries and the reason(s) are unclear but could be due to the severing of nerves and/or muscles during surgery. My scans have been fine since the surgery so I was advised not to worry about the occasional discomfort. I hope this info helps you a bit.

  • Bay Area Guy
    Bay Area Guy Member Posts: 619 Member
    #5

    Agree completely with eug91. Besides the partial neph, I’ve had to have two emergency open surgeries to correct twisted intestines. Those were in 2004 and 2010, so a while ago. But even today, if I have stomach pain for more than a short amount of time, I wonder if it’s another attack even though the surgeon for the second operation removed enough excess intestine that she said there was no chance of a repeat. Unease, particularly around events that will remind you of your medical issue (scans, anniversaries of surgeries, things like that) is natural. But in those situations, you need to remember that you’ve been “clean” for a while and not let the unease turn into fear or panic.

  • ryanf
    ryanf Member Posts: 5 Member
    #6
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1705681#Comment_1705681

    Thanks for your reassurance. Had a very bad day today full of horrible thoughts but I really appreciate everyone's contributions.


    Thanks again.

  • ryanf
    ryanf Member Posts: 5 Member
    #7

    First CT scan after op is scheduled for end of this month. I'm super anxious. Hope everything will be fine. Fingers crossed.

  • Lisa 1102
    Lisa 1102 Member Posts: 17 Member
    #8

    Most people suffer from “scan-anxiety” but I try to tell myself, when my thoughts start to spiral out of control before a scan, that it is a good thing I am being monitored and that any recurrence, should it happen, can be dealt with promptly. I have 2 friends who were each diagnosed with RCC , one stage 3 and one stage 4. That was more than 15 years ago and both are now healthy and cancer-free!

    Let us know how things go for you, please.

  • ryanf
    ryanf Member Posts: 5 Member
    #9

    Hello everyone. Got the rests of my CT scan today, no evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease. But I have some kind of lesion on my left kidney. Surgeon told me that it's not something to worry about, but I can't.

  • Lisa 1102
    Lisa 1102 Member Posts: 17 Member
    #10

    Hi, Ryan. Congratulations on your good news! My cancer was in my right kidney but I have “cysts” in my left kidney. Both my urologic oncologist and my primary care doctor told me not to worry about the cysts in the left kidney so—I do not worry about them. I know that this is “easier said than done” but I trust my doctors. Also, my experience is that the specialists know when a finding is a concern and when it is not. My kidney cancer was discovered on an ultrasound and the doctors knew immediately that it was cancer. They just knew. The same ultrasound also showed the cysts but determined they were not cancerous. All of my subsequent tests have been CT scans (not ultrasounds) and the findings remain the same. Perhaps your doctor can provide a more detailed explanation as to the nature of the “lesion” in your left kidney and reassure you that it truly is nothing to worry about. Still, you received great news and you should celebrate that!

  • Allochka
    Allochka Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #11

    Hello Ryan,

    I do understand you, because I am hypochondriac too :-(

    Strangely, when my husband was diagnosed with kidney cancer, my health anxiety took a back seat and I was fully in fighting mode.

    However, scanxiety after surgery was really terrible in the beginning. But I am on meds for my health anxiety for several years already, and they help greatly. Have you ever considered them? Or a CBT? Hypochondria can make life even more miserable than localized and successfully treated cancer.

    As for the lesion - my husband has kidney cysts, nobody worries about them. As HA person you won't believe me of course. But you are being monitored, and next scans will give all the answers.

    I promise you that scanxiety DOES get better with time. Do the follow-ups and you will be kept an eye on, hopefully it will help you to keep anxiety under control a bit

    Good luck!

    Alla

  • Mmoses25
    Mmoses25 Member Posts: 322 Member
    #12

    I had the same thing except my tumor was 4 cm I just had scans they didn’t offer me anything I been Ned 3 and half years now next visit doctor said there going to move my scans to yearly it does get better with time good luck will be praying for you

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