Kidney cancer

Mimi49
Mimi49 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Kidney Cancer #1
Husband just diagnosed with kidney cancer. Doctor recommends removal of left kidney. Please anyone who has lived with one kidney please email us. He needs some encouragement. Thanks

Comments

  • Chicago
    Chicago Member Posts: 73 Member
    #2
    Hey Mimi, if living with one kidney is the worst thing your husband has to face, you're in pretty good shape. My wife (the doctor) says the overwhelming majority of people with one kidney are absolutely fine, and never even notice the difference. My nephrologist tells me that you could basically survive with only a quarter of just one kidney. Your husband only has to remember to take care of the one that's left.

    I was lucky, in that I got to keep most of the kidney with cancer. But the payment due for that was that the surgery to remove only a part of the kidney is much worse than the surgery to remove the whole thing. Just make sure they remove the whole thing laproscopically -- minimal pain, scar, and time for recovery.

    Please email me if you have any questions. Hang in there. This isn't too bad once the cancer is totally removed.
  • Dee356
    Dee356 Member Posts: 5
    #3
    Hi, I had my right kidney removed four years ago. It was the only treatment for my Kidney Cancer. I had lots more treatment for colon cancer I also had at the same time. However, 4 years later it has returned to my right adrenal gland. I sure wish they had taken it at the same time, but it did not look like the cancer had left the sac and they felt I had pretty good odds not to get a re occurance. Well 4 years later.....still if I had to have surgery every four years to stay alive. line up the surgeons. I expereinced no problems with the loss of thie kidney. Recovery from the surgery took about 4 weeks, (I was laying on a table receiving radiaiton and getting chemo 24/7 by pump every day by then!) After care has been no problme, but you do have to remember to drink more water to take care of the one remainint! God Bless!
  • igotfaith
    igotfaith Member Posts: 6
    #4
    I had my right kidney removed in 2002, and thanks be to God I have no problems. I do take med's to help keep my left kidney in tacked. I have lung problems and sometimes the med's I take for my lungs mess with my kidney. Let your husband know that he will be just fine, just keep his spirits up and trust me God will bring both of you through this.
  • LindaBoustead
    LindaBoustead Member Posts: 1 *
    #5

    I had left kidney stage 3 cancer and they removed partial kidney. It’s been 12 weeks and all the sudden I’m feeling very dizzy. It came on slowly but is getting worse?

  • Deanie0916
    Deanie0916 Member Posts: 626 Member
    #6

    Hi Mimi welcome. You will meet so many people in this group who are doing very well living with one kidney. I had my left one removed 6 1/2 years ago. I cut back on sodium and try to stay healthy. I hope you and your husband find a lot of hope and comfort here.

  • AliceB1950
    AliceB1950 Member Posts: 244 Member
    #7
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691968#Comment_1691968

    Looks like this thread is from 2004, so you'll need to start a new one.

  • AliceB1950
    AliceB1950 Member Posts: 244 Member
    #8


  • jazzgirl
    jazzgirl Member Posts: 243 Member
    edited January 2022 #9

    Well - I guess I didn't read closely enought about the initial post being from 2004 - but will leave this here in case anyone else interested! Hi Mimi! I was well into my 30s when I discovered I only had one kidney from birth. All that time I had no issues and did not even think to look for any - and I was always an active person; walk daily, hike, swim, etc. Then in my mid- 60s I found out by accident that I had a tumor on my one kidney. No indications whatsoever. Surgery (open partial nephrectomy), lots of walking, and changing my nutrition a bit, and I am still as active and possibly healthier in many ways - 5 years later with clear scans. Because I have only .80 of one kidney (I came up with that number), I do have to monitor blood pressure, since it affects the kidneys. As others have said, watch nutrition - sodium, potassium, etc. and keep really hydrated. I met with dieticians a couple times in the beginning and again recently to keep on track but I have not felt deprived - other than I do completely shun processed meats and dearly love salami, hot dogs, corned beef, etc. Small price for staying healthy. I meet yearly with my surgeon/oncologist/urologist (one person) and my nephrologist - alternating every 6 months, with lab tests each time. My numbers (creatinine, EGFR etc.) will always be higher/lower than a 2-kid person, but have remained stable enough to loosen up on some of the very strict dietary things my anxiety had me doing at the beginning. Feel free to contact me through the site if you or your husband have more questions about it. The fear and anxitey can be the worst pains of the whole experience - so I wish you both well and much peace and calm. Take care ~

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