Bosniak 3 confusion

Von55
Von55 Member Posts: 57
edited March 2014 in Kidney Cancer #1
Hi everyone,
I have recently been diagnosed with a 5cm tumour on my left kidney, classified as a Bosniak 2-3. Everything I've read so far suggests that this in an "indeterminate" lesion but my specialist has referred me for a radical lap nephrectomy. He says that partials are difficult to do- I will be operated on by a "surgeon-in-training" & it's easier to just have the whole thing removed. No biopsy has been offered or suggested, & I'm really scared & confused. Does anyone have some advice? I have no choice of doctor & cannot afford a "real" surgeon(though I guess whoever I get will be making a good effort)! My worry is that they will remove my kidney with a 40% chance that the lesion is benign. Any help would be great, thanks!!!

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Get a second opinion if possible
    My first thought is that you get a second opinion. I then read up on your type of cist and while it may have a 40% chance of being Kidney Cancer at 5 cm the larger it gets the more chance it has of turning into Cancer and at 5 cm it is not a small cist. Once it is Kidney Cancer it will spread if not removed. As for the real surgeon many operations are performed in whole or in part by persons in various stages of their 4 year surgical residency under the supervision of a Board Certified Surgeon. Having had a radical lap nepherectomy this is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new life.
  • Von55
    Von55 Member Posts: 57
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Get a second opinion if possible
    My first thought is that you get a second opinion. I then read up on your type of cist and while it may have a 40% chance of being Kidney Cancer at 5 cm the larger it gets the more chance it has of turning into Cancer and at 5 cm it is not a small cist. Once it is Kidney Cancer it will spread if not removed. As for the real surgeon many operations are performed in whole or in part by persons in various stages of their 4 year surgical residency under the supervision of a Board Certified Surgeon. Having had a radical lap nepherectomy this is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new life.

    Hi
    Thanks for that! I guess I'm just trying to voice my fears, but you're right- 5cm is not small & it will only get worse with time. BTW, did they remove your adrenal gland, and if so, have you experienced any problems? I've been feeling very positive since my diagnosis- so much so that it worries me that I may have missed something!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #4
    Von55 said:

    Hi
    Thanks for that! I guess I'm just trying to voice my fears, but you're right- 5cm is not small & it will only get worse with time. BTW, did they remove your adrenal gland, and if so, have you experienced any problems? I've been feeling very positive since my diagnosis- so much so that it worries me that I may have missed something!

    A few more thoughts
    I do not believe my adrenal glands were removed. I remember my surgeon telling me they checked some lymph nodes for signs of Cancer.
    My surgoen who is a urological oncologist performed my surgery in his first year out of training. In his last year of training he did 125 laproscopic kidney removals which unless somebody is at a teaching hospital or a well known medical center is not going to do that many in a lifetime. Hopefully your surgeon in training is on the tail end of his training rather than the front end. Additionally Laproscopic surgery is something that takes some mastery of surgery before it is attempted.

Discussion Boards