Radical Nephrectomy for 14 cm tumor (RCC) 1/5/2015

Terri065
Terri065 Member Posts: 81
edited January 2015 in Kidney Cancer #1

Blog entry Radical Nephrectomy for 14 cm tumor (RCC) 1/5/2015 has been updated.

Tue, 01/13/2015 - 8:11pm — Terri065

On 11/27/14 Thanksgiving Day and my husband's birthday, we went to the local ER. My husband had back pain and blood in his urine. We thought he had past a kidney stone. Come to find out it was a 14 cm tumor pushing up against his Vena Cava. I'm writing this because reading these posts have helped me get through this nightmare.

 

After spending the weekend in the local hospital, we went to a Medical Center in NJ and met with their Urologic surgeon. We really liked him and felt we were on the right track. After multiple scans and test we went back to the surgeons office to what we thought was schedule surgery. What we were told was the surgery was too dangerous and they were afraid my husband would bleed out on the table. The surgeon explained that he wanted to shrink the tumor first and then attempt surgery. Which did seem like a plan. The problem was that when we met the oncologist he gave us very little hope of shrinking this tumor. We left that office with a prescription for the medication, thinking there must be somebody who can help us. After much internet searching I found Dr Russo of Memorial Sloan-Kettering  in New York City. I called our surgeon in New Jersey and asked what he thought of Dr Russo. He said if I was to ask him for a referral Dr Russo is who he would send us too. This was Friday December 18th I believe. That Monday we were in Dr Russo's office. He set us up with an appointment for an MRI at Sloan and an appointment to see him on December 31st. So there we were in New York City on December 31st, praying for God to bless us with his guidance. Dr Russo spent an hour and a half with us that day explaining the surgery and how he could help us. He explained that while it was a very dangerous surgery, my husband was a good candidate, being 52 and in very good health.  There was something very comforting about talking to Dr Russo not just because he was going to do the surgery but he knows how to talk to people who are scared. He was confident and compassionate, everything you want your doctor to be. I remember thinking, your mother must be very proud of you! On January 5th 2015 Dr Russo with the help of Dr Peter Allen  removed my husband's right kidney along with his adrenal gland, part of his liver and the tumor, which was wrapped halfway around his Vena Cava. We thank God for doctors Russo and Allen.  My husband is home recovering, thank you Jesus!

 

The moral to our story is, get a second opinion, don't be afraid to travel into the city and never lose hope. God bless! 

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Top of the food chain

    For those of us that start with such  a challanging diagnosis there is nothing better than to start with one of the top experts in the field. Hope everything continues to turn out as well.

     

    Icemantoo

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Top of the food chain

    For those of us that start with such  a challanging diagnosis there is nothing better than to start with one of the top experts in the field. Hope everything continues to turn out as well.

     

    Icemantoo

    Dr. Russo was my surgeon

    Dr. Russo was my surgeon also. I totally agree with everything you said about him. I'm so glad you found him and that he was able to help your husband. Wishing you and your husband the best and continuing good recovery.

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #4
    Hi Terri,
    Your story moved me

    Hi Terri,

    Your story moved me to tears this morning. We are all so thankful to hear about doctors like Dr. Rossi. Not only for his skill, but also for putting you at ease and making you feel like your husband is receiving excellent care. I was 52 when I had my 13 cm tumor and kidney removed last year. It was complicated, but not as complicated as what your husband's was.

    Wishing him a quick and uneventful recovery. Please keep us posted on how he is doing.

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • Positive_Mental_Attitude
    Positive_Mental_Attitude Member Posts: 454
    #5
    Dr. Russo and Memorial Sloan

    Dr. Russo and Memorial Sloan Kettering are top notch.  Everything you said about Dr. Russo is true.  In addition to being a leader and top urologist oncologist, he his a great person and has a way of putting his patients at ease.  I never laughed so much in a doctor's office, and I saw Dr. Russo for the most serious medical issue of my adult life.  I spoke to a former patient of Dr. Russo's prior to my surgery, and he could not stop talking about how great he was.  I recently referred a colleague to Dr. Russo, and this colleague was nearly moved to tears with Dr. Russo's expertise and compassion. 

    My situation was similar but not as serious to yours.  I took the long trip into NYC, and I had to fight my insurance company to have my partial nephrectomy performed by Dr. Russo, and it was well worth it.  I hope your husband is recovering and had a successful recovery. 

  • Terri065
    Terri065 Member Posts: 81
    #6
    Thank you everyone. You're

    Thank you everyone. You're all very kind. John is doing very well. I removed his steri strips today and the incision looks great. The fellow who closed the incision did a beautiful job. We also found out that the lymph nodes came back clean. Waiting for that report to come back was a little rough because we were told that they were slightly swollen when they were removed. Thank you for your support and God bless!

  • Positive_Mental_Attitude
    Positive_Mental_Attitude Member Posts: 454
    #7
    Terri065 said:

    Thank you everyone. You're

    Thank you everyone. You're all very kind. John is doing very well. I removed his steri strips today and the incision looks great. The fellow who closed the incision did a beautiful job. We also found out that the lymph nodes came back clean. Waiting for that report to come back was a little rough because we were told that they were slightly swollen when they were removed. Thank you for your support and God bless!

    More great news! Excellent.

    More great news! Excellent. Keep us up to date on how recovery is going.

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #8
    Terri065 said:

    Thank you everyone. You're

    Thank you everyone. You're all very kind. John is doing very well. I removed his steri strips today and the incision looks great. The fellow who closed the incision did a beautiful job. We also found out that the lymph nodes came back clean. Waiting for that report to come back was a little rough because we were told that they were slightly swollen when they were removed. Thank you for your support and God bless!

    I AM VERY PLEASED YOUR

    I AM VERY PLEASED YOUR HUSBAND IS DOING well and now you can rest a bit too. I know it was hard on my husband to have to watch me go through suchof and ordeal  I go back April 6 for my follow up . Hope and pray it goes well for your husband . Having read the statements on here gives me hope and comfort. Aa I know it does ea and everyone on here who goes through this , thank you Caregivers for looking after us . 

  • Terri065
    Terri065 Member Posts: 81
    #9
    Ree_Maryland said:

    I AM VERY PLEASED YOUR

    I AM VERY PLEASED YOUR HUSBAND IS DOING well and now you can rest a bit too. I know it was hard on my husband to have to watch me go through suchof and ordeal  I go back April 6 for my follow up . Hope and pray it goes well for your husband . Having read the statements on here gives me hope and comfort. Aa I know it does ea and everyone on here who goes through this , thank you Caregivers for looking after us . 

    Thank you

    Thank you. Saying a prayer you get good news. Love the wedding picture. 

  • Terri065
    Terri065 Member Posts: 81
    #10
    APny said:

    Dr. Russo was my surgeon

    Dr. Russo was my surgeon also. I totally agree with everything you said about him. I'm so glad you found him and that he was able to help your husband. Wishing you and your husband the best and continuing good recovery.

    Dr Russo

    We can't say enough about Dr Russo. Did I mention he has a great sense of humor. On one of the most stressful days of our life he had us laughing in his office. John told him he would fit right in at the firehouse.

  • Terri065
    Terri065 Member Posts: 81
    #11
    Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

    Dr. Russo and Memorial Sloan

    Dr. Russo and Memorial Sloan Kettering are top notch.  Everything you said about Dr. Russo is true.  In addition to being a leader and top urologist oncologist, he his a great person and has a way of putting his patients at ease.  I never laughed so much in a doctor's office, and I saw Dr. Russo for the most serious medical issue of my adult life.  I spoke to a former patient of Dr. Russo's prior to my surgery, and he could not stop talking about how great he was.  I recently referred a colleague to Dr. Russo, and this colleague was nearly moved to tears with Dr. Russo's expertise and compassion. 

    My situation was similar but not as serious to yours.  I took the long trip into NYC, and I had to fight my insurance company to have my partial nephrectomy performed by Dr. Russo, and it was well worth it.  I hope your husband is recovering and had a successful recovery. 

    Dr Russo

    It was truly amazing going from feeling hopeless to laughing in his office.

    I know just what you mean by moved to tears.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #12
    Terri065 said:

    Thank you

    Thank you. Saying a prayer you get good news. Love the wedding picture. 

    "The fellow who closed the

    "The fellow who closed the incision did a beautiful job. "

    Dr. Russo does the closing up. Or at least that's what I remember him telling me when I met with him the first time and discussed the surgery. I was in a bit of a fog so I could be wrong but I do think he said he doesn't hand over the closing up to anyone else. So glad to hear your husband is doing well.

  • Terri065
    Terri065 Member Posts: 81
    #13
    APny said:

    "The fellow who closed the

    "The fellow who closed the incision did a beautiful job. "

    Dr. Russo does the closing up. Or at least that's what I remember him telling me when I met with him the first time and discussed the surgery. I was in a bit of a fog so I could be wrong but I do think he said he doesn't hand over the closing up to anyone else. So glad to hear your husband is doing well.

    Nice work :)

    Because John had to have part of his liver removed, Dr Russo did his part and then Dr Allen's team came in. I met with the fellow who closed the incision. He really did do a beautiful job. I guess they're learning from the best.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #14
    Terri065 said:

    Nice work :)

    Because John had to have part of his liver removed, Dr Russo did his part and then Dr Allen's team came in. I met with the fellow who closed the incision. He really did do a beautiful job. I guess they're learning from the best.

    Oh that's right. I forgot

    Oh that's right. I forgot your husband had another surgical team because of the liver involvement.

  • Ree_Maryland
    Ree_Maryland Member Posts: 161 Member
    #15
    Terri065 said:

    Thank you

    Thank you. Saying a prayer you get good news. Love the wedding picture. 

    Thank You I was married to

    Thank You Terri, This pic was taken in 1967 . 

     Life is good . I will not let cancer hold me back. 

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