Saying goodbye to a kidney

SFBob said:

Anxiety, Upcoming Surgery

Hi Markr100,

Sorry to hear about your involuntary membership in our club. I'm a relative newbie, but there are some fantastic people here who have been wonderful sources of both support and information for me.

I'm afraid the anxiety before scans and procedures is part of what goes along with the admission ticket. I had my radical nephrectomy in February of this year, and am currently doing my best to manage the "scanxiety" (great term I learned here) generated by my first post-surgery CT Scan two days from now.

As far as the surgery goes: the pain may not turn out to be as bad as you are anticipating. A radical nephrectomy is actually a much simpler operation than a partial. Mine was done laparoscopically. I spent one night in the hospital, and four days after the surgery I really didn't even need pain medication anymore. I know that an open surgery can require a bit more healing time, but even there surgical techniques have improved greatly in recent years. (If you haven't yet, by the way, you might ask if a laparoscopic radical is an option for you. I know that in the case of the surgery group my urologist belongs to, they basically have surgeons who specialize in doing laparoscopic radicals, and others who specialize in open partials. A growing number of surgeons are now doing laparoscopic partials thanks to robotic techniques. Of course, you want your surgeon be comfortable and experienced with the technique used; e.g., you wouldn't want a surgeon who has mostly done open surgeries to be the one to do yours laparoscopically.)

Ramble on

Mark,

None of us had a fun time being told we had Cancer and then major surgery righr out of rhe gate. Mine was 13 lucky years ago. Wishing you an uneventful surgery. I would say painless as well, but I would be laughed off this board.

 

 

Icemantoo

Mark,
I was diagnosed 14

Mark,

I was diagnosed 14 months ago at age of 36! So I can easily remember how it feels to be told about cancer diagnosis, it really feels terible, I was also thinking of whatifs!!! What if I'm not there when my momy gets old and as a single parent with no other kids has no one to turn to? What if I'm not there to get old with my first and last love? And many mire frightering thoughts, but let's be honest, kidney cancer is one of the good one between all types of cancers, so treatable especially if gets caught at early stages. If your is stage two so you have good chance that you need nno more teartment other than neph. Mine was also stage two and biger than your,10cm. Open surgery isn't walk in a park but diffinetly not as bad as you imagine. I stayed two nights at hospital and since I came back home I didn't need anymore painkillers except two or three times, you'll be told to walk as mush as you can,plz do so,it'll helo your recovery, you've have some sleeping problems within few days or a week so it's best to sleep on a chair and have a bottle of water to drink when you cough at nights. Don't iver read websites and don't think you have lung,bone,brain mets just because you have a cough or a simle backache or mild headache, it's just a mind play. You'll get used to the fact that a tumor was. Inside you and that it is not there anymore after a while. I couldn't believe i can spend a day without crying during first months but time helps and heals and I'm almost back on track,thank God.

Wishing you uneventful surgery and recovery

We'll be here for you, plz let us know how things go.ps: choose the most expert orologist who have experties with rcc.

 

 

 

 

 

Markr100 said:

Everyone,
Thanks for the

Everyone,

Thanks for the support.  It has been a..........challenging time.  I am a plan for the worst, hope for the best type of guy.  I hope that it helps with the pain and has me thinking thats not so bad.  I picked a surgeon at Duke Cancer Center. Both he and the Center came highly recommended.  I feel I picked the best I could for an uneventful surgery.  Thanks for everything guys.  Taking the kids out for some apple picking today.  Got to keep the mind busy.  It's my own worst enemy.   

You are rational and responsible.  You can't go through a situation like this without the worry.  I had a partial open nephectomy in April of this year. I tried to focus on the postive things.  It was found early, so it can be dealt with and it hasn't spread.  The medical team is good and my chances of getting through  surgery are 98%.  Now, you are on the cancer radar and if things start up again it will be detected early and dealt with promptly.  Post surgery there was surprisingly little pain, but energy level was low. For the first week I don't think I was awake for more than 4 hours before I needed another nap.  I am 61 and maybe 20 lbs overweight, so you have an advantage over me.  In the meantime, enjoy those fresh crisp apples you just picked and don't hesitate to post anything you need to get out. There is something cathartic about it

You Tube

I agree stay away from it its not helpful at all.

Of course surgery involves some pain as you recover, but its nowhere as much as your imagine will make it.

You'll be fine and trust the health profesionals, they do this all the time.