Scary Findings, more tests, scared to death~

Amazon63
Amazon63 Member Posts: 4
in Kidney Cancer #1

I was recently sent to the ER after being kicked in the face by a horse (I am slowly recovering) While there I had a complete series of CT scans done. Some of the "incidental" findings of my CT were a heterogeneous solid renal mass at the mid pole 2.3 cm X 2.6 cm X 2.3 cm along with left adrenal nodlues. Prior to being told this I have never had any problems of issues with my kidneys.  My own GP quickly scheduled an MRI which was done last Friday.  I heard from his nurse this morning that the MRI is non conclusive and they are now scheduling a CT with contrast.  Needless to say I am a complete mess and scared to death.  I am especially unsure about the heterogenous definition and what all this means?  Some advice, some help, some positive feedback, anything please??

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    Lucky horse kick

    Amazon63,

     

     

    Sounds to me that you were awfully lucky that horse gave you a good kick. Otherwise the suspected kidney mass would have grown and bad things could have resulted. At 2.6 cm it is a little puppy as far as masses are concerned. Barring the unexpected it should be 100% curable with a little surgery. Scared to death? I was scared sh--less when mine rose its ugly face 13 years  ago. That to shall pass.

     

    Icemantoo

     

  • Amazon63
    Amazon63 Member Posts: 4
    #3
    icemantoo said:

    Lucky horse kick

    Amazon63,

     

     

    Sounds to me that you were awfully lucky that horse gave you a good kick. Otherwise the suspected kidney mass would have grown and bad things could have resulted. At 2.6 cm it is a little puppy as far as masses are concerned. Barring the unexpected it should be 100% curable with a little surgery. Scared to death? I was scared sh--less when mine rose its ugly face 13 years  ago. That to shall pass.

     

    Icemantoo

     

    Blessed

    I do feel blessed, not only that the injury from the kick (large facial laceration and concussion wasn't worse) but that this issue was discovered.  I realize the mass is still small, I guess I am just feeling lost and unsure about everything.  I understand that heterogeneous can mean more than one type of cancer cell so I am terribly afraid that this has metastisized from somewhere else?  Too many questions, not enough answers!

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #4
    Amazon63 said:

    Blessed

    I do feel blessed, not only that the injury from the kick (large facial laceration and concussion wasn't worse) but that this issue was discovered.  I realize the mass is still small, I guess I am just feeling lost and unsure about everything.  I understand that heterogeneous can mean more than one type of cancer cell so I am terribly afraid that this has metastisized from somewhere else?  Too many questions, not enough answers!

    Questions

    Amazon63,

     

    Your questions are above my paygrade, but from whaat I have seen on this board for almost 6 years your worries should get resolved favorably.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • Shecka1121
    Shecka1121 Member Posts: 117 Member
    #5
    icemantoo said:

    Questions

    Amazon63,

     

    Your questions are above my paygrade, but from whaat I have seen on this board for almost 6 years your worries should get resolved favorably.

     

     

    Icemantoo

    Amazon, mine said the same

    Amazon, mine said the same thing.  Mine was a 1.2 mass.  The issue is they do not know of it is cancer until they actually remove it.  With small masses there is a 10-20 percent chance it may not even be cancer.  

    You will see on this site that stats show that EVEN if it is, your chances of recurrence are very rare.  A mass the size of your rarley spreads so you are considered very blessed and the surgery is most likely curative.  You may also be offered cryobaltion, etc.  Surgery has the best long term outcome but other approaches are strong as well.

    Try to relax. I know it is hard as I still have my moments too.

     

    You will be fine.

     

     

  • Amazon63
    Amazon63 Member Posts: 4
    #6
    Shecka1121 said:

    Amazon, mine said the same

    Amazon, mine said the same thing.  Mine was a 1.2 mass.  The issue is they do not know of it is cancer until they actually remove it.  With small masses there is a 10-20 percent chance it may not even be cancer.  

    You will see on this site that stats show that EVEN if it is, your chances of recurrence are very rare.  A mass the size of your rarley spreads so you are considered very blessed and the surgery is most likely curative.  You may also be offered cryobaltion, etc.  Surgery has the best long term outcome but other approaches are strong as well.

    Try to relax. I know it is hard as I still have my moments too.

     

    You will be fine.

     

     

    Feeling alone.......

    Shecka1121

     

    Thank you so much for the kind words and support.  I guess it isn't helping much that I also suffer from a panic/anxiety disorder and have been diagnosed as clinically depressed.  It's been a very rough two years and this has hit so hard.  I have a wonderful family who are being super supportive but I cannot tell you how much it means to have found this site and be able to talk to those who have been there, done that and not feel quite so alone.

     

  • medic1971
    medic1971 Member Posts: 225 Member
    #7
    Hi Amazon63 and sorry we both

    Hi Amazon63 and sorry we both are on here...

     

    Here's my story.  (I am an RN and have about 20 years of emergency medicine experience) In July I had a CT scan of my ABD And Pelvis and I was found to have a 2.1cm mass on my right kidney.  My mass has a 70-80% chance of being cancer.  This was an incidental finding.  I am going to have surgery on the 23rd of this month at MD Anderson.  

    People kept telling me how lucky I was, but you don't hear that when you find out you've got a mass on your kidney.  Seriously, you could have told me that I won the lottery and in the same sentence told me that I may have cancer and I would not have given a flying-flip about the lottery ticket.  I think you are lucky for a couple of reason that will become clear to you after the shock of this finding wears off.  

    I think you are lucky that horse didn't kill you or worse, and if this does turn out to be cancer that horse may have saved your life. 

    Here are a few things to keep in mind:

    1.     This could be a cyst.  More than half of the population have cysts in their kidneys. Cysts are mostly harmless unless you have a bunch of them.  You need a CT with IV contrast to know for sure.

    2.     2.6 cm is small and if this is cancer that is good thing.  Risk of mets is quite low at 2.6cm (you take the biggest measurement and in your case it’s 2.6cm)

    3.     Kidney cancer is extremely slow growing like at a rate of 0.25cm up to 1cm a year. 

    4.     Small renal masses are difficult to diagnosis based solely on a CT scan. There are several benign masses (like an oncocytoma) that look like renal cell carcinoma.  Pathology is the only way to know for sure what it is regardless of what CT/MRI shows.

    5.     If there is a risk of cancer you will go see a urologist.  Find out how many cases he/she has treated that are like yours and if it’s not very many get a second option.

    6.     If this is cancer you will probably have part of your kidney removed and even if you had the entire kidney removed you can live a normal life with one kidney.  This is a CURATIVE treatment for kidney cancer and this is why you will hear people say you are lucky.

    I hope this helps and good luck!        

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #8
    Amazon63 said:

    Feeling alone.......

    Shecka1121

     

    Thank you so much for the kind words and support.  I guess it isn't helping much that I also suffer from a panic/anxiety disorder and have been diagnosed as clinically depressed.  It's been a very rough two years and this has hit so hard.  I have a wonderful family who are being super supportive but I cannot tell you how much it means to have found this site and be able to talk to those who have been there, done that and not feel quite so alone.

     

    Alone

    I know what you mean, it is our cancer and we feel a sense of ownership although its not easy to decide whether we own the cancer or the cancer owns us.

    Apart from that you have this board who, going through a similar ordeal feel for you and may understand much of your experience.

    When you count up the number of people who wish you well you will find you're far from alone.

    It is entirely normal to be scared to death but yours is a small tumour and likely to be very treatable and not life threateng at all. Cancer is a scary word, but not as scary as it used to be.

    Dont worry and trust the docs. Easier said than done but we've all been ther and survived.

  • Amazon63
    Amazon63 Member Posts: 4
    #9
    medic1971 said:

    Hi Amazon63 and sorry we both

    Hi Amazon63 and sorry we both are on here...

     

    Here's my story.  (I am an RN and have about 20 years of emergency medicine experience) In July I had a CT scan of my ABD And Pelvis and I was found to have a 2.1cm mass on my right kidney.  My mass has a 70-80% chance of being cancer.  This was an incidental finding.  I am going to have surgery on the 23rd of this month at MD Anderson.  

    People kept telling me how lucky I was, but you don't hear that when you find out you've got a mass on your kidney.  Seriously, you could have told me that I won the lottery and in the same sentence told me that I may have cancer and I would not have given a flying-flip about the lottery ticket.  I think you are lucky for a couple of reason that will become clear to you after the shock of this finding wears off.  

    I think you are lucky that horse didn't kill you or worse, and if this does turn out to be cancer that horse may have saved your life. 

    Here are a few things to keep in mind:

    1.     This could be a cyst.  More than half of the population have cysts in their kidneys. Cysts are mostly harmless unless you have a bunch of them.  You need a CT with IV contrast to know for sure.

    2.     2.6 cm is small and if this is cancer that is good thing.  Risk of mets is quite low at 2.6cm (you take the biggest measurement and in your case it’s 2.6cm)

    3.     Kidney cancer is extremely slow growing like at a rate of 0.25cm up to 1cm a year. 

    4.     Small renal masses are difficult to diagnosis based solely on a CT scan. There are several benign masses (like an oncocytoma) that look like renal cell carcinoma.  Pathology is the only way to know for sure what it is regardless of what CT/MRI shows.

    5.     If there is a risk of cancer you will go see a urologist.  Find out how many cases he/she has treated that are like yours and if it’s not very many get a second option.

    6.     If this is cancer you will probably have part of your kidney removed and even if you had the entire kidney removed you can live a normal life with one kidney.  This is a CURATIVE treatment for kidney cancer and this is why you will hear people say you are lucky.

    I hope this helps and good luck!        

    Thank you, thank you, thank

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! Cool

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #10
    Amazon63 said:

    Thank you, thank you, thank

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! Cool

    I agree with everyone. At

    I agree with everyone. At that size the chance that it metastesized anywhere else is very slim and chances are surgery will be the end of it, should it turn out to be RCC. Hearing the word "cancer" is one of the most frightening experience but then you realize how lucky you are that it was diagnosed and caught early. With that size you're most likely a stage 1a, and can look forward to an excellent prognosis. And of course there's that 20 percent chance that it's benign and not cancer at all. Wishing you the best and since you're suffering from anxiety and panic attacks don't be afraid to use some anti-anxiety meds. That's what they're threre fore. Xanax did wonders for me when my mind decided to play horror movies.

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