Kidney Cancer Support Group

Hi

Just found out today that I have a 4cm mass(cancer_ on

my right kidney. Waiting for a few weeks to find out

and even now, I wonder how they can possibly know that this thing is cancer by just looking at a cat scan.

I thought I had gallstones or something, went for a ultrasound and they found it. Went for a cat scan and was told that something was definately there. Kidney

doc ordered another scan with contrast and today he tells me yes its a tumor, malignant and cancer.

Says he can remove the entire kidney or send me to someone else to remove the growth and part of the kidney. Ordered a chest xray and bone scan .

I understand that doctors are busy but are they all so clinical and blunt? I was out of the office in 10 minutes.

with a bill and a tissue and an appointment with another doctor set up for next week.

KStandt,

Hi, I went in for back pain and found out I had a 7cm mass and after all the test was told they were sure it was renal cell carcinoma. I was given both options too, either removal of tumor and save most of kidney or full kidney removal. I choose to have full kidney removed. In the end it will be your decision and that of the doctors. Things to consider are cancer cells left behind during surgery and leaving the partial kidney inside the body. Another decision maker will be whether or not you have spread of cancer to other areas of the body, but you should already know this.

If you have no spread of cancer, most likely you will only have the surgery and no chemo. That's good, because chemo is very hard to go through. I had no spread of cancer and did not have chemo. I have been cancer free now for 5 years. No new growth. I have read that others that have gone through partial removal of kidney and all of tumor have later had cancer come back, many times in the same place or another organ.

Everyone is different and the therapy received will be different. Taking one day at a time and researching all you can on the topic, attending support groups, and lectures will help you deal with this disease. I was told that I had a 60% chance of cancer coming back in 3years due to the aggressiveness of the cancer cells under microscope. But that did not happen. So, again take one day at a time, putting one foot in front of the other and being proactive in your own care. Ask questions. You are paying the doctor. He is there for you. Write down the questions you have and hand a copy to him or her. Write the answers down as they are addressed.

keep your head up,

nurseb

Post edited by: nurseb, at: 08/01/2011 06:10 PM

Thank you so much for your kind response. I am still in a fog I guess and don't really have a whole lot of real info yet. Bone scan today then doctor vis bit next week to see what the intention is for me. Hardest part has been telling my daughters who are both grown. Not something a mom wants to share with her kids.

Again, thank you so much for your insight and thoughts. My best to you.

kathy.

Any news yet from pending tests?

Thinking of you

hugs,

nurseb