Kidney Cancer

[livingwith]

Hi..This is my first time on so I’ll try to explain my story as best as possible..About two months ago I was struggling with some siatic [sciatic] nerve pain on the left side of my body so I was referred for a ct scan…the results which followed would change life instantly! The scan found a decent mass on my right kidney and it was recommended that I go get a abdominal scan to further investigate the find.
Anyhow the next scan reveiled what seemed to be in doctors terms suspicious re...Read the full article

[UroDoc]

Congratulations, thanks for sharing your experience I am sure it will help many people going through the treatment of renal cancer

[jts68]

My tumor was discovered in a similar way. I had sciatic issues after the birth of my daughter. I was very weak, and had lots of issues with my back causing numbness in my hands and pain in my arms. My memory and motor functions were being challenged also. Most of this was attributed to hormones from having the baby, so they just kept an eye on me.

Over time, as I tried to go back to work, stress threw my system into a tailspin. I started to literally "bloat". My face, my body, I gained 25 pounds in a matter of 6 weeks and I was busier than ever, my energy dramatically started to decline. WHAT IS GOING ON?
So, they did another CT to make sure I hadn't pulled a groin muscle.
What they found was a tumor on my right kidney. Long story short, I had cryosurgery, where they go in laparoscopically and freeze the tumor dead. I get a CT every 3 months the first year, then once a year the next four. Why did I choose this option? Well, my tumor was caught early and my labs were good- my kidney is functioning well. My brother (half-bro) has a systemic kidney disease that they said he wouldn't need to be concerned with until he was old. Well he's in his early 30's and had a transplant two years ago. So here I am, mother of three, and I don't want to be hanging out here with one kidney if I have options. Worse case is, we go in and do a partial OR ultimately a complete nephrectomy. My tumor came out as being Stage II on the Furhman scale. I would like to understand more about the stages and the scales. I would also like to know if RCC is indicative of other health issues or other cancers. My energy is improving, but my other symptoms are unchanged. I get unexplicable hot spots and sudden jabs of pain throughout my body. I'm dealing with an itchy rash right now on my extremities. My skin (facial in particular) feels as though it's having an allergic response although I'm not doing anything different. I am hopeful, but I need a better understanding of WHY this is happening and WHAT is going on with my body and WHAT else could I be facing.
Prior to this, I have never had surgery, and I have never been sick other than allergy/sinus and the occasional cold.

Peace to everyone who reads this, my prayers are with you. -J.

[michelator]

I too had kidney cancer found accidentally. I was experiencing a recurrent cough over a few years and was continuously given antibiotics that were not working. Eventually, this past Feb., the cough got so out of control that I was having asthmatic attacks. I have a friend that is a Pulmonary Specialist, and he told me to come see him to see if he could figure out what was going on. He sent me for a CT of my chest.

I didn't hear anything for about a week, then got a call from my doc's office telling me that I needed to go in for a CT of my abdomen. I was quite confused. I went and then was referred to a urologist who immediately sent me for an MRI and bone scan. Now I was scared!!

I was seen by a urological surgeon 3 days later who told me that the mass in my left kidney that was discovered while doing the CT of the chest, was about a 75% chance malignant. The only way to know for sure was to take it out. I was scheduled for surgery a few weeks later and had a laporascopic radical nephrectomy. It was confirmed renal cell carcinoma. I too am 38 years old and was devastated. I couldn't believe it was happening to me because I have always been very healthy, ate right, drank little, never smoked, and exercised religiously.

Anyway, I was told it was contained to my kidney. I did see an oncologist and had many more tests performed to see if I was a candidate for a chemo study. Thank God the cancer was limited to my kidney and not found in any other organs and I was not going to have to undergo chemo!

I got that news on Aug. 9, 2007. Then on Sept. 8th, I was called with the results of a repeat bone scan and MRI of my leg. There was a large hot spot on my femur bone and now I have to see an orthopaedic oncologist to deal with that. I'm praying that nothing has spread to my bones. Also, I have been having issues with my potassium level going up and down. This is not normal either, therefore, I am undergoing a battery of tests to deal with that.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

It has been quite a rollercoaster to say the least and all so quick. You never know what life is going to deal you, so live each moment like it was your last. I thought when I got the prognosis from the oncologist that it was the 1st day of the rest of my life, but the nightmare is lingering.

[Plum]

Have you ever been offered a Pet Scan to check other area's of your body? We need to be pro active with our own bodies. You might benefit by joining the Kidney Cancer Association. They are very helpful and will help you with questions. Also, continue asking your Dr questions. This cancer is not well known by many and when you have heard and read many stories of others , you will realize that
everyone's situation is so different.

[michelator]

hi,
No, I have not been told I should have a PET scan. I questioned the oncologist about it, but he said that in about 75% of cases, rcc doesn't show up on a PET scan. I did have multiple MRI's and bone scans. I had my femur pics checked out by an ortho oncologist who said that the area in my bone is definitely NOT rcc! What a relief. They are now trying to figure out if it is an enchondroma (benign) tumor, or a low grade chondrosarcoma. I have been advised to wait 6 mos. then have the scans repeated to see if there are any changes. Another option was to have surgery to clean the bone out, but it might be an unnecessary one if it turns out to be benign. They can't biopsy it with a needle or anything like that. It's very frustrating.

[Plum]

Sounds complicated. So far, I am doing ok. I will be having an Mri this week to check on my ablation
site. Had an allergy to the contrast dye last time so will be having a prep. 4 different drugs to help curb the reaction. Very nervous. I had an allergic reaction with swelling of the tongue and throat and the injection site. Was told by a very good allergist that it was a cutaneous reaction. The needle wasnt positioned properly or something like that, and my arm swelled three time the size for about a week. Then continued with a hard lump on the site which continues a year later. Allergist said it will eventually go away. So, I will have a nurse give the iv this time. And will have an epi pen ready. Of course, being one room away from the Dr will keep me calm. Its the 3hr drive home that makes me nervous. Will let you know how it goes.