Just diagnosed with KIDNEY cancer!

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Denali
Denali Member Posts: 347
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

I was having some leg pain so my oncologist ordered an MRI of my spine in early Feb and while they found some spinal stenosis going on, no bone cancer.  But they also 'accidentally' found a huge tumor on my left kidney.  I've had many meltdowns despite the Xanex.

I've seen the Urologist and he'll be removing my left kidney Feb 27th.  Cat scans show the rest of my abdomin is clear, so hopefully it's just on my kidney.  No chemo or radiation, just removal.

I've found a few kidney cancer message boards but they're nothing like this supportive site, I'm sad to say.  And maybe I don't 'belong' on this board anymore, as it's a new primary.

As long as it hasn't spread, I've read that you can live fine with just one kidney.  No restrictions on coffee or the occasional Margarita thank goodness. 

Trying to hold it together until surgery.

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited February 2012

    I'm really sorry.  I guess some bodies just want to make cancer, huh?  But, a new primary is good  and if they can get rid of it surgically - even better.  I don't know much about kidney cancer but I hope you do well.  Good luck.

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  • 208sandy
    208sandy Member Posts: 2,610
    edited February 2012

    Friend of a friend just had that surgery (end of January) she's doing great, back to driving this week - was only bedridden a week at home (a week in hospital for surgery and recovery) - hope this helps.  Hugs, Sandy

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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited February 2012

    Denali, Sorry about this diagnosis. Of course you still belong on this board! Just wanted to tell you that I recently had a kidney and adrenal gland removed and I'm doing fine. You won't miss that kidney, I promise.

    Edit: If you have any questions, please feel free to pm anytime.

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  • rosasmommy
    rosasmommy Member Posts: 814
    edited February 2012

    I am so sorry -- that really, really sucks.  Just wanted to say I'm thinking of you.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    You definitely belong on this board with kidney, whether it is BC gone wild or not, it is still cancer and we have all of us together in it for the better or worse.  Wishing you the best, will be thinking of you Feb 26 the day before. 

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  • Angelfalls
    Angelfalls Member Posts: 849
    edited February 2012

    I am so sorry to hear this, but it's good news that they can remove the cancer and get you back to NED. Good luck with the surgery and best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery,

    Angelfalls xx

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    My Dad had kidney cancer 26 years ago.  They removed the kidney.  No chemo, no other treatment.  He is now 90 and going strong. 

    Maybe that's why there aren't the same kind of support boards for kidney cancer, that we have here, because so many have surgery and then go on to live normal, long lives. 

    Hope to hear your success story at least a quarter century from now.

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  • nwest125
    nwest125 Member Posts: 240
    edited February 2012

    My 2 year old granddaughter just had that surgery, It was her left kidney also. Yes you can live fine on just one kidney.  After biopsy showed cancer tumor  they said pre cancer cells so thankfully no chemo or rads for her. She is healing fine afte removal  just 2 week ago.

    Nancy

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited February 2012

    a Former work colleague, in the course of having surgery to remove excess skin as a follow-up to a successful gastric bypass - was discovered to have kidney cancer. Her kidney was removed, she is doing fine several years later. It may be difficult now, while you are right in the midst of it all, but I think in time you will consider yourself lucky that it was accidentially discovered early.

    Nwest125 - another former coworker's two year old was discovered to have a wilm's tumor on her kidney - it was removed, it was found to have spread, she had part of one lung removed, and now she is in a beautiful and vivacious nurse in her early 30s. I mention that it spread to emphasize that even with that - this young lady has survived and thrived.

    Good Health to both Denali and nwest125's granddaughter.

    Julie E

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    I'm sorry you're having to go thru this. Do you know for sure that the tumor is cancer? I had a big cyst on my right ovary which grew fast so the doc staged me during surgery as if it were cancer but it wasn't. Just a benign cyst. Still had both ovaries removed.  I just didn't see anything about a biopsy for you, so wonderin!!

    All the best to you,

    tucker

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  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 2,630
    edited February 2012

    You will always be family....you forever are with us!

    I'm sorry I didn't read the whole thread...not feeling too great.

    Kidney disease runs in my family....yes, you are perfect with one kidney! No worries at all! They may recommend a diet that is good for kidney function...definitely do that! And....carbonated liquids you should avoid all together....

    (((((Hugs))))

    So happy to hear it was contained....and...kinda lucky it was on a kidney (lucky??....you know what I mean...I hope)

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited February 2012

    Thanks so much for taking the time to write your uplifting messages.  I don't know what I'd do without the fantastic people on this board.  Please know that your support are invaluable to me.  It seems like there are less people around me this time around with the big C.

    My oncologist and the urologist both believe it's 'probably' cancer due to my history and its size:  8.5 cm.  Almost fainted when they told me the approximate size, but I've since learned that abdominal tumors tend to grow bigger (some have weighed 10-15 pounds!) than breast tumors.  Urologist said a biopsy would just sample a small portion and it has to come out anyway, so won't know for sure until it comes out. 

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  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 2,630
    edited February 2012

    Oh my!  So...abnormal tumors can grow to be the size of my CAT????  Dang....

    People disappear and ... I think that's a good thing.  If they really don't want to help or whatever...I'm ok with learning that sooner rather than later.  Then I can spend my time with the people who are true.

    OUT WITH THE TUMOR!  I sure hope my twisted humor is acceptable....I'm really just a push over...

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited February 2012

    Denali!!! I was hoping you were off enjoying your life! I am so sorry to hear about this set-back! As I'm sure you've read about kidney cancer, it all depends on the cell type. Hopefully, your has been an indolent thing...get that kidney out!! I'll be here with fingers crossed that if it's not benign, it's at least all contained within the kidney.

    Please keep us posted. We're here for you, no matter where your cancer is now. You will always be one of our sisters!!

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited February 2012

    Love your sense of humor, Lemon!  Keep it up!

    I just didn't expect to hear from so few friends.  I asked folks to email rather than call, but I belong to 2 quilt groups and after some replies to my initial sharing of my diagnosis, there's been nothing.  I have a few good friends and cousins who have been calling and emailing, thank goodness.  

     Why are people like that?  Do I remind them of what could happen to them at their ages (50s and 60s)?  I'm 63.  Goodness, it takes no time to send an email to ask, How are you?

    I just think other survivors and very special friends are the only ones who will truly understand and stick by you.

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited February 2012

    Hey Anne!  So glad to hear from you!  You must be doing well. 

    Yes, I'm hoping for clear cell.  We'll see.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited February 2012

    Denali, I'm so sorry... but also hoping that perhaps this is just a scare and it's not malignant.  You will be in my prayers.  

    As far as friends not staying in touch, I think a lot of the time they just don't know what to say, plus they imagine us sicker than we usually are.  That doesn't make it right, but luckily, a lot of times the disappointment is balanced by others who are unexpectedly and surprisingly supportive.     (((Hugs)))    Deanna

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited February 2012

    Linda I am so sorry to hear about this.  I hope they find out afterwards that it isn't cancer but hang in there.  You belong here because we all love you. 

     ((hugs)) Positive thoughts and prayers.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited February 2012

    I was diagnosed on January 2nd with a second primary cancer - mine was colon cancer, and I was completely dumbstruck.  I had surgery immediately, and subsequent oncotype testing showed a pretty low chance of recurrence and chemo would provide very little additional protection.  Except for scans and monitoring, I'm done with that cancer, but it interrupted my BC treatment.  I'm back on track now, but oh, boy - 2012 did not begin well...  Good thoughts for you, Denali!

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  • suzfive
    suzfive Member Posts: 456
    edited February 2012

    Hi Denali,

    I have a similar story although my kidney problem was a year before I was diagnosed with bc. I was having terrible acid reflux which sent me to the doctor who ordered an abdominal ultrasound thinking it was my gallbladder. Luckily, she ordered the abdominal and not just the gallbladder because my gallbladder was fine but they found a huge tumor on my right kidney. Saw a urologist the next day who ordered a CT scan and told me he was 99% sure I had renal cell - but everything else looked good. I had my right kidney removed and two days later the doctor came into my hospital room and told me I was a very lucky lady - I had a rare BENIGN tumor called an oncocytoma. They had to send my kidney to Mayo to have the diagnosis confirmed.  He did take my case to the tumor board and they agreed that my kidney had to go - the tumor took up more than half of it and was at risk of rupturing. That was 8 years ago. Apparently oncocytomas look a lot like kidney cancer on a CT.

    Since your tumor is also large and the rest of the abdomen is clear - I am hoping for the same for you! Will keep you in my prayers.

    Suz

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited February 2012

    Miz Marie and Suz, thanks so much for your inspiring stories!  And special thanks to all of you who say I can stay on the boards even though I don't strictly meet the criteria.  This just seems like home to me.

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  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited February 2012

    I came across your thread by accident, read through it and would like to follow how things unfold for you. I wish you  the best and will pray that after surgery you can put this unexpected hurdle behind you.

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  • ptdreamers
    ptdreamers Member Posts: 1,080
    edited February 2012

    Denali, My sister had her kidney removed in 2005 because of cancer. She is fine. She sees her oncologist on regular basis but other then occasional blood tests nothing else needed to be done. She does watch her sodium and avoids anything that says diet on it because of the harmful chemicals they usually contain. Good luck!

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited February 2012

    Denali,

    I'm so sorry about your diagnosis.  I think this is the perfectly right place for you.  I so know what you mean about other sites--my mother was recently diagnosised with advanced ovarian cancer.  I joined another site on her behalf but its just not the same as here.

    i will say, I think the lack of contact is fear.  For lots of people, a cancer diagnosis is the big monster in the dark corner and when someone they know is diagnosised, it makes them scared the monster is coming for them.

    Good luck with the surgery!

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  • MBJ
    MBJ Member Posts: 4,352
    edited March 2012

    HI FUZZY!!!

    Hi everyone-I am new to this board and will try to keep it brief. Over the last period of 7 months I  tried my best to get an appt. with my dr. due to a very a painful shoulder (appointent still not until Mar 17th at my fomer address/dr).  After we moved and after having 2 months of PT I had a fever for 2 weeks, went to the hospital barely able to walk & found out I had a large shoulder bone lesion on my  MX side, and my diag. was reversed from triple neg to to Est +80 plus it was throughout my spine and in my entire liver so no surgery - just Tamaoxifin.  Lots of muscle loss, doing home bed exercises to strengthen. Focussing on getting stronger (I am given 4 months) and I am having home hospice care.

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited March 2012

    Linda, how did your surgery go? Any word on the pathology yet??

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  • suzfive
    suzfive Member Posts: 456
    edited March 2012

    Thinking of you Linda and hope you are recovering well from your surgery.

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  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited March 2012

    Thanks so much for asking about my surgery.  It went well and I was in the hospital from Monday to Friday.  Mastectomies were a cinch compared to tummy surgery as I was extremely sore at first.  Each day gets better and while I can't lift anything for 6 wks, walking and light housecleaning are fine.  (Still thinking about getting a housecleaner for a few wks though)

    The tumor was huge but not as big as they expected.  Scans made it appear 9 x 10 cm, but it was only 8.5 cm.  (tumors are bigger in the kidneys than in breasts)  There was no lymph node involvement and appears not to have spread and no renal vein invasion.  No chemo or radiation required, just scans every 3 mos.

    My dr called the other night (at 8:30 after doing surgery all evening, bless him!)  to give me pathology details and he was SO reassuring.  He said the cancer did not get near the edge of where they cut it out so it was a very good outcome.  He said even though there's a 15-20%chance of it recurring, they'll be watching me closely and if they ever see anything, then they'll treat it.  Seems so simple, huh?  It gave me such peace of mind though.  I didn't even need an Ambian that night to sleep.  He ended the conversation saying he was very optimistic about my condition.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited March 2012

    Denali, I'm glad to hear the surgery went well and the good news about no spread!

    Rest well. Heal well.

    Leah

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  • Survivorwoman
    Survivorwoman Member Posts: 620
    edited March 2012

    Thank goodness Denali. Thank you for the update. Please don't worry about housework. That can wait until you recover. Wishing you a fast recovery! Great news ! So glad to hear.

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