Straight Facts Please

My husband has lesions on both kidneys measuring up to 3cm,pelvis,left femur,lumbar(with a compression fracture)and sacrum .Bone biopsy was of no value,but further testing is being done with it.All we have been told is it appears to be Renal cancer,and the are some good drugs now.Info on the internet is frightening,confusing, and somewhat vague, only giving a survival rate based on 5 years, where as other cancers I have researched were straight out dictating survival rates from 3 months on....Please give me some insight.I just need to hear it straight.We can't fight the beast if we don't know what it looks like.Is there someone out there that has had a similar case?Please lay it out for me so I now exactly what to expect.I know it's not good.Please reply.

Hi, My husband Steve is a survivor of RCC for 9 years now. We have been thru most everything, he is now on Sutent and the tumors are holding steady. Find the best onocologist in your area and don't give up until you find one. He has been stage 4 for the last 5 years. Don't let anyone give you a time, our doctor told him when cancer spread to his lungs and the remaining kidney to get his affairs in order and enjoy the time he had left. That was in 2002. We are not leaving this world until our appointed time. Everyone on this site is in my prayers. We are in NC, God Bless

There is an email support list specific to renal cell carcinoma/kidney cancer. There's more information at http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/ .

this is the first time i have responded as i usually just read the postings.mine is similar to your husbands so i can relate.the advice in one of the postings is to find a good oncologist.i would agree and tell you to search the internet
to see what clinicals they are involved in and which other centers they arte affiliated with.i to am in nc and have found 2 excellent doctors.i would also look at diet and excercise as much as possible.keep your health up to participate in as many studies and treatments as possible.i too was given 5 years as the expected survival rate,but that was in 1993.believe in god,self and the great advances in treating renal cancer.

Knowledge IS power. Unfortunately we are not always allowed to know the true facts. I have a website which contains a report published by three top oncologists from Australia who have studied and reported on the true five year survival rate of all cancers using chemo as treatment. I have attempted to post it here on this board but it has been disallowed. The following website though is one that should bring hope to you and your husband. A friend of mine is taking this treatment for her kidney cancer with mets. and is having great results as did I for my lymphoma. http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/OtherCancers/

On 11/8/2007 knowledgeispower wrote:

My husband has lesions on both kidneys measuring up to 3cm,pelvis,left femur,lumbar(with a compression fracture)and sacrum .Bone biopsy was of no value,but further testing is being done with it.All we have been told is it appears to be Renal cancer,and the are some good drugs now.Info on the internet is frightening,confusing, and somewhat vague, only giving a survival rate based on 5 years, where as other cancers I have researched were straight out dictating survival rates from 3 months on....Please give me some insight.I just need to hear it straight.We can't fight the beast if we don't know what it looks like.Is there someone out there that has had a similar case?Please lay it out for me so I now exactly what to expect.I know it's not good.Please reply.

Thank you all for your responses.It was the first comfort I have had since this whirlwind started 3 weeks ago.We are away from home on business,(8 hrs travel time),in a strange city,and know no one.Your responses were the only connection I have had with anyone about this since this began.It is good to hear those stories of comparable progression,because it seems most stories are of less destruction,making me think that there aren't any people with this much progression still living.I too am from N.C. and would like to know where is good for treatment,or better yet where is not.Thanks again for sharing any like stories of hope!!!!!

My husband Steve is going to Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte NC. His onocologist is Dr Asim
Amin in the Blumenthal Cancer Center. He has a PHD and came from Bethesda Medical in Maryland. (I believe) He is very smart and has a wonderful bed side manner. We have been seeing him for the last year that Steve has taken Sutent. If I can be of help please let me know. God Bless, Wanda

 

On 11/9/2007 Wanda o. wrote:

Hi, My husband Steve is a survivor of RCC for 9 years now. We have been thru most everything, he is now on Sutent and the tumors are holding steady. Find the best onocologist in your area and don't give up until you find one. He has been stage 4 for the last 5 years. Don't let anyone give you a time, our doctor told him when cancer spread to his lungs and the remaining kidney to get his affairs in order and enjoy the time he had left. That was in 2002. We are not leaving this world until our appointed time. Everyone on this site is in my prayers. We are in NC, God Bless

I live in NC also and my father was just diagnosed a few weeks ago with RCC with lung mets.  I was just wondering what Dr you go to??  We are in the Charlotte area and are going to Dr. Amin at the Blumenthal Cancer Center and Dr Teigland.

Thanks for your help.

Hi, My husband Steve goes to Dr. Amin as well. Isn't that strange!. We trust him and like him very much. We live above Shelby, where do you live?  As  I said Steve has been stage 4 since June of 2002.  We went to Jackson MS for some expermintal treatment in 2003 and 2004. It was called tumor cryoblation. Please e-mail me if you want to chat.