Kidney Cancer Returns

Nine years ago my Dad had his left kidney removed due to kidney cancer.  The cancer was confined to the kidney and no additional treatment was recommended.  He went to his Urologist faithfully every 6 months then every 12 months for follow up scans.  All was clear until his last visit 3 weeks ago.  The doctor found a tumor in his remaining kidney along with several cysts.  The Urologist stated that the tumor was in his opinion small enough that my Dad's best option was to have Laproscopic Crysurgery, (the tumor is frozen and killed using a laproscope).  The Urologist then referred him to a surgeon who performs this procedure.  The Surgeon after ckecking my Dad and reviewing his scans informed him that he needed a Partial kidney removal (49%).  Is this unusual for a cancer to return in the remaining kidney?  My Dad is the type that trusts anyone that has on a white coat and wants the surgery ASAP.  Any suggestions on how I can convince him to get a second opinion?  I am begging him to let me schedule an appointment for a second opinion at Johns Hopkins.  We live in Maryland so the hospital is in our own back yard.   

 

On 2/7/2008 mikayla1 wrote:

Nine years ago my Dad had his left kidney removed due to kidney cancer.  The cancer was confined to the kidney and no additional treatment was recommended.  He went to his Urologist faithfully every 6 months then every 12 months for follow up scans.  All was clear until his last visit 3 weeks ago.  The doctor found a tumor in his remaining kidney along with several cysts.  The Urologist stated that the tumor was in his opinion small enough that my Dad's best option was to have Laproscopic Crysurgery, (the tumor is frozen and killed using a laproscope).  The Urologist then referred him to a surgeon who performs this procedure.  The Surgeon after ckecking my Dad and reviewing his scans informed him that he needed a Partial kidney removal (49%).  Is this unusual for a cancer to return in the remaining kidney?  My Dad is the type that trusts anyone that has on a white coat and wants the surgery ASAP.  Any suggestions on how I can convince him to get a second opinion?  I am begging him to let me schedule an appointment for a second opinion at Johns Hopkins.  We live in Maryland so the hospital is in our own back yard.   

 

Unfortunately it is not unusual in the case of kidney cancer for it to show up later. The cells travel through the blood or lymph nodes and can lay dormant for years before showing anything. The good news is that with such slow growth and long term NED (no evidence of disease) he may have once again caught this early enough to hope to control it.  Surgery is often the best way to address kidney cancer but it should be by a surgeon who specializes not just in kidney operations but in kidney oncology surgery.  But given that he only has one kidney now, a second opinion is really a wise decision and making sure you have the best doctor is too. Best of luck

hi my name is susan 4 years ago i lost 1 kidney to kidney cancer now it is back in the other kidney i am scheduled for a partial march 3 i hope your dad is doing okay i was wondering if i should get a second opinion but if his dr told him this then i am guessing i doing the right thing hope all goes well susan

Mikayla 1 -

I had a kidney removed in 1999, in February 2006 the cancer came back in my remaining kidney.  Two urologists recommended I have RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) on it.  My tumor was not large and was on the side of my kidney.  The procedure was done by an Interventional Radiologist.  I spent one night in the hospital and returned home.  My last CT two months ago shows it is still successful. I believe the tumor location and size determines if RFA is feasible.  I'm sure your doctor can tell you if it is.  You can check how this procedure is done  on "google" and type RFA or the complete name. I hope all goes well.

Vivian

I haven't been on this message board in a while but, from the research I've done in the past kidney cancer is uncurable, it can stay dormant or undetected for years but it never really goes away.  A second opinion should always be considered and you should look for a GenitoUrinary Oncologist (they're hard to find but it's worth it).  My Thomas was dx'd stage4 in Jan 07 and died Nov 07, he had a radical left nephrectomy, he tried Nexavar and Sutent, neither worked I actually think Sutent made him worse.  I would suggest that you "keep on" your dad about a 2nd opinion and use ALL the resources you can get your hands on.