positive margin/tumor spillage in robotic asst partial nephrectomy

Should I be concerned?  My doctor preformed a robotic assisted lap. partial nephrectomy on my left kidney 4/1/09 removing a 2 cm tumor.  I was in surgery for 6 1/2 hours because the first cut/tumor removal showed there was a postive margin.  The surgeon went back in and removed the remaining part of the tumor (which was confirmed to be clear cell RCC).  Is this the worst case scenario?  Does this happen often?  Everything I've read online seems to say that this is bad, but the studies are very technical, convoluted, and abstracts, not complete.  I am not on any other therapy, I am told to have follow up scans in one year.  Shouldn't I be doing more to ensure survival?

 

On 6/17/2009 melmig wrote:

Should I be concerned?  My doctor preformed a robotic assisted lap. partial nephrectomy on my left kidney 4/1/09 removing a 2 cm tumor.  I was in surgery for 6 1/2 hours because the first cut/tumor removal showed there was a postive margin.  The surgeon went back in and removed the remaining part of the tumor (which was confirmed to be clear cell RCC).  Is this the worst case scenario?  Does this happen often?  Everything I've read online seems to say that this is bad, but the studies are very technical, convoluted, and abstracts, not complete.  I am not on any other therapy, I am told to have follow up scans in one year.  Shouldn't I be doing more to ensure survival?

I'm sorry to hear the tumor was cancer.  I just had an open partial nephrectomy of my right kidney. I am 30 years old, married and we have 3 children. I had a 3.4cm tumor that was also RCC.  I must tell you to stay positive!  I know how stressful this can be!  Your tumor was small like mine, so hopefully they got it all and it did not spread anywhere!  If they got it all then there is nothing else you will need to do except get checked out from time to time to make sure there are no other tumors that appear.  I must go back in 3 months and then every 6 months for a couple of years my doc said!  Clear cell carcinoma is a very slow growing cancer.  Which saved my life!  The tumor was picked up on a CT I had a year and a half ago, and the doctor NEVER mentioned it to me!  Fortunately for me I have endometriosis and needed another scan which picked it up again only bigger, and this doctor told me about it!

 Stay strong, and I will put you in my prayers!

 Stefani

 

Thanks Stefani,

I just worry all the time now... but I'm trying to stay positive!

Melissa

This sometimes happens, but since your surgeon whent back in and removed the remainder of the tumor, no treatment is the norm.   You must continue to be checked periodically for recurrence for life.

I was diagnosed in October last year.  I had a radical nephrectomy in December.  Due to complications during the surgury and after, I have had an open inscision for over seven months.  Quite a few patients with clear cell can be called in full recession once the tumor in the affected kidney is removed as long as the RCC has not mestastitized.  I, unfortunately, am in Stage IV, with multiple tumors in my lungs, and various lymph nodes.

Keep on trucking along.  Hope is the best path to a longer and more compliete life following cancer diagnosis.  I hope all of your scans are negitive, and don't let fear rule your life. 

On 6/17/2009 melmig wrote:

Should I be concerned?  My doctor preformed a robotic assisted lap. partial nephrectomy on my left kidney 4/1/09 removing a 2 cm tumor.  I was in surgery for 6 1/2 hours because the first cut/tumor removal showed there was a postive margin.  The surgeon went back in and removed the remaining part of the tumor (which was confirmed to be clear cell RCC).  Is this the worst case scenario?  Does this happen often?  Everything I've read online seems to say that this is bad, but the studies are very technical, convoluted, and abstracts, not complete.  I am not on any other therapy, I am told to have follow up scans in one year.  Shouldn't I be doing more to ensure survival?

 

Thanks for the help.  I hope you are feeling better and your wound will close soon.  I do need to turn my thoughts around.  Worry consumes me some days...and I'm not sure that I have anything to be worried about!