30 yr old with RCC

Hi everyone,

I have been reading through everyone's story and decided to tell mine.  I am 30 years old, married and we have 3 children.  I was diagnosed with endometriosis back in September 2008.  In March I had Laproscopic suregery to remove the endo.  About a week later I developed a red patch on my stomache.  Worried that I was getting an infection I called my Gyn.  It happened to be his surgery day, and decided to go to my family doc instead.  She sent me for a CT, and all it showed was a tumor on my right kidney that was 3.4m!  On May 21st I had an open partial nephrectomy.  I also found out that my left kidney is half the size of my right kidney, and it doesn't function very well.  So, knowing that the kidney with the tumor on it was my GOOD kidney they wanted to be very careful.

I am recovering very well, and I am scheduled to go to The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for some testing.  They tell me this is a cancer that affects older men.....as I am reading i have found that there are other out there like me!  I have also read about the cancer coming back which I was told that is extremely rare.  Being a mom and going through this, having to tell our 10 year old that mommy has cancer is very hard!  Of course I assured him everything was going to be okay and it wasn't very serious, I knew exactly how serious it is.  No chemo or radiation did seem odd to me, but after reading about it, I see that is the norm.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions for me regarding preventive care for the future!  It's nice to have this site and talk to other people that know what I am going through! 

Love and Prayers for all

You are correct that no treatment is the norm for kidney cancer that has all been removed by surgery.  You will get good advice at Moffitt. 

My sister had a nephrectomy for kidney cancer when she was 42.  That was 14 years ago, and the kidney cancer has never returned.  However, as they should tell you at Moffitt, you need to be checked for the possible return of kidney cancer for life.  It sometimes recurs after a long perod of time, but when it does, it is usually treatable if found soon.

Thank you for the hope!  I am confident that I will come out of this a better person for going through this....

Love and Prayers

I can so understand what you are going through....I am 34yo female, married and mother to 3 children....5yo, 3yo and 3yo.  I am having a lapar. partial neph. in a week.  Mass is 1cm, so caught early due to CT for kidney stones.  I pray you are doing well!!   I'll be looking for posts from you, as your situation sounds similar to mine.  Let's hope surgery and follow-ups are all we need!

Good luck and God Bless!

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that yours is so advanced.  I will add you to my prayer list!  How are you holding up?  What treatments are you going to do?  I go for my 3 month CT in a couple of weeks.  They told me it shouldn't come back.......but I know better!  If you need anyone to talk to I am here!  It's easier to talk to people that understand at least a little bit about what your going through!  I'm glad you found this web site.  It helped me to know that I wasn't the only one in the world who was going through this, and had people who understood!  Of course I don't wish this on anyone!

Stefani

On 6/17/2009 Fancymom wrote:

Hi everyone,

I have been reading through everyone's story and decided to tell mine.  I am 30 years old, married and we have 3 children.  I was diagnosed with endometriosis back in September 2008.  In March I had Laproscopic suregery to remove the endo.  About a week later I developed a red patch on my stomache.  Worried that I was getting an infection I called my Gyn.  It happened to be his surgery day, and decided to go to my family doc instead.  She sent me for a CT, and all it showed was a tumor on my right kidney that was 3.4m!  On May 21st I had an open partial nephrectomy.  I also found out that my left kidney is half the size of my right kidney, and it doesn't function very well.  So, knowing that the kidney with the tumor on it was my GOOD kidney they wanted to be very careful.

I am recovering very well, and I am scheduled to go to The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for some testing.  They tell me this is a cancer that affects older men.....as I am reading i have found that there are other out there like me!  I have also read about the cancer coming back which I was told that is extremely rare.  Being a mom and going through this, having to tell our 10 year old that mommy has cancer is very hard!  Of course I assured him everything was going to be okay and it wasn't very serious, I knew exactly how serious it is.  No chemo or radiation did seem odd to me, but after reading about it, I see that is the norm.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions for me regarding preventive care for the future!  It's nice to have this site and talk to other people that know what I am going through! 

Love and Prayers for all

I fully understand what you are going through, I was 39 when I found out that I had RCC (10mX9m). I had a radical right nephrectomy in 2006.  Recently in March of this year I was having discomfort in my left side of the back, I called to see if I could get some test done because my next CT wasn't due until Nov.  They found a 3m area on my left kidney, partial nephrectomy done in May 09, went for my 3 month CT scan now the RCC has mets with 2 small lesions 1 to 1.5m in the tail of my pancreas.  I have started on the weekly infusions of torisel.  I feel great now.  I have a son who is 19 it is my dream to see him graduate college, marriage and then see a grandchild.  I try to keep positive thoughts but it is hard, I am also a nurse so I guess you could say I have seen the worst.  I have enjoyed reading the blogs they have been great inspiration.

On 6/17/2009 Fancymom wrote:

Hi everyone,

I have been reading through everyone's story and decided to tell mine.  I am 30 years old, married and we have 3 children.  I was diagnosed with endometriosis back in September 2008.  In March I had Laproscopic suregery to remove the endo.  About a week later I developed a red patch on my stomache.  Worried that I was getting an infection I called my Gyn.  It happened to be his surgery day, and decided to go to my family doc instead.  She sent me for a CT, and all it showed was a tumor on my right kidney that was 3.4m!  On May 21st I had an open partial nephrectomy.  I also found out that my left kidney is half the size of my right kidney, and it doesn't function very well.  So, knowing that the kidney with the tumor on it was my GOOD kidney they wanted to be very careful.

I am recovering very well, and I am scheduled to go to The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for some testing.  They tell me this is a cancer that affects older men.....as I am reading i have found that there are other out there like me!  I have also read about the cancer coming back which I was told that is extremely rare.  Being a mom and going through this, having to tell our 10 year old that mommy has cancer is very hard!  Of course I assured him everything was going to be okay and it wasn't very serious, I knew exactly how serious it is.  No chemo or radiation did seem odd to me, but after reading about it, I see that is the norm.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions for me regarding preventive care for the future!  It's nice to have this site and talk to other people that know what I am going through! 

Love and Prayers for all

Hi everyone,

I had my kidney removed when I was 40.  The tumour was totally encapsilated, stage 1, had not spread.  I was told I was "cured".  That was 12 years ago.  It returned in the fall of last year.  Currently on my 6th round of Sutent at 50 mg.  My doctor didn't think I would get through the first cycle because I am very petite.  The tumour is about half the size now & I am tolerating the side effects well.  I have a daughter who is 22 & I remember the feeling years ago telling her I had cancer.  I know how you feel.  My only advice is to be followed for life.

Stay strong & positive

Joanne