New to board

Hi.  I am new to the board and have been reading a lot of posts.  After a kidney stone in March 2009, a follow-up CT scan was done and a 1cm mass was discovered on my right kidney.  I am having a laparascopic partial nephrectomy in 3 weeks to remove the mass and surrounding tissue.  I am asymptomatic at this point and without seeing it on the scan, I wouldnt believe the mass is there.  My dr feels it is likely malignant (80% chance).  I am a 34 year old female, never smoked, don't drink, mother to a 5 year old daughter and 3 year old twin boys, and wife to a wonderful husband.  I'm healthy, other than kidney stones, and just wanted to hear of any similar situations. 

If malignant, it sounds like my prognosis is good, but just wanted to hear more if your story is similar, as to what I can expect going forward.  I pray I'm in the 20% that the mass is benign, but I'm preparing myself for the worst, and hoping for the best. 

Thank you for reading!

Sorry to hear your bad news but it maybe not that bad. If your tumor is encapsulated, that is extremely good as nothing more will need to be done except removal. I not you say partial removal. it may turn out they take the complete kidney if it is encapsulated.  I have had several friends lately in this predicament. theirs was malignent but so contained all they did is remove the kidney. 2 years later no problem so I am sure that your doc is correct this can easily be fixed. Not that your situation is not serious but hopefully it is one where it is easily fixed. It is ok to be nervous but I bet you do just great. MMS

On 6/26/2009 Twins+1 wrote:

Hi.  I am new to the board and have been reading a lot of posts.  After a kidney stone in March 2009, a follow-up CT scan was done and a 1cm mass was discovered on my right kidney.  I am having a laparascopic partial nephrectomy in 3 weeks to remove the mass and surrounding tissue.  I am asymptomatic at this point and without seeing it on the scan, I wouldnt believe the mass is there.  My dr feels it is likely malignant (80% chance).  I am a 34 year old female, never smoked, don't drink, mother to a 5 year old daughter and 3 year old twin boys, and wife to a wonderful husband.  I'm healthy, other than kidney stones, and just wanted to hear of any similar situations. 

If malignant, it sounds like my prognosis is good, but just wanted to hear more if your story is similar, as to what I can expect going forward.  I pray I'm in the 20% that the mass is benign, but I'm preparing myself for the worst, and hoping for the best. 

Thank you for reading!

 

 

On 6/26/2009 Twins+1 wrote:

Hi.  I am new to the board and have been reading a lot of posts.  After a kidney stone in March 2009, a follow-up CT scan was done and a 1cm mass was discovered on my right kidney.  I am having a laparascopic partial nephrectomy in 3 weeks to remove the mass and surrounding tissue.  I am asymptomatic at this point and without seeing it on the scan, I wouldnt believe the mass is there.  My dr feels it is likely malignant (80% chance).  I am a 34 year old female, never smoked, don't drink, mother to a 5 year old daughter and 3 year old twin boys, and wife to a wonderful husband.  I'm healthy, other than kidney stones, and just wanted to hear of any similar situations. 

If malignant, it sounds like my prognosis is good, but just wanted to hear more if your story is similar, as to what I can expect going forward.  I pray I'm in the 20% that the mass is benign, but I'm preparing myself for the worst, and hoping for the best. 

Thank you for reading!

Hello there,

My tumour was encapsulated, stage 1, had not spread.  My kidney was removed & no problems until 11 years later.  It has returned.  I have a secondary tumour outside of my lung & I am on the highest dose of Sutent & doing very well.  I just completed 4 round & my tumour was shrinking after 2 rounds.  Stay strong & positive.  I am still playing soccer, working, doing my 8km. walks.  Nothing is stopping me.  The only advise I give to people now is to be followed for life.  I was followed for 5 years.  Take care & best of luck to you.

Joanne

Hi There: Sorry to hear your trouble. Hopefully it will be nothing more than a cyst and you will be fine. However, if it is a cancer, don't panic. I have an 8.5cm tumor on my left kidney. It was encapsulated.... what that means is.. your kidney is like a car tyre with inner tube. A bubble ( tumor ) grows on the tube but the tyre keeps the cancer inside and stops it from infecting other organs. By removing the kidney - the cancer is gone too. I had this happen 2 years ago now. Within days I was out of hospital and with weeks I was getting about without pain killers. And within months - I was back doing the martial art that I love so much. I am a man - 41 years of age when this happened - slim - eat well - keep fit - dont drink too much - married with young children. I know what it going through your mind. ( WHY ME ) .. and all that comes with it. IF they take your kidney - you will be fine afterwards.. I was shocked to find out how many people only have one kidney and some people are actually born with only one functioning Kidney and NEVER know. If I can be of any help or comfort to you in this trying time.. drop me a private message.. Best wishes my friend. Ask God to put his arms around you and keep you safe.

I had a lap. surgery in Feb of this year, in which they removed my right kidney. Prior to the surgery I had a biopsy that was performed after a ureteroscopy indicated that the carcinoma (about 5 cm in size) was not cancer. The mass was near the renal pelvis area and the scan could not determine the exact location, therefore, the need for the ureteroscopy. The biopsy performed after the lap. surgery indicated that it was cancer, contained within the kidney. Therefore, no meds. I am a 71 yrs old male, I was in the hospital for three nights, on norco for a week to ten days after surgery. Recovery has been fast. I will have a follow up scan in August. If you have not had a scan of your other kidney, liver, or lungs, I would suggest that you ask for one. You probably have had one, since I believe it is standard procedure to insure that the cancer has not spread. Good luck with your surgery. mxgonzo

Thank you for all of your messages.  My surgery is a week from today, so wish me luck and say an extra prayer, if you would!  Thanks and God Bless!

Good luck and prayers to you.  My malignancy was 12 cm., but it was encapsulated in the right kidney and there were no metastases.  I was very blessed and it has now been 18 months with no recurrence or further problems.  I do find that I am less energetic than I was prior to surgery, but at 60, I guess it just takes more out of  you than it used to (I had other surgeries in my 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) and the recovery was slower.  I am very pleased with the result, and my scar which is about 18" from my belly button to my side, has faded to white.  For months it was hard to lay on my sides, but since you are not actually losing a whole kidney, I would imagine you will recover more quickly as they will probably do a laparoscopic procedure and you will have tiny incisions.  Again, good luck and prayers coming your way.

 

 

 

It is with a joyful heart that I say goodbye to this board....the pathology from my partial nephrectomy came back yesterday and after even slimmer odds than I had originally thought (actually 1 in 20), my mass was benign!  Yes, the 5% chance of being benign came true.  Thank you for all of your encouraging words as I faced this difficult journey.  An appreciation for love, life and family has come over me and for that I am grateful.  I wish you all the best....God Bless! 

my husband had cancer of his right kidney, it was encapsulated.  Six months later it has metastisized to his lung.  Keep up with an oncologist and make sure to have regular bloodwork and scans to make sure everything is o.k.

Good luck to you and God Bless

 

Oh, by the way he had his right kidney removed in November of last year.