Depressed And Confused About Kidney Cancer

I had a partial neph in September. I was diagnosed stage T1, I was told that there a very low chance of cancer coming back due to the stage and my age 31. I hear so many people who have RCC that do trials and some are the same stage as me. Why would they do this if their chance of reoccurance is low?
My doctor won't even do any additional scans on me except for my lungs and abdomen since I was diagnosed at T1.
I am getting depressed about having or had cancer and I am confused. I read one thing and then hear another. Is there any good books out there to read?

Hi,
I was diagnosed with Stage III Renal Cell Carcinoma. The tumor was 6 inches and the surgeon removed the left kidney, adrenal gland, 14 lymph nodes, and the rib. I had a PET Scan on 21 Oct 03 and there was no evidence of disease. This meant that I did not have to any treatment. The surgeon recommended the interferon treatment because the one lymph node had cancer. The drug is mainly used to boost the immune system to prevent further cancer. The downside is: there is no research to indicate that this will prevent recurrence. Kidney cancer is rare and they do not have any good cure. Surgery to remove the cancer is the fix. I am 49 years old and was in excellent health. The higher the Stage, the higher the chance of recurrence.
Go on with your life, but remember to get checked often. You have to be the guardian of your own health. Try the Internet for info. I found some valuable websites and links, just from typing in "Kidney Cancer". I know where you're coming from because I'm totally confused, mostly about, how did this go unnoticed for so long when I went to the Dr for regular checkups and asked repeatedly about all my urinary tract infections. I think my case is an example of the doctor's neglect to send me for an ultrasound two years ago.
Take care and live each day to the fullest. Keep in touch.
Marguerite

My brother was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, Stage IV this past September. He had just lost his wife to liver and lung cancer in August. He mentioned to us that his shoulder was hurting and his primary care doctor couldn't find anything so sent him to a Neurologist. The Neurologist sent him for an MRI and he was then told to see an Orthopedic Physician. In a matter of a few weeks the cancer had spread to his arm and ate through the bone. He was in excruciating pain and we still didn't know what was wrong. It turned out the cancer had metastasized which means it spread throughout his bloodstream. We still don't understand why didn't his regular doctor notice this but I understand kidney cancer is not so easy to detect. A simple urinalysis could have put up the red flag that he had a problem but how many times do you go to the doctor and skip giving him a urine specimen. Unfortunately, you don't know until it's too late. My brother is scheduled to have his kidney removed on November 21st laparoscopically so that it's less invasive and after that it will be clinical trials. If anyone out there any info on clinical trials that might help us, please feel free to email me. We haven't given up hope!

My husband has stage IV renal cancer and had his kidney removed in 1999. As 2003 March he was free of cancer. NOT now!! June they detected spots in the liver, lung, limp nodes, and bones. He felt fine but was getting checked because of the 1999 kidney removal. GET the check ups!!!! BUT most of all when you find out it has come back and most the time it does JUMP on clinicals that have the best chance for you BEFORE it goes to the brain. WE waited to see a doctor for 5 weeks and then two more to try to get into a clincal and it was too late. NOW Ron has not choice because NO clinical will take him since it went to the brain. We did have luck with getting it early and the radiation has shrunk the tumors but now he is taking the Intron A shots and I feel this is killing him. A person that was in great shape and NO pain is now 150+ pounds and NO muscle to hardly get up and down off the couch. This is so depressing to me because I have done it all!!! BE Sure to check out the John Hopkins amino acid diet along with the treatment. IT does help the side affects and is suppose to starve the cancer cells. Right now we have had three tests and all of them show shrinkage. Not sure what all did it but we are doing our best to put it all out there for LIFE.. I just worry that they take you too far to death to kill the cells and then loose the patient because of an other organ giving out!!! BE careful and have someone watching 24/7 for things to change in the patients body. What the blood tests!! GOOD LUCK!!

Hi Virginia,
I heard that clinical trials may be the way to go. I wish I could have had my kidney removed laprascopically. My tumor was 6 inches and was draped over the left kidney. I'm currently taking Interferon 3x weekly, which produces flu-like symptoms. The cure for kidney cancer is surgically removing the cancer. This cancer definately goes misdiagnosed until it's too late. I would take the clinical trials. I know several people who had good results with clinical trials. Where do you live? Find out if there are other people in your area who are in clinical trials.
God Bless,
Marguerite

I had my right kidney removed Aug 05. I had a 10 cm tumor and was diagnosed T2. Right now I am currently not taking treatments. I have gone for my regular checkups and have changed the way I eat and the way I live, by exercising daily. I also live one day at a time. My CAT scans consists of my lungs and abdomen as well but I understand that that is the first place that RCC spreads. I don't know much about this cancer, as it took me be total suprise when they found it. Another shock is now my urologist has decided to send me to an oncologist which has never been discussed. I'm not sure what that may mean. So this keeps me confused as well. I just try to learn as much as I can from people who have "been there". Read as much as I can understand, and live each day to the fullest.