My husband's story is different. Kidney cancer diagnosed 4 years ago after bloody urination. CatScan in ER. Sent home with RCC diagnosis and name of local urologist. Met local urologist who wanted to perform a radical left kidney removal. Researched kidney cancer on the net. Discovered Cleveland Clinic, driving distance from our house which perfected partial nephrectomy for small tumors, or lap procedure for total kidney removal. Went there to Dr Novick, creator of partial nephrectomy technique.
Also discovered NIH study for gene that causes kidney cancer. All family members contributed to the study: husband's mom colon ca, that mom's sister ovarian ca, mom's sister's daughter breast ca in her 20's, husband's uncle kidney ca, husband's uncle liver bile duct ca, husband's brother non Hodgkin's ca. Still no word on if the gene has been identified. All we know is that family is BRCA 1 and 2 negative.
Annual CatScans continue to show NED (no evidence of disease). We celebrate by going somewhere exotic. Last year it was a trip to China. This year, not sure where.
I wish I could say we found God through this but no. No messages either. I keep asking. However, I feel we have contributed to furthering the scientific study of kidney cancer just by having everyone in the extended family contribute a little blood and that's good. I worry about my 3 kids and if any one of them has this gene (should there be a gene). I worry each Sept when it's time to go for the CatScan. But then, touch wood, so far all has been OK.