CancerCompass message board discussion started by NeedsHope4Dad on 3/11/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21863,0.htm Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ hi everyone,my dad was diagnosed with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma just this past week.  It has been a nightmare.  he has always been incredibly healthy and had no symptoms until he went to the ER because he was having trouble breathing.  turns out it was kidney cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs.  he has been in the hospital since last tuesday evening where they told him he has 4 months to live.  this time last week he was a seemingly healthy 55 year old man and today we are told he is dying.  he cant leave the hospital until they can keep the fluid out of his lungs.  so far they have removed over a gallon and are unable to keep it from coming back.  tomorrow they will do a procedure that will hopefully rectify the fluid situation.  once that happens, he can go home where he will begin treatment with Sutent.    i want to wake up from this horrible nightmare.Simply stated... i need some hope!  please.  someone, anyone... please give me a success story and a shred of hope.    NeedsHope4Dad Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT There are many of us out here with the same feelings you are having. 14 months ago I had the same diagnosis but wthout the fluid in the lungs, I was given a few months to live I had my Renal cell cancer on my adrenal gland in both lungs and as it turned out in my brain. I got my local Dr. to refer me to M. D. Anderson Cancer center in Houston, Tx. Well I am still here better than I was a year ago and have prospects of living a large number of years past that original prognosis. It has all happened with Sutent, not all can take the side effects, but it comes in all strtengths so your Dr. can find the right one for you and then we all hopw you see the lung tumors shrink and the rest of them too. You are in our prayers. Sanphan Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi!  Sorry to hear about your Dad. I too am 55 but was dx.in 97 with RCC. ,had sugery then in 07 it mets in lung & bone of left shoulder. Point being there are lots of things they can do now. Find an expert in RCC. My prayers are with you and your Dad.Hang in there.   John jorolo1 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT thank you so much.  yes, this indeed gives me a lot of hope.  thank you! NeedsHope4Dad Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT these replies give me great hope. NeedsHope4Dad Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My Dad was diagnosed 7 years ago with Kidney Cancer.  He has never had any major problems you would have never know he has cancer up until last summer when it spread to other organs. I never thought he would live as long as he has. never had any health problems until he got cancer. You never know what direction this disease is going. Don't give up hope. dadsgirl330 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT thank you so very much.  NeedsHope4Dad Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/12/2008 dadsgirl330 wrote:My Dad was diagnosed 7 years ago with Kidney Cancer.  He has never had any major problems you would have never know he has cancer up until last summer when it spread to other organs. I never thought he would live as long as he has. never had any health problems until he got cancer. You never know what direction this disease is going. Don't give up hope.Hi!   Wondering how your Dad 's doing and what treatment he is taking                                                                                    John jorolo1 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT according to dr hammer from germany cancer is linked to a shock type of emotion ,i believe he has a clinc somewhere u can ring for advice ,possibly find it in the net under german new medicine take a look see what u think ,hope it helps Zaina Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I hope you will receive this reply.I just read your message and hope that I can give you some hope.  I understand the fright of the situation.  My husband was dx 6 years ago with RCC.  He had a nephrectomy and several metastatic lymph nodes were removed.  Within two weeks he had pneumonia and had to have fluid drained from his lungs.  He was on a 10 day IV antibiotic run, part of it in the hospital and part of it was at home where we all learned how to administer the drug and keep the lines clear.  He developed "drop foot" right about then.  His foot would slap the ground when he walked.  It was attributed to the surgery.  It was a horrific period of time and I felt like I could hardlly catch my breath before the next thing hit. He was not treated with any drug.  Two years later, he had to have surgery to remove several small metastic lymph nodes near the original cancer site.  Because of their attachment to the vena cava, he began to bleed and nearly bled to death in the surgery. He participated in a clinical study that did not give results in shrinking the remaining rumors. He went through IL2 treatments following that.  Within 6 months, the rumors showed some growth.  He began taking Nexavar.  Took it for 18 months before it began to not work. He is now on Sutent.  He has side effects, but mostly, he has continued to work. We are 6 years out of the original dx. He has continued to work during this time, has continued an online MBA program,.taken a few trips to Hawaii, seen three of our four sons married, and endured the side effects as an inconvenience in his life.  We plan for the future, but live in today.  The Lord has blessed us considerably with 6 more years and each day He gives is a gift.  As hard as I know it is, don't live in fear and panic. You don't know when the cancer will win, or if it will, so keep living around it.  Learn as much as you can and be an advocate.   My best wishes and a prayer are with you. mrsscott Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT