Kidney cancer

Dear Bad black cat 

Thank you for getting in touch with us on our Online Community, I’m Sue one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan Support line. I can see you have also joined the Travel insurance forum for cancer patients, I hope you are finding these helpful and supportive.

This sounds like such a difficult time and it’s natural you may be feeling this way. As you mentioned, things happened so quickly you didn’t have time to think about what was happening, but being diagnosed with cancer can cause all sorts of emotions and feelings at any point. We offer lots of ways we can help.

Whilst it’s good to hear you are recovering ok from your kidney cancer surgery, I’m sorry that you continue to experience pain. Initially for a week or so after surgery it’s normal for someone to have pain which is often treated with prescribed pain killers.  However, because it’s unclear how long ago you had surgery, and you continue to struggle with pain, we would encourage reporting this as soon as possible. It’s important to discuss what is happening with your hospital consultant or clinical nurse specialist so they assess you and offer you the right medical advice and support.

You can also contact your GP, or the NHS 111, if you are unable to speak with your hospital team directly, as they can also offer you medical advice. If you are at all worried that your symptoms are getting worse, please do call 999 for an ambulance or attend A&E.

You’ve also mentioned feeling exhausted, fatigue is common after surgery and can last from a few weeks to a few months, but please do also report this to your hospital team or GP, so they can establish the cause and support you with this. There are a number of different causes of fatigue which you can read about here.

Recovering from kidney cancer surgery can take time and be a gradual process, everyone is different. The Royal College of Surgeons of England offer lots of useful patient care information about recovery after a laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) nephrectomy which you may also find helpful.

Even though you have read others have returned to work within 2 months or so, it’s really important not to put pressure on yourself if you don’t yet feel ready to return. It’s natural you may feel scared about going back to work following your cancer diagnosis and treatment, so we would encourage talking to your employer to keep them informed about your recovery. There are often lots of things an employer can offer to help someone return to work. You may also find it useful to talk to one of our Work Support Service Advisors on the Support line who will be happy to help you with any work-related concerns.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat or phone. The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Sending Best wishes

Sue

Ref: AT /SMG

Thank you for your reply.

I had my surgery in December. 

Is this normal . As anyone else's recovery  been a long time. What is normal . Is there any normal. Or should l not bother about other people's recovery time everyone is different. This is what my husband tells me just listen your body.

Hello Bad black cat 

Thank you for posting here on the online Community here at Macmillan. I hope you find it a helpful place to access support and ask questions. My name is Joanne and I am one of the information nurses. 

 I hope that you will have seen my response to your post earlier today about your ankle swelling and that you having that symptom assessed today. 

I’m not sure if you’ve been able to talk to your team about the issues that you are having with pain and low energy yet, but if not it’s important to do so. 

Recovery from a cancer diagnosis and treatment is indeed very individualised. Life after treatment can remain challenging as you recover emotionally and physically.  

It’s important not to compare your recovery to anyone else, but it’s also important that you keep in touch with your medical teams about any ongoing symptoms and concerns that you have.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat or phone. The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm. 

Kind regards

Ref JH/JL