Struggling with diagnosis after nephrectomy

Hi Mags

Here's my view, not everyone will agree with it.

People see the same news in different ways. 40% of recurrence can also be taken as 60% of not recurring. It's quite similar to a glass half full / glass half empty scenario.

I'm in a similar position with similar statistics. The consultant pointed out to me that the statistics don't tell me what will happen in my case.

Agreed it can be scary but there is really nothing we can do, other than our regular scans.

I just take the view that the best thing to do is live one day at a time and to try not to worry too much about the future. Having cancer doesn't change the chances of other bad things happening, I'm still as likely as I was before to be knocked down by a bus and I spend no time at all worrying about that.

Enjoy the time thst you have rather than worrying about how long it will be, after all not one of us really knows when our time is going to come.

With best wishes

Thank you for this. It is absolutely true that we have no idea what is coming. I think this is probably a process and hopefully I'll get to the point before too long when I can live easily with this difficult news. I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Mags 

Hi Mags, I have only joined this site in the last week and this is my first post. I am in a similar situation to you, I had a nephrectomy at the beginning of October and recently had appointment with oncologist and like you have a score of 6 and was told I am high risk of cancer returning. I am so very scared, very hard to celebrate them telling me they removed all cancer then in next breath telling me I am high risk. I am still in shock and taking it all in. How are you feeling now? 

Wendy

Hi Wendy, I'm really sorry that you're feeling so scared. I have times like that with more peaceful times in between. It helps me to realise that the feelings of fear come from the fact that we know now that there is a risk of the cancer returning. We had no idea before getting the diagnosis that there was a risk so we were blissfully unaware. I'm talking to people who can help me get it into perspective and getting used to the idea that more treatment might be needed in the future. They will keep a close eye on us with regular scans and they can see the tiniest beginnings of anything returning. There are also lots of new treatments for cancer coming into use all the time and by the time we might need them there will be even more. But then again we might not need them. Given that we share such similar experiences it's good that we can support one another. 

Kindest regards, Mags

Mags52 and Wend103 I hesitate to write this as I have found this site very positive and I dont want to share negative thoughts.  My hubby, unfortunately was within this 40% and after 3 full years of being cancer free after nephrectomy the cancer has returned. We are now dealing with this with further advanced treatments. What I really wanted to say that in my job I deal with patients records on a daily basis and I cant help noticing people now with history of kidney cancer and nephrectomy. Many are elderley now but many had these operations decades ago, before laparoscopic surgery was a thing! So many have been cancer free for decades and in general have forgotten that this is in their medical history. It really does happen, you could just well be one of those folk that the cancer cells just dont come back. Try and stay positive inbetween your moments of anxiety and focus on getting well after surgery. All the best. Deb

Hi Mags thank you for your message. That is a good way of putting it, before diagnosis we were blissfully unaware and were not worried. I am going to try and think more positive thoughts. My hospital have recommended I go on a clinical trial and if I pass the criteria this will start in January. and you are right they will be keeping a closer eye on us. 

Wendy

Thank you Deb, I'm sorry your husband's cancer has returned. I hope he does well on the new treatments. You are right, given the statistics is true that we could easily be cancer free for decades. I really hope so but at the same time I am reminded that the new treatments are saving many lives. Best wishes to you Mags

Hi again Wendy, I decided against the clinical trial because I am very prone to side effects from drugs and didn't feel it was right for me. I'll be really interested to hear how it goes for you. In the meantime we can keep encouraging one another on this forum.  Keep in touch. Mags

Hi Deb thank you for your message and I'm sorry to hear your husband's cancer has returned. I hope the treatments are successful. I have been recommended to go on a clinical trial so am hoping to Start in January.

Wendy

Mags, just wanted to send you some encouragement. I have had 2 major surgeries and I have commenced a YouTube blog of my cancer journey, if you would the link just let me know and I will send it to you.

Be blessed