My tumour

Hi Jude and welcome to forum.

Sorry to hear you have tumour on your kidney and that you have pain.

If you have had pre op then hopefully op will be soon.

I had my right kidney taken out (nephrectomy) a few months ago. Oddly i didn't have any pain or maybe the occassional back aches i got were my tumour (9cm) but it was hard to tel as i do a physical job that often means aches and pains.

I had robotic surgery too. Apparently there is less chance of infection and healing is quicker. Win win.

I hope your op comes up soon as the waiting is the worse part.

Hang in there mate. All the best...Del.

Hi Del very kind of you to reply.

I never had pain in my left where the cancer is, the pain was in my right kidney as it has scarring and a cyst.

I've been OK since diagnosed but very let down by my doctors, as he told me I was being paranoid about illness, I new something was wrong on my right, but never dreamed it was my left, so very shocked, my only concern is they are doing a partial (nephrectomy, because my right won't sustain me, and the tumour I'd between 2 major blood vessels.

And my poor husband he is reliving this as his first wife passed with cancer ..... just very sad time, I hope your feeling better relaxed and pain-free 

Best wishes 

Judith 

Hi Judith, it’s Jules here. I am so sorry to hear that your doctor didn’t believe you when you knew something was wrong….. I can also only imagine the shock of finding something on the other side too. 

I had a radical nephrectomy around 3 months ago but have a cyst on my other kidney too…….I found it a real blow when they told me about the cyst……as I had thought ‘ I have   two kidneys  so I can  well afford to lose one’ Mine is being kept under surveillance currently ….but yours is clearly more significant.

I understand your concern about a partial…….but there are studies that show they can be equally as effective as a full in L many cases.

Once you have had your op and know whether you need any further treatment,  I am sure you will start to feel there is more control over the situation.The time between the pre-op and the actual operation can feel very unsettling. As Del has said the waiting is the worst part,. You can feel in limbo.

Just wondering whether your husband has considered phoning the MacMillan helpline….it may be beneficial for him to talk things over with someone.

Please do let us know how things are going for both of you. We genuinely care in this group.

wishing you and your husband all the very best.

Big hugs, Jules xx

Thanks jude,

Yes i am feeling better and better. Pain free too to an extent. I'm trying to get fit to return to work but i have a pretty physical job. So in pushing myself even lightly i am giving myself discomfort. Nothing too bad at all though.

Shame on your Dr there. Telling you you're paranoid isn't really helpful. Nor is it the way to assure someone either.

I found i felt a little better when i started posting on here. I hope you feel a little better too. It often does do you good to let it out.

Please keep us updated with your progress. I say that not to be nosey but it can help to write it out, in a post, and so many have travelled a similar road to the one you're on and have experience they gladly share that may help you in some way.

Ta for now....Del

Hi Jules thank you for your reply, it really means alot to talk through your worries with people that are going and have been though the same.

It's been 2 weeks today since my pre op I'm impatiently waiting for the letter or call, I haven't been able to go to see my family this Yr,although once I had my diagnosis they rushed to Ireland to see me. I wish I could see my sister as she has stage 4 breast cancer, and hasn't long left although she doesn't want to know how long, bless her 

Well hopefully this time next month I'll be on the road to recovery 

Bid hugs back to you and thanks again jules xx

Del when did you have your surgery, I'm hoping I'll get mine soon,I wondering how long is recovery .... I suppose its dependent on age fitness etc .... I just want to be normal again   what ever normal is for me 

Hey Jude,

        t'was the 10th Feb when i was diagnosed 9cm tumour on right kidney and a tumour in bladder.

I had tumour in bladder removed first via turbt. Then on 21st April i had my kidney taken out.

I am very lucky to have one of those wives that always tells me to go to bed and get better when i'm not well. And then proceeds to wait on me hand and foot. I felt very important, and very well cared for......lol. 

I was able to take my time recovering and you will need some time too Jude. My wife bought some cheap soft pillows, because she thought i might drip blood etc on them, and they turned out to be a great buy. I kept getting hiccups for some reason and each hiccup pulled on my wounds. Every burp and every cough and sneeze pulled on my tummy so i was able to grab the cheap soft pillows and hold them to my tummy and it helped reduce the pull amazingly. I had about 6 pillows all around me and i think that actually helped. I was uncomfortable for about two weeks. I found it difficult to sleep, or even lay, on my right side. But gradually i could have bits of time on my right and even on my tummy.

I should stress here that i was determined not to risk putting back my recovery by 'pushing it'. I took my time. At two weeks i set off with my wife to take the dog for a walk and got about 100 yards. I had to turn back. I didn't mind because i was doing what i'd been told to. 'Listen to your body'. And my body let me walk a little more each day. I did however get very tired. Heavy tired. I was eventually able to work out that i was doing too much some days. 

  At 6 weeks i was driving again. Only local. I was also able to ride my motorbikes. Mow the lawn. And do lesser physical chores. 

Having a superbly supportive wife helped me massively. 

Everyones experience will be slightly different, as you say. And i've just tried to give you an idea of how my recovery went.

I only had paracetemol for painkillers and they sufficed. 

I would say take all the time you are able to to relax and let your body recover. Gradually increase your activity as your body allows. Row back a little if it hurts the next  day.

Today i am 80% back to full health. Though it still hurts when i overdo it. I overdo it deliberately, just a bit, sometimes so as to know where i am on the recovery front. 

Wow, it turns out i've written a lot of words. I hope I've given you a flavour of 'a recoverry'.

I nearly forgot to mention the gas. They use gas for some ops where they fill your tummy with gas so they can get to your bits easier. After the op the gas often ends up around ones shoulder for some reason causing some discomfort. It's quite common and it lasted for about a week for me coming and going in intensity but never too too bad.

I must stop writing now...lol.....Del