Operation looming and very frightened

hi

welcome to the online community, sorry you've had to come and find us

I'm from the breast group and I was dreading surgery but it wasn't as bad as I expected, it usually isn't. 

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that whatever it is troubling you will be dealt with swiftly and you'll be putting this all behind you very soon.  'Suspected' is good and 'partial' is also good. And you have two kidneys .  Let's stay positive for now

Are you otherwise healthy, have you been advised to modify your usual diet and exercise regimes ?

Carolyn

xxx

Hi . I see you haven’t had many comments from the kidney cancer group, I expect someone will be along soon to give you some more info. It’s my husband who has kidney cancer (I have bladder cancer) he had an open surgery end of Oct to take out a 30 cm tumour (came out clear margins phew) he was In hospital for 3 days, never really had much pain and is back to normal whatever that is. It’s more of a worry thinking about the op than the actual operation in my opinion. I obviously don’t have a great deal of info as we’re very new to kidney cancer. While your in hospital you’ll be fine I’m sure, do as you’ve told when you get home ( we wasn’t told anything so just kinda winged it lol)  Good luck and let us know how you get on xx

Hi I had a radical nephrectomy three months ago for a five cm tumour. I’m 65 and am fully recovered. Leading up to the operation I made sure that I was as fit as I could possibly be and after the operation walked as much as I could as it eased the pain. The operation itself was not a walk in the park but the pain is managed well. I had mine done laparoscopically and only  have small scars now. I was in hospital for two days. For a week I was very sore and struggled to get out of bed etc. Physically I coped well but it has been a struggle mentally to accept I have had cancer. It’s also very strange when the appointments stop. My next is in six months. I did find the worst part was not knowing and once I had a date for my operation I felt much better and could start making plans.

Hi Chester.  I had an open radical nephrectomy November 2017, aged 65.  I did have pain after, but that was managed with pain killers & I also walked a lot, (still do in fact).  Mine had also grown into a blood vessel which had to be cut away & the remainder re-routed.  I returned to work three & a half months later, and increased to full time again within another 2 months. (I intend to continue working until the end of 2020).  My scans since have all been great, as have my blood tests, apart from a slight blip with my potassium levels which are fine again now. 

Chester, I'm sure you will receive the same excellent standards of care that I have and still am receiving.  Do let family & friends support you & stay in touch via this site so the people here can get back to you & encourage you.  Best wishes  Ray

Hi Carolyn,

Thanks for replying.

This diagnosis was found completely by mistake while they were doing other tests, so I have had no symptoms and am hopefully generally in good health, I think its just the unknown that is scary and that horrible C word.

I have just been told to eat healthily as possible, which I am doing.

Hope you are doing well now.

Jo

xx

Hi Sue

Thanks for getting in touch, so sorry to hear you and your husband are both suffering with different cancers, hopefully you are both on the road to recover?

That's good to hear your husband wasn't in to much pain, this is what really frightens me as I am a real wimp!! and also 3 days in hospital doesn't sound to bad as they said up to 10 days, this also worries me as I have an 11 year old Daughter although she will be stopping with my Mom and being well looked after, I want to get back to as soon as possible.

Anyway just over a week now until the op and as you say sometimes the waiting is worse than the actual event.

Thanks again for your post this was really helpful.

Jo

xx

Hi

Thanks for getting in touch, so glad you are fully recovered, this is good to hear and makes me feel more positive as mine is also a 5cm

lesion/tumour,

Thanks for your advise and again so glad you are now well.

Jo

xx

Hi Ray,

Thank you so much for getting in touch, its so nice to chat to people who have been through the same. I am so pleased you are doing well.

Sounds like your care was excellent and hopefully I will get the same to, I will let you all know how I get on.

Best wishes

Jo

xx

Hi  

Not quite the same situation here, but I’m saying hello anyway.  

I had my whole right kidney out last May, 13cm tumour, open surgery. Can’t pretend it was fun, but looking back I do find the whole thing tremendously interesting. Had some very strange experiences I wouldn’t otherwise have had, met great people I wouldn’t otherwise have met, found out a lot, and I mean a lot, about myself. And if there was a thread here entitled “Things I can laugh uproariously at now but which were frankly a bit grim at the time,” I’d be right there! 

I know it’s frightening, an unexpected cancer diagnosis and suddenly getting caught up in all that hospital machinery. There’s a lot to come to terms with and it’ll certainly be a testing time. But if you can adjust to the reality of the situation then you’ll likely find that you have so much more inner strength and resilience than you ever realised you had. 

After the op, allow yourself time to recover. Set small targets, and be happy when you reach each modest but significant milestone as you push your horizons back out again. For me, in hospital, getting from bed to bedside chair was an achievement in itself! Then being able to walk as far as the window ledge at the end of the corridor. Back home, walking round the block, and in due course, as I got stronger, getting to the point when I could take our small dog out for a walk on my own, that was really important to me.

We had a couple of trips to the coast when I’d reached a sensible stage in my recovery. At about the 8 week mark, I could walk a reasonable distance and could paddle, but it was not until a few weeks later that I knew I was strong enough to swim in the sea. That’s what I love to do most, and I overdid it, but it was great! 

I’ve found that focusing on the practical things helps keep the fears, not at bay, exactly, but under control. Take each stage at a time. 

All the very best to you, 

-Mark 

Hi Mark,

Thanks for replying its so good to hear from people in a similar situation to myself, to be quite honest I still cant believe the situation I am in, but it can happen to anybody cant it?

Thanks for all of your tips, it is al very useful.

Hope you are keeping well.

Thanks again

Jo

xx