Right kidney removal

Hi ,

Welcome to the community.  As kidney cancer is often symptomless it is not uncommon that it is discovered whilst looking for something else so it can come as quite a shock.

The surgery proposed is really the best option and gives you the best chance of getting rid of the cancer totally.  The operation is quite routine although it is major surgery and you are correct in that it could take you a bit of time to get over it, how long varies from person to person.

Cancer is covered by the disability discrimination act which gives you certain rights as far as your work is concerned.  If you have any worries about this there are information leaflets about it on this site or you could call the helpline on 0808 808 00 00.  This can include the workplace having to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to return to work and a phased return to let you build up your hours gradually.

All the best with your operation and please let us know how you get on.  If you have any further questions please feel free to ask and it is likely someone here will be able to assist you.

Gragon x

Hi Gragon,

many thanks for your kind words.

 I’m just in a state of flux at the moment.  One minute I was getting over the surgery for my hysterectomy and now I’m looking at more invasive surgery.

 I’ve never been a me, me, me sort of person, I’ve always just got on with things, but at this moment in time I’m feeling kind of down.

I’ve got other things going on in life too that’s not much positive.

Anyway, thanks again for your reply and I shall keep you posted!!

Hi Gonbers Wow - that's really rotten luck! It's good that the op is nice and soon, hopefully you'll be feeling loads better by the middle of July and you'll be able to enjoy the summer! I had my op a few weeks after you and I spent the time before getting my garden sorted so I could sit out and recuperate in the sun when I got home, without feeling like I should be doing anything. It worked - if I could say the recovery was relaxing, then it was! Wishing you lots of luck in the next few weeks

Thanks Jo300 for taking the time to reply.

Have you had your kidney removed too???  If so, please could you give me any advice???  From sleeping to showering to having dressings removed!!  I know it’s a pretty major operation but it can’t be as bad as the hysterectomy I’ve just had!!  Or can it??

Another thing that’s worrying me, is afterwards.  How does one kidney do the job of two and can the cancer manifest itself somewhere else??

Just like my hysterectomy I’ve only had four weeks to prepare myself mentally for the operation.  I can’t even prepare myself physically for it either, as I still can’t do a lot without my belly hurting and starting to swell!!!

Thanks again

So much to take in!
Yes, I had my kidney removed in 2014 laparoscopically. I think if you 've just managed a hysterectomy you'll be just fine with this.

Because I was laparoscopic I came home with no dressings, just 4 tiny little scars with dissolvable stitches, so showering was no problem. Do you know what your surgery will be?

It's painful immediately after, but hopefully the pain will be well controlled for you. Strangely my significant pain came from the gas from the keyhole surgery - it gathered in my chest 24 hours after surgery. Peppermint oil is great for helping it to disperse and not all hospitals carry it, so well worth getting some.

You probably already know how to get out of bed to minimise pain initially. I slept on my back to start with - I had a pillow under my knees as it felt more comfortable that way and I'd pop a pill in advance of getting up to take the edge off in the first few days.

I found after a week at home I was starting to walk quite well - slowly but I could go out for a wander.

I bought big knickers so nothing rubbed on my scar and because it was summer I wore dresses, so again, nothing to rub.

Prunes and prune juice when you come home for the usual constipation with pain relief.

Re the one kidney - yes it can easily do the job of two. This is a bit of an odd one. A friend of mine had surgery two years before me. He had a lazy kidney and he couldn't get it to fully function despite drinking litres of water every day. He did a lot of research and came across something that suggested nettle tea was good for stimulating the kidneys. He started to drink it and almost immediately his kidney function went back in range. So, I bought nettle tea and started to drink it immediately I got home from hospital and my kidney function was in range from my first blood test after leaving. Could be coincidence - but probably worth a gamble. The only caveat is that you need to be careful with it if you have low blood pressure.

Can it come back? Yes - mine did 2 years after my op. But I'm now 2 1/2 years after that and stable. All cancers have a pathway so you'll be monitored carefully and the pathways observed. Liver, lungs, brain, bone are all typical in kidney cancer. My main met is in my clavicle. The good thing to know is that our treatment options are great and improving all of the time, so a recurrence isn't an automatic death sentence. However, my friend who was diagnosed two years before me, at the same stage - has been clear for 7 years now, so surgery really can be fantastically successful!

I honestly don't think there's much you can do to prepare physically. Go in as rested as you can so that you're in a good place to recover. Keep your hydration levels up. That's about it.

I hope that helps but please just ask if you think of anything else.

Lots of luck!

Thanks again Jo300

That was a very informative reply and some good tips.  I have heard about nettle tea, it’s something I didn’t know existed!!  Where do you buy it from??  And do you drink it all the time??

 And how do they check your kidney function??  I literally left the Consultants office last Tuesday with a few pamphlets and asked no questions because I couldn’t think of anything!!!  So I’m sorry if I keep going on!!

When I went for my pre op, I had to do a urine test, so perhaps that’s it!!!  And luckily I’ve got the big granny pants from my hysterectomy . Thanks again for your help

I'm not surprised you have so many questions. I was in a bizarre way lucky to have Paul as he was able to talk me through everything. He was literally the first person I called once I knew what was going to happen. Having him sitting in front of me well and recovered was a really positive thing to hold on to.

I bought pure nettle tea from Holland and Barrett. Waitrose do a nettle and mint, which is also nice. It's a bit of an odd taste to get used to if you don't drink flavoured teas but it's perfectly palatable. I figured I'd just go the whole hog with the pure nettle. I still have it now and again if I fancy a cuppa but have no milk in (like right now actually), or I just fancy a change.

I drank a couple of cups a day alongside everything else that I wanted to drink, so not a replacement for all my fluids, just a nice extra.

After the op while you're in hospital they measure your urine output to make sure everything is working before they let you come home. After that kidney function is tested through your bloods and it's continuously monitored after your op at every review. There's nothing you can do other than drink plenty of fluid - it either comes back quickly or it takes time. Mine was super quick, Paul had a lazy kidney.

I'm not sure about you, but I had a habit of going to appointments alone if my husband couldn't be there. I had to stop that and took a girlfriend with me as even writing things down, I didn't take in all of the information. In my mind I was perfectly strong enough to go and to deal with it, but I don't think I recognised the stress that actually existed and how that impacted by ability to ask relevant questions or take in new information on the spot. Now I go for most of my scans etc on my own (my husband works away a lot) but for big appointments I always have someone with me just to be safe.

Hope that helps!! Just ask away if you think of anything else xx

Excellent advise Jo, as always. 

CMGAZ Hi Claire, 

I saw your post about your Dad and thought this thread might be useful for you. 5cm is good, surgery has the chance of being a complete cure. A friend of mine had his kidney removed 7 years ago with the same size tumour and he’s still completely clear. 

Good luck to your Dad and all of your family. 

Hi Jo,

Many thanks for the thread. We are looking for any tips for pre or post op surgery. Hoping that we get a surgery date soon.

Hope you are keeping well

Best wishes

Claire