Left kidney removed- grade 3 cancer

Hi Shazzam69,

So pleased to hear that the operation went well although having an infection must be very unpleasant and, as you say, painful.

It sounds like your oncologist is well on top of your care.  Getting a kidney cancer diagnosis can be a bit of a roller coaster and if you are lucky things happen really quickly.  You often don't get the opportunity to process your feelings before you are onto the next stage of treatment.  It is important that you give yourself the opportunity to deal with these emotions although some people do not seem to need to.  Having cancer is undoubtedly a scary experience and the fact that the cancer is removed now does not take away from the fear and worry that you will have previously experience.

For me the best way of dealing with this is to talk about it with others such as your husband.  Make sure that you allow yourself to acknowledge the emotions hidden under the shock and hopefully resolve them.  I'm sure that others on the community will also be able to empathise with your experiences.

All the best with your treatment,

Gragon x

Hi!

You were graded and staged exactly the same as me and form my surgeons perspective that was good. PT3a basically means a small spread outside of the kidney. My spread was in the peripheral fat.

My friend was also given the exact same grading and staging two years before me in 2012. Mine has come back, but his hasn't at all, so it really can be a great result!

Although mine is back, I'm stable and have been for 2 1/2 years and I'm really well. So, if by any chance you get a recurrence don't panic! The beauty is that we're monitored so closely that it barely has a chance to get going again before it gets spotted - so it's not like finding the initial tumour, where it's all a huge unknown. Interesting that you're being considered for chemo now - that could be a real positive for your future prognosis too.

I have a little tear every time I have a scare and then I get the all clear again, but I don't cry. Relief is not a trigger for me. My trigger is actual fear - so if I'm presented with a scare I'll have a cry for bit, then a snooze, then I'm OK. It's just a release of the emotion really.

Hope you're starting to feel better after your op and infection and your news continues to be positive!