Bosiank III cyst 50/50

Hi ,

I don't have much experience of bosniak cysts either but my surgery for cancer was delayed for a few weeks as they were concerned about my potentially having sleep apnoea because of my weight.  I was tested and found to have the condition and then had to successfully learn how to sleep using a variable positive air pressure machine that blows air into my lungs if I stop breathing when I sleep.  I had to take the machine with me when I went for my surgery and was advised that rather than being taken to a surgical recovery ward after my operation I would be going to intensive care where I could be more closely monitored.  I understand that the rationale behind this was that if I had breathing difficulties during the operation I could die very quickly whilst not operating on the kidney cancer it would take a number of years for it to become terminal.

As the cyst is classed as small and there are some concerns about your lungs it is likely to be similar concerns that are at work here.  Until they are certain that your lungs will cope with the operation to remove the cyst, and the cyst remains small, they are likely to delay the surgery and prioritise clarifying the diagnosis of your thoracic issues.

it is only natural that when we find that something is growing in our body that might harm or even kill us that we want it out as soon as possible so I can fully appreciate your anxiety and frustration.  Not knowing what the plan for our future also causes further anxiety.  Make sure that you let both the Thoracic and Urology teams know that this uncertainty is a problem and try to get them to move things along more swiftly and keep you fully informed.  Make sure that you ask for copies of all letters sent to your GP and copies of all reports (CT, X ray, blood) so that you can read and interpret them at your leisure.  If possible get phone numbers that you can call them for updates or to arrange quicker appointments rather than waiting for letters in the post.

I don't know what is causing your pain in your back and side but I do know that for some time after my diagnosis and surgery I was concerned that every twinge and change in my body that I had was due to the cancer.  It sort of blinds you to anything else for a while and I spent a lot of time coughing worrying it had progressed to my lung before recognising that I had a cold and sore throat.  My cancer diagnosis did affect me a lot but most of it was indirectly, I slept badly which caused me to be fatigued, aching and feeling like I was coming down with flu.  It was difficult to concentrate and my thoughts would drift off at times full of "what ifs?" making me forget what I was doing previously.

I suspect that the "Mayo" video you watched was from one of the Mayo clinics in the USA and whilst they are very good they do refer to the healthcare system in the USA.  A couple of good sites here are the Kidney Cancer UK site ( click here to go directly to it ) and the Cancer Research UK site ( click here ).

I hope that some of this at least has been useful.

Wishing you all the best,

Gragon x

Gragon,

Thanks for the reply and info. It is hard to understand the delays, even with the lungs involved, as I am fit and well and still able to walk around as normal, even climbing hills. I will be seeing thoracic tomorrow, so fingers crossed. I will have a look at web pages, 

Just a quick up date, plus to also inform people how Bosiank 3 cyst are treated. Firstly the empyema (fluid on the lungs) has all cleared now so no hold up because of the lungs. Back to full health nowthe infection has gone.

 I finely had another appointment for the Ct scan on the 12th July. Saw the urology consultant on the 30th August. The Bosniak cyst hasn’t grown, so the next appointment is next year. I don’t know if this normal, for everyone, if you have been treated different you could let others know, as these cyst aren’t talked about alot

Hi again mum200, first I’m so pleased the lung fluid has cleared up and you’re ok with that. As the cyst isn’t very big maybe that’s all they do is monitor it and if it doesn’t grow just leave it, I’m not sure if I would be ok with that though, the urologist told my husband his had been growing for a long time so when do they step in to do something about it and are they sure it’s not a cancerous cyst? I’m afraid I can’t really help you there as we still have a few questions we need to ask but as we only receive a letter with results of CT scan we don’t get to speak to anyone. By the way my husbands last CT scan came back ok and to have another in a year. Hope you can get to ask a few questions and good luck X

Thanks sueCC, so pleased your husband is OK!! They might tell us both what’s going on, but until then, fingers crossed we will stay ok. xx