Surgery to remove kidney

Hi lucy73.

There  are lots of us in this group who've been Iiving with only one kidney for  some years now.Indeed some folk are born with only one.

As u say tho when you're first told it's a  helluva shock, especially if u found out   by accident as it were.

Luckily, kidney cancer's a  slow grower, compare to other cancers. Surgery's usually the way of dealing with it, but if it does occur elsewhere ( secondaries) there are many drugs to treat it these days n more being developed too.

Have u had a  date for surgery yet?

Once this is done, they will b able to tell u what type of kidney cancer u have. Generally they'll then monitor u by CT scans every 6 to 12 months.

Hope this helps

Hi Jane

thanks for the message, I know what you mean about not functioning properly whilst waiting. I’m always daydreaming or really tired. And wake up anxious in the night ! I’m looking forward to getting the operation over with. 

Lucy x 

Hi Buttercup 

im still waiting for a date, but it should be in the next few weeks. Yes it’s good we get regular CT scans. I think the worst thing is telling loved ones because all they hear is Cancer and immediately  think the worse. I’m lucky to have a very supportive family around me. My teenage children are worried but I keep reassuring them all will be good

thanks for the advice 

Hi Lucy   like you, mine was found when checking me over for something else. I have to lose my left kidney too. It started when I thought I had a tummy bug at Christmas. Since then Ive had the usual blood and urine tests, ultrasound, ct scans and Ive seen the consultant and surgeon at my local hospital. They decided to refer me to another hospital more equipped to deal with it. I have an appointment on Monday to see the consultant there. The waiting is the worst part by far. I feel like Im just going through the motions everyday...groundhog day is what it feels like. Getting up, getting dressed, feeding the dog, making a brew, taking my brew out into the garden and sitting with it whatever the weather. Same thing day after day. Its probably all this waiting is getting at me. Trying to keep up appearances for family and friends, when youve little appetite and even less energy is hard. They wouldnt want you to keep up appearances for their sake but you feel you have to...to make everything back to normal.However, on the good side, Ive found this group,.....the members here are so lovely and supportive and its a place you can sort of hold onto and not feel alone, if that makes sense. You can ask questions, you can rant or ramble and can have a giggle xx

Love and hugs

Good luck for Monday Ethelmay. Don't forget to take a list of questions n If possible someone to write down he answers to refer to later.Waiting is the pits!

Thanks Buttercup, the waiting is really screwing my head up.

Hi Lucy73

Like you and many others my cancer was discovered For a couple  while undergoing tests for something else. I had my right kidney removed last August. It was removed laparoscopically and I was out of hospital in three days.  I was a bit uncomfortable for ta couple of weeks but this was managed with paracetamol. I found the waiting for appointments very difficult and became almost obsessively fixated on mail delivery experiencing massive disappointment when nothing arrived.  Given the size  and position of the tumour I was not surprised to find I have a couple of secondaries on my left lung  

 Twelve months down the line I am receiving immunotherapy and have become a lot more relaxed about things. I found that post surgery I was transferred to the oncology department where I feel supported with better communication and understanding. 

On a positive note just found out my two secondary rumours have reduced in size by fifty percent. 

Keep strong and use available support and you will look back on the surgery and wonder why you were worried. Good luck. 

Yes Ethelmay

The waiting was by far the worst part. I couldn’t focus on anything. I don’t think I took in one tv programme! As soon as I had seen my consultant and had a treatment plan my head calmed down as I felt back in control. I have never felt anxiety like it before in my life! 

Hi Lucy73

I was the same as you - totally unexpected, left kidney at 43 - my son was 12 at the time. Initial pain after the op was quite intense, but well managed and my recovery was pretty text book. My surgeon told me that  nephrectomy can literally be a cure. Obviously it depends on your staging, which you'll find out for certain afterwards, but if you have no spread then things could be very positive indeed.

There's lots of info and advice here - but if you have any specifics just ask away, everyone is always happy to help.

Lots of luck to you and I hope your surgery is scheduled soon for you as waiting is the hardest part in some ways. Just know that typically kidney cancer is slow growing, so while you are waiting your prognosis isn't going to dramatically change.