Life after surgery

Hi, Lou. I am relatively new too. I had my nephrectomy mid July and I am still waiting to hear from my consultant about what they found. You sound as if you are already doing all the sensible things and your doctors sound as if they are doing the same. I am pleased for you that your first scan was all clear. There is a lot that is positive in what you have written but I do understand about feeling hopeless; if you are like me you like to be proactive and in control but find yourself in a passive role. I think this is exacerbated by recovery from surgery, as I know I feel tired sometimes. I am glad you are having counselling and I hope you find it useful. I’m sorry I don’t have anything really helpful to say, I just wanted you to know that I read what you said and I am here if you want to chat to someone going through something similar. 

I am always proactive and a fixer, if there is a problem I find a solution and I fix it.  I just can't fix this one.  I remember after surgery I had days when I was very tired not so bad now as back in the gym and feeling physically fit, just emotionally a bit of a wreck. I hope all is positive for you and you recover well after the op.  Please do keep in touch it would be good to talk from time to time.  Thank you for your reply.

Hi Lou- I had my radical nephrectomy 9 years and 9 months ago so there is hope, though at the moment the dark days seem more than the light ones. You are doing well and the scan being clear is great. It does take a while to recover and it can be a lonely place. I was 52 when I had my op so like you had my life before me - successful in my job and looking forward to a long retirement which was blasted away. Im 60 now and so far so good. It never leaves my mind but I don't think about tit every day  now like I did. Others experiences are not yours so its difficult to generalise. The counselling is good and keeping fit helps too. If you want to private chat - happy to do so as one whose living with the uncertainty it inevitably brings.

Take care lovely 

Hi Lou, nobody knows what the future holds but for the next 5 years you'll be having regular scans and appointments and if, God forbid, things don't work out as you wish your oncology team will be the first to know and they'll jump all over it. I know this because I had my rad neph in 2007 and 5 years later I had my discharge scan which showed that I had metastatic spread. That came as a shock but with the total commitment of my oncology team at Stafford County Hospital I'm still here living life to the full and looking forward to my telegram from the Queen, only 28 years to wait!!!!. Just one last thing that I always put in my posts to new members, "cancer is a word NOT a sentence".  Keep thinking positively and live your life for the day. Stay safe, god bless, Phil 

Thank you Phil - your reply gives me real comfort. Well done to you remaining so strong and positive. I will remember your words, thank you x 

Hi - - thank you for your reply. I have been taking time to re-focus my mind and trying to live in every moment, being so grateful for all I have. I am trying to be in control - which for me is the hardest part of all this - I am not in control - but by changing my diet, taking supplements and changing my exercise routine it makes me feel like I am. So good to hear that nearly 10 years has passed for you, well done and best wishes to you x 

Hi 

Just to add to what ppl have already said. I had my nephrectomy 15 years ago, when my son was just 10. He's now a strapping 6 foot 25 year old.

Sure, I've had various mets, which have been dealt with by meds n cyberknife but I'm still here.

Btw, I'm also a control freak but try n forget about the cancer in between scans ( currently 3 monthly monitoring)

Have you thought of joining the Life after cancer group?