I've hummed and ahhhed about what to do about my little so and so .As some of you know, i opted to try the robotic partial nephrectomy.
I went to see the consultant in another area and he basically said, it's slow growing, not giving you any trouble so don't worry about it,let's monitor it till it grows to 35 mm and we can do something about it for you.So that's what they are going to do.
I'd like to hang around if that's OK
All the best to you all on your journey
muvva
I'm glad your consultant is happy to continue to monitor. If you've had it several years and it's only got to 3.5cm - which they still deem as small - then it is indeed quite slow growing. I started off using the Bosniak scale and learned that whilst mine was a Bosniak IV, if it's a III that would have been a reason to perhaps delay longer. I did have mine monitored for two years but decided in the end to take the plunge, but felt very in control as I could plan it around things such as my kitchen flooding, the roof needing repairing, my dog care, and my holidays!!
That said, I wasn't expecting to feel sooo relieved when it was finally done! Like you explain it, I "knew it was there" and I always had it hanging over me that one day it was going to have to be done, or else I could have maybe waited several more years, and taken the chance that it wouldn't suddenly take off in size - which nobody ever said was likely, but I always wondered if it was possible that it ever could.
I think the relief I felt, was that I no longer had this hanging over me. It's kind of nice that we who have slow growing ones, have that luxury to be able to choose our way forward, because being in control of our health is very important.
As you are being monitored, you have the benefit of regular updates. So those will catch it if it does start to grow.
I also thought about how it would have been if I hadn't had it discovered incidentally (when being scanned for womb cancer). I could have lived for several years without knowing about what was inside me, and whilst that might have been blissful ignorance, it could also have ended up dangerous for me in the long term. And I realised that the knowing, is what put me in control. Backed up of course by regular monitoring by my team. And it felt good.
So, go with the flow and with your consultant, and yes do stick around because your experiences can help others here, plus you may want to reach out again in the future if the situation changes for you.
