Hello everyone,
I’m a 37 year old female and I was diagnosed with kidney cancer (left kidney) on Tuesday.
my timeline is roughly as follows: mid July I gave a urine sample to my GP as I had visible blood in my urine and I suspected a UTI. As the results came back free of infection, but showing blood, my GP referred me for further tests.
i had an ultrasound and x ray last week and was called in to see a consultant on Tuesday. From the ultrasound, she told me it’s likely I have cancer, it’s likely my left kidney will need to be removed and the extent of the cancer can only be determined by a CT scan.
I had my CT scan today (I am aware this is going incredibly quickly which makes me feel very fortunate, but, inevitably, it also feels very slow to me!) I have been told that the results of the CT scan will likely be available in the next week.
What I am scared of is-
i had no symptoms apart from the blood. But doesn’t this present quite late? Does this indicate that it’s quite advanced already?
I am not in a typically “at risk” group for this and I am relatively young. Does this mean it’s likely to be more aggressive?
the fact the consultant seemed fairly adamant the kidney would need to come out from the ultrasound- does that mean it’s likely quite large already? Or the fact that she’s talking about treatment - is that a positive sign? As if it were terminal, surely they’d leave it?
I am very scared and I appreciate I am tending towards the negative. I have three boys- 2,5 and 7 and I am afraid of dying and not being around for them growing up.
Many thanks for reading.
Kate
Hi K8star,
I am a bit ahead of you: blood in urine in May, CT scans followed and an operation to remove left kidney in mid July. My surgeon says that is all that is needed for now with scans every six months. I am however nearly 30 years older than you, definitely not fit and, I am afraid to say, very overweight. I am, however, well on my way to getting thinner and fitter, although, sadly, not younger! 
I just wanted to say that I hope your op goes as well as mine did and that your recovery is as swift. I was up and walking round the ward quickly and once back home, with just a couple of days in hospital, after a day or so rarely needed any painkillers, not even paracetamol. Luckily, my husband made sure I did not overdo it and took good care of me. I got tired quickly but walked a little bit further every day. Now, I am amazed at how neat and quick-healing my scars are compared to the much older and larger hysterectomy scar. I think it is natural to be frightened and to fear the worst but we have to be brave and hope for the best. Good luck and best wishes to you.
