Metastasis

Yes. My right kidney had a tumour develop 10/12 y ago, it re appeared last year bring 45x50 mm - it metasticised to my lungs, but now stopped growing - so they’re doing nothing but monitoring it. 

Many thanks. How big was your tumour 10/12 years ago? Did it metastasise later on, I.e. when it came back?

I’m not sure but I was told they don’t operate on growths below 40mm. I had 40% of my kidney removed. It’s now returned (growing within. 9 months) from zero to 45x50 mm but because of heart problems they won’t remove the kidney - that was last July. A CT scan on NYE showed (apparently) everything has stopped growing. They’re doing nothing but monitoring it. I’m 74 - is that relevant? I’m suspecting age has a bearing on their decision to do nothing. Am I right? I don’t know. 

I had my kidney removed in January. I have a heart murmur. I can't tell you how stressful it was dealing with the team and my cardiologist to go ahead with the operation.

I have now been referred to Papworth to be one step ahead in case further surgery is required.

If the mass is not growing, but being monitored, would this suggest all is good?

I would ask your consultant or the Macmillan nurse to call you with your concerns.

Wishing you well

Many thanks and sorry to pester you. I’m 74 too and thankfully don’t have heart problems.  My mass hasn’t grown in 8 months (it’s 3cms) but they will do something if it reaches 4cms. It was discovered by chance as a 3cm mass during an ultrasound for gallstones (which I don’t have). They’ve said it could be benign but can’t tell until they’ve removed it. I suppose I should be pleased it’s not grown. Having a scan in June so fingers crossed. 

Last July, I had strange leg pains, A&E diagnosed DVT, which they found came from the kidney C (direct relationship) and it had grown from 0, to 45x50 since an ultrasound scan October before. The suggestion it’s stopped growing (it’s spread to my lungs) I find difficult - they say my immune system has kicked in to fight it. 10/12 years ago when they took half my kidney away, they never said how big it was- just that they don’t operate below 40mm. 

Yes, it would suggest things are good, but maybe I’m being too suspicious. I saw (months ago) a Telegraph article where the NHS had drawn up plans (options) to limit treatment to older ppl, they denied it was ever put into practice, but with the state of the NHS one has to wonder? 

They never said how big it was at the time, or even that it was malignant - they just said they don’t operate on tumours below 40mm, and of course they couldn’t tell until they removed it if it was malignant. 

Thanks I’m 74. I’m in Somerset so perhaps the postcode lottery is relevant. They said they would operate on mine at 3.5 cms if it bothered me so I was given the choice but I’ve opted for monitoring for now. That seems to make sense, given the size of the growth and the fact it’s unchanged in 8 months. The next scan is in 9 months (from last September).