No symptoms

Hello Leni,

I am sorry that you find yourself in this situation.

My tumour was a surprise to me too and I am having my kidney removed in just over 3 weeks.

I would imagine that everyone goes through stages of anxiety about the operation, but the doctors wouldn’t be doing this unless it was needed. I expect that your friends were rallying around you trying to help you to feel better about the situation….I guess that most bowel cancers involve a stoma (bowel bag) of some kind, even if it’s just temporary, maybe this is what they meant.

Lots of us on the site have either had our kidneys removed or are waiting to have this done, so you have come to the right place to receive support.

I try to stay as positive as I can, but do sometimes have some down days. When I do, I try to think that I am still the same person that I was before they discovered my cancer and at least now it’s been diagnosed and I can start to get treated. ( Hopefully someone reading this will remind me of what I have said the next time I have a downer).

Sending you my best wishes and a big hug

Jules x 

Thanks Jules I’ll take that hug! And t hear what you’re saying. It must be necessary I know and all my friends are doing their best to cheer me up. Life is short I find myself thinking. I’m 65 and somehow time has flown . I’m keen to have the surgery. I wish you all the best for your surgery. xx

Hi Leni,

i went through a similar situation, in January this year I was diagnosed with a tumour on my right kidney.  After investigations I was told it had not spread and treatment was removal of the whole kidney.  i had the procedure on 1st February by keyhole surgery and after a few weeks have made a good recovery.  The down side is my remaining kidney is at stage 3 chronic kidney disease.  More appointments with kidney specialists to come.

It will feel daunting but you can live a normal healthy life with one kidney.  i didn't have time to take it all in and was scared but I now know the speed of my treatment was a god send as I didn't have much time to dwell on it.

I wish you all the best and hope all goes well for you.

Regards

Supertramp (Julie)

Hi Leni ( and Julie) x Julie is right I think that most people have days when they feel daunted, I sometimes have what I call my tragic days. 

it is strange how time speeds up as we get older….do you remember the big school holidays seemed to go on forever when we were younger. Now it seems as though I put the bins out twice a week  x

I am paying privately for my op because as Julie says the shorter the time the less time to dwell on it.

You will get good says and not so good days,  just take each day as it comes. I try to think of 5 good things that have happened each day and that helps me.It may only be simple things such as the sun shining or the bulbs coming through. It may sound a bit pink and fluffy but it’s worth a go.

Here you go….another hug coming to you and Julie  xx

Hi Jules

I am so sorry to hear of your situation and the time it is taking to get your treatment.  I must say you have a brilliant outlook on life, keep it up.

i hope your operation comes quickly and the outcome is good.  You don't deserve to be left waiting, nobody should.

i'll be thinking of you and praying all goes well for you and all the other people who are awaiting the outcome of their investigations or surgery.

Wishing you all the best and stay strong. 

Supertramp (Julie)

Hi All. 
I had my right kidney removed 3 weeks ago. The first two weeks after were tough and I really struggled but now I am much improved and taking two short walks a day. 
I am 58 and there are days I can’t believe this has happened. 
my consultant advised that I should be fine with one kidney but suggested I lose weight. 
I’m glad your friends are being there for you but sometimes they will say the wrong thing. 
Sending hugs. 

HI there, be happy that they can remove it. Unfortunately, my tumor is 11cm and cancer has spread, so they cannot do surgery. I believe you will be in a much better position after surgery and hopefully, you can start treatment quite soon after.

Hi Julie thanks for your comments. I know each person has their own story. We are all different yet a lot of the emotions are the same. We can empathise with each other and follow what happens if people feel able to tell others. I think I can learn a lot. I’m not new to cancer, I had a mastectomy in 2017. But this feels different and  more invasive. I have to go out now but will write more when I can x

Totally with you on the response to your friends - absolutely it's your kidney and it's easy for them to say "it's good/better/will be fine".   
I wouldn't focus on the "no symptoms".  There's loads of us on here who had no symptoms.  Kidney cancer is typically found as an incidental finding whilst investigating something else.    That's why so many are diagnosed after it's spread to another organ.   It's known as a silent cancer.  If you don't get pain in your side, blood in your urine then there isn't a reason to go to the DR.  

But I would say that loads of people on here have had a nephrectomy, and are still going strong many years later.  

Hi Sune sorry to hear your cancer has spread beyond the kidney. Did you have symptoms? I’m hoping they can offer you some sort of treatment. It’s only in groups like this that we’re able to learn what people are going through. It’s true that it’s a club no one wants to be a member of.(cancer…any cancer). But we’re living in an age where new drugs and improved treatments are coming. My own mum had breast cancer (inoperable) but she took a new drug and it shrank the tumour. This was back in 2003. She had about 18 months extra time thanks to that drug. I wish you all the best xx