My 2.2kg kidney cancer mass.

Hi my name is Philip.

I have no family or children, and I think the hardest part of all this was the worry of who was going to look after my sausage dog whilst I was in hospital. His name is Otto and is totally blind and diabetic 1 who needs insulin injections every day. My dog is what is getting me through this nightmare.

Im 56 years old and was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer on 21st January 2022.

November 29th 2021 I was suffering a water infection and lots of blood in my urine and I was in so much pain on passing urine. My urine was black and I had pain in my back in the right kidney area. My GP took a water sample and I was given antibiotics for the infection, it took a second lot as the infection was resistant.

Gp sent me to the Hospital for tests this was on the 17th December 2021

The tests consisted of a bladder examination that hurt, a ultra sound and Cat scan followed by a chat with a nurse. Lots of information. I was also told there was a large mass on the right kidney but not told if cancerous.

I was booked in to discuss treatment on the 21st January . My consultant toldme that I would have to have my right kidney removed and I was given a date of the 8th February 2022

He could not tell me if it was cancer but removal was the safest option and there was no other treatment available to me. I was pencilled in to have the operation on the 8th February 2022.

The operation did not go ahead as I was late having my pre operation but I was pencilled in for the 18th February 2022.

I went into hospital on the 16th February 2022 following a cancellation and was first to go to theatre in my hospital gown. You could see my bum.

Watch plenty of Carry on films and Laurel and Hardy you will need a sense of humour, well that’s my advice before going into hospital.

The right kidney has now been removed along with the tumour and also my adrenal gland?

The Operation went well but I lost a lot of blood and the operation was not straight forward. They replaced the blood with my own blood being put back into me.

The first time I saw my scar I think was a reality check, I measured it and it’s just short of 20cms across my chest starting below the left nipple and then it curves down to the my right side this was then glued together.

The right side of my stomach was very numb and they give you a button for morphine pain relief and you will need this.

I also suffered a very bad left shoulder somebody told me this is because of the way they manhandle you on the operating table? Also I was suffering a right strained testicle for a long time I mean weeks and I have not got a clue why?

The first night was bad in the recovery ward it was very noisy and I did not get much sleep, the nurses kept waking you up to monitor you and take more bloods, I was also given a chest x ray I think 3am in the morning, I was very grumpy and I wanted to discharge my self just so I could get some sleep. I was not a model patient. I swore at the Dr well she was going to stick something pain-full into me.

Try not to cough or sneeze so painful like being shot in the stomach, burns and this will go on for probably a long time I’m still getting the burning.

I spent two nights in recovery before they moved me on to my ward it was a 6 bed ward and all the other patients were stoma bags all I can say is take Vicks to put under your nose, and the topics of the day is have you broken wind yet?

Waking up with a bag  fitted, I think they must have nicked me when putting the tube in as there was blood around the tip of my Penis, I was in a lot of discomfort all the time, I wanted them to take it out but it was 4 days before it was removed, even though I was up out of bed on day one. After it was taken out I could have run a marathon probably the drugs I was on.

I spent 6 nights in hospital and I really enjoyed the food I was always hungry even waking up after the operation.

Do not drive or do anything stupid like I did because you will pay with pain.

Six weeks later I had my follow up and although the operation was a success I was told the kidney cancer had spread to my lungs.

I was also told that the Tumour weighed 2.2 Kg  and was 17cm in length. I don’t do things by half.

I have started treatment of ipilimumab and Nivolumab on the 17th May 2022 and will receive the second treatment on the 8th June 2022.

I have to give bloods tomorrow on the 6th June 2022 and also see my consultant.

I was great three weeks in to having treatment but now on my fourth week I’m have all the side affects that are in the leaflet and I’m due in for my second session of treatment on 9th June 2022.

My consultant has now told me that there is only 10% success of this treatment killing my kidney cancer but a good chance of keeping the cancer under control what ever that means.

Looking back I don’t think I would have had my kidney removed knowing that the cancer had gone to my lungs.

There were 3 questions that I wanted answered?

1 Why did they have to take my Right Kidney?
One Consultant told me that the tumour had destroyed my kidney and there was little function left and my new Consultant has now told me there was good function in my right kidney.
And also is my left kidney OK? I really don’t think I could handle dialysis three times a week.

2 Could they not have given me the treatment I’m on now and destroyed the tumour without removing the kidney? I would just have opted for the immune therapy treatment if I had known.

3 Why could they not removed the kidney and remove the tumour and replace the kidney? Just like a transplant.

I will never want to go through this operation again I was very attached to my kidney you know.

Thanks Philip.

Oh by the way it’s worth watching Horizon BBC catch up. Making sense of Cancer with Hannah Fry.