Awaiting news from MTD and biopsy

Hi Deek from Edinburgh.  I'm Claire from Dunfermline, Fife!  Are you at the Western in Edinburgh?  I am.  My RCC has spread to my lungs so, yes, a biopsy is the standard next step to find out what type of cancer it is before determining treatment.   I was diagnosed last Nov 2021 and all the investigations started March.  In that period I felt a bit bleugh and fatigued over time  but I only realised afterwards why.  I'm on immunotherapy and it's doing it's stuff.  I feel normal again now although I have paid the price of impaired kidney function (oh the irony).  This period you are in now is the worst it will be.  We all hate the waiting.  Once you have the biopsy results and see your oncologist then it's a tad easier because you'll feel like something is happening with the treatment plan.    I can't help on the pain front - I had no symptoms.  Good luck, I hope you get dates ASAP.  

1. Hi Claire,  glad your feeling back to normal , yes , I think I will be at the western general in edinburgh , that's where I got my ct scan , I'm semi normal during the day , bit off a pain in the back (pardon the pun) I'm a builder ,so no chance of going to my work , are you in all day with the immunotherapy,  or just for a few hours , what stage where you at if you don't mind me asking  , this is all very new to me , as I've been very active in my 54 years ( hopefully a few more to come ) the only symptoms i had , was a minor sore back in the last 3 weeks , i hope your improvement continues and you get the all clear .

I'm on ipi/nivo (ipilimumab and nivolumab to give them their full names).  At the start (Jan 2022) it would take 3-4 hours because there are two drugs to give consecutively and it's a 30 min break in between.  Since July, it's just nivo and I can be in and out in under 2 hours.  So much so, I am getting the graveyard shift mid afternoon and frequently the last to leave.  But I get my treatment locally, not at the ECC.   

I'm stage 4 and I won't get the all clear.  Treatable not curable is the term used. I've been a keen active outdoors person and it was a long term plan (a hope, at one stage) to get back to running club (for the social).  Managed it last month (Oct) yeah!  I've just gone back to work 3 days a week (desk job) after having the summer off.  Life can't stop because of the cancer else I end up thinking about it too often.  Plus my hubby has just retired so I need me-time. 

There's a trial I almost went on, you'll probably be eligible for it too.  It's being lead by SS who might be your named  consultant once you get your appt letter.  

You need your biopsy date asap as that will be the current obstacle.  I got my date in a couple of weeks, hopefully yours will be as quick.  

Hi , thanks for the information,  I only got my CT  scan last Tuesday (25th). But I'm always impatient,  not even a week since my ct scan , (yeah typical man) well so my missus says , but everybody's been brilliant on the medical front , my GPs never off the phone , mind you he is a nice young chap and I think I was his 1st case off breaking the bad news ( it was can you bring someone in with you ) I've only been the doctors twice in the 5 years .I got a phone from a renal cancer nurse (LD )explaining that it could take between 7-21 days after they have the team meeting to do the biopsy , ( I don't know what's better , early or later ) hope  you continue to make good progress with the immunotherapy,  as for running good luck , I will hopefully stick to trying to play golf .Best wishes .