Hello, I’m new here

Absolutely agree that the side effects are small when compared to the benefit from taking the cancer treatments. I did have intermittent nausea, sickness and diarrhoea but I got past it after a month or so and things settled down. 

Hi Seasidemum

I'm also under WGH, if that is the one in Edinburgh. But I live a very long way away, on the West coast!

I had multiple mets when I was diagnosed, and I had a year of immunotherapy treatment. I stopped in July 23, but my 3 monthly scans show that everything is stable, and I am still here to tell the tale. There are more details in my profile.

It might be reassuring to know that most kidney cancers are slow-growing, and many people show no symptoms of it.

I hope you get the histology results soon, so you can start on the appropriate treatment.

Sending a hug

Kate

Hi Kate

Thanks for your reply. 

I have been moaning about the hour’s drive we have to get to the WGH in Edinburgh but your journey definitely puts that into perspective!

It sounds like we were in a similar situation at diagnosis and it is so encouraging to read of your progress. 

I found out yesterday that I have clear cell renal cell carcinoma. 

Trying so hard to stay positive and reading posts like yours definitely help. 

Sending a hug back to you!

Hi again Seasidemum,

Yes, my journey there could take 5 hours, so I've said I don't want to have to do that, and now I get phone appointments with my oncologist. For a while, I had transport there and back by St John's Ambulance...a superb voluntary service! But it seemed silly to take up the volunteer's time just for a 10 minute appointment.

I wasn't given a choice of hospital...Glasgow would have been much easier for me, as I could get a train after a 50 mile drive, but I was passed on to Edinburgh. I'm still quite annoyed about this, but I have NO complaints about my oncologist, he's very good. I was having my treatment at a hospital 70 miles away, so it took all day.

Clear cell carcinoma is the commonest kidney cancer, I think 80% are. It is slow-growing, and treatable. They are getting very good results with immunotherapy. 

My cancer has been stable since the first 4 sessions of immunotherapy back in 2022. I'm just having monitoring scans now, and quite happy.

Do you have a start date yet for your treatment?

I really hope it goes well for you!

Hugs again

Kate