9 weeks out of surgery and here to meet others!

Evening,

I'm 17 weeks post op. So just ahead of you.

I found out at the end of January. Saw the consultant beginning of February and operated 2 weeks later. It is a whirlwind indeed. I'm 51 so I was misdiagnosed with menaupose. It clearly wasn't that!

I found that I really started to feel a lot better around the 12 week mark. Started working again 2 weeks ago.

I wish you all the best! You're not alone.

Lots of people going through the same thing here. I found it comforting and I hope you will find it too.

Thanks so much for the reply, just hearing that someone else is on a similar timeline makes me feel a lot better!

Are you having immunotherapy or any other kind of treatment? 

Hi,

Yes, I started immunotherapy. 2nd dose next Monday. I am on Pembro.

Look at the thread "Immunotherapy 1st dose", a few of us are going through it. Nice place to share our experiences and support one another.

Best of luck!

I'm 5 weeks on and recovering well I've had a lot of support as I've had a lot of trauma over the last 6 years losing my husband and then 4 years later my 35 year old son. I had no idea I had kidney cancer I put how I was feeling all down to stress when it diagnosed everything happened so quickly. I feel so much better but after being told I need treatment I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed as I don't know what to expect I didn't realize there would be more treatment I thought I was clear

Evening,

You have been though a lot and from what I have heard in the last few months, kidney cancer is often misdiagnosed.

I hope you will continue to recover well. I felt a lot better after the operation as well. Although I was feeling physically tired I was not exhausted in the same way. It's difficult to explain but I am sure you will understand!

The immunotherapy treatment is to improve the chance of the cancer not reoccurring.

I have it every 6 weeks for a year so 9 times. It only takes 30 minutes to dispense the drug. Your oncologist will discuss it all with you in detail. Do you have a date yet?

All the best with your recovery.

I see the oncologist on 2nd July I'm hoping to go away with my partner on the 10th so I am hoping I can start treatment when I return. Like you I tire very easily although physically feel better

I know the feeling. It’s all really overwhelming and frightening at times. But we’re not alone. Sometimes that’s a real solace. I really hope that whatever treatment you end up having - that it’s as pain-free as possible. You will get through it. We all will. 

I’m sure they will be amenable to you going away before starting treatment. My team have been really great with me so just ask them and try arrange it as soon as possible and I’m sure it’ll work out!

Thank you for that! When you say misdiagnosed, do you mean before it’s discovered as being cancer? Mine was picked up on a CT scan and it was pretty obviously a tumour - confirmed as cancerous after a biopsy - but we were pretty certain that was going to be the case due to the size and some of the symptoms I had in hindsight realised could be linked to kidney issues. 

Im due to have my scans and sign the consent paperwork on Weds and then have my first treatment scheduled for the following week.

It’ll be every three weeks at first and so long as I tolerate the injection (Keytruda) well, I’ll go on to having it every six weeks.