Hi everyone, and thank you for accepting me into the group. Obviously, it's under circumstances none of us would choose, but I thought I'd introduce myself and share how I unexpectedly ended up here.
I'm 55 and, until very recently, my kidneys weren't even remotely on my radar.
I've had a bad back for years following an old accident and have also been going through the menopause for around five years. So back pain, bloating, going to the loo more often, muscle and joint aches, brain fog and all the other wonderful symptoms have always had a reasonable explanation.
For about nine months I'd also been joking that my painful hip was getting so bad I'd probably need a hip replacement. Looking back, the pain wasn't travelling down like sciatica. It was going upwards and around my flank. But again, bad back, menopause, getting older... take your pick!
Then one morning I woke up with a swollen stomach and just didn't feel right. I can't explain it any better than that. Something made me phone my GP and, luckily, I got an appointment that day.
My GP was fantastic. She initially investigated my ovaries and put me on the two-week pathway. CA125 and scans were all fine, but I still didn't feel right, so thankfully she kept looking and arranged further scans of my abdomen and kidneys.
During the ultrasound, the sonographer found my right kidney happily "bobbing away". Then she moved to the left and went rather quiet.
Eventually she said, "This kidney doesn't want to come out and say hello like the other one. It's hiding behind your ribs." She suggested I might need a CT because it was being a bit of a pain to see.
I walked out not particularly worried.
Two days later the GP called to tell me they'd found a lesion/tumour on my left kidney and I needed a CT.
"Please don't worry," they said.
Naturally, I immediately worried and, despite telling everyone else never to Google medical things, Dr Google suddenly became my new best friend!
Fast forward through the CT and this week I found myself sitting with a urology consultant, still half convincing myself everything might be fine.
He showed me the scan. First came my right kidney, happily bobbing away and saying hello.
Then came my shy left kidney.
Except it wasn't hiding behind my ribs.
It was hiding behind a whopping tumour.
It's around 8cm ,thats whopping for me ,and has essentially taken over the kidney. I couldn't even make out my kidney on the scan.
The consultant believes it is kidney cancer and the whole kidney needs to come out. I'm booked for a robotic/keyhole radical nephrectomy on 25 September. There won't be a biopsy beforehand because the kidney needs removing regardless. Once it's out, pathology will tell us exactly what we're dealing with.
The positive I'm holding onto is that my consultant couldn't see anything on the CT indicating that it has spread. I have my pre-op and chest imaging next to complete the checks.
Telling my family was probably harder than hearing the diagnosis itself. My elderly parents live with me and I have two adult sons, so there were some very difficult conversations to have. I think I was running on adrenaline by that point.
And, to be honest, I probably still am.
It's incredibly early days. I haven't really cried, got angry or had the big emotional reaction I thought I might have. At the moment I've simply accepted it and I'm taking each day as it comes. Maybe the emotions will arrive later. Who knows?Is this normal ,whatever normal is ?
For now, I'm trying to find some light and humour in it all because that's how I tend to cope.
I've already informed everyone that after 25 September I shall officially be known as the woman With One Kidney, which sounds suspiciously like the name of a slightly questionable DJ. 
I haven't had a chance yet to properly read everyone's stories and journeys, but I will. I'd particularly love to hear from anyone who's had a robotic/keyhole radical nephrectomy. What was recovery really like, and what do you wish you'd known beforehand?
And apologies for the oversharing! I've apparently introduced myself by giving you my entire medical life story. Maybe getting it all out there is just part of how I'm processing everything at the moment.
Thank you again for welcoming me. I'm sorry any of us need to be here, but I'm very glad I've found you.
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Hi, very new myself. Through I was going through the menopause !! Pulled a muscle, trapped a nerve! But was diagnosed with Myeloma while in hospital 2 weeks ago. Gp got blood results back and rung to said I needed to go to A@E immediately. Started treatment within days of being admitted. Now home, just slowly getting my head around everything.
I wish you well in your journey 
Hi
I had a left radical nephrectomy in February - I had a 11cm mass. I didn’t have a biopsy beforehand because like you it was decided it needed to come out because of the size. I worked right up until a few days before my op and tried to carry on as normal although I was anxious. My dog was unwell and had to be put to sleep 2 days before my surgery so I think that upset me more than losing my kidney. I was lucky that my operation went to plan, the mass turned out to be renal cell carcinoma with no further treatment needed just monitoring. It took me about 3 months to feel myself but I’m back in work and optimistic that my follow up scan will be ok - first one this week. My tip for a comfy recovery- big knickers - high enough to keep the dressing in place, front fastening bra, crocs and loose clothing! I also had a reading cushion, bought on-line and that was great in the early stages. Good luck
