Hi,
In July I was diagnosed with two primary synchronous cancers: one in my lung and one in my left kidney. I’m not a smoker and no family members smoked. I’m in my fifties, I am generally fit, healthy and well. The tumours were incidental findings.
At the end of August, I had robotic assisted surgery to remove my top lobe of my right lung. This was successful and I’m thrilled that no further treatment is necessary.
Now attention moves to the tumour in my left kidney. I’ve seen the consultant once in July and since then my August and September appointments have been cancelled.
Im now becoming anxious as this tumour was much bigger than the one in my lung. It’s had longer to grow since the PET scan in early July. I’m worrying about secondary cancer from this kidney tumour. Many of my fears are because my Mum had renal cancer, which despite her repeatedly seeing a GP (this was 22 years ago) the tumour wasn’t found until Mum became very poorly and from diagnosis she lived only 16 days. The cancer had metastasised to bone cancer and to other organs. I’m frightened that if it’s genetic then I could have cancer in my one remaining kidney and then what happens?
I remember the urologist saying he would be offering me chemotherapy tablets but with the side effects most people don’t take them. Then he said we’ll discuss this at the next meeting - which has been repeatedly cancelled.
Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on any of this please.
Hi Florri firstly it is great to hear you have recovered well from the lung surgery, and no further treatment is necessary. I am shocked to hear though that the renal cancer isn’t being treated as quickly. I am not surprised you are concerned with appointments being cancelled. This is what I would do. I would contact PALS. They usually have an office in the hospital, but I’ll pop a link below that will explain it to you.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/
I would also contact the oncology team and make them aware of how anxious these cancellations have made you, and ask if you can see the oncologist as soon as possible. Sometimes we have to advocate for our ourselves, and it although it shouldn’t be like this, it is the one that shouts the loudest that gets the help!
