Looks like my mother has kidney cancer.

[Aristus]

It looks to be in situ, or without metastasis, so that's good news. It seems to be in a location that makes resection easy, and of course, she's got another one, so if a total nephrectomy is indicated, she'll be all right. So that's more good news. Will keep you posted on developments.

[montanacowboy]

1. Sounds like good news with the bad

My sister had bladder cancer and is doing very well. She has been cancer free this past year. Sounds like your Mom will do fine.

[Aristus]

3. Yeah, we're all pretty optimistic.

The rest of the story starts tomorrow, when I take her for her follow-up.

[musicman65]

40. Much Peace & Love

to you and your family

[Laffy Kat]

2. I've always heard that most kidney ca is very curable in its early stages.

Since it's in situ will she even have to have chemo?

[Aristus]

4. We'll be discussing treatment tomorrow with her oncologist.

I'll post more then.

Thank you for the , Laffy Kat...

[Laffy Kat]

5. Yes, please keep us posted. nt

[True Dough]

6. I'm sure your mother is reassured to have you there with her, Aristus

Especially as a nurse. Your presence surely eases her mind during this troubling time. Best wishes to you both.

[Aristus]

10. I'm a Physician Assistant.

But no matter; my respect for nurses is boundless.

[True Dough]

14. My bad. But either way

your knowledge of the medical system and its procedures will be invaluable to your mom. And having her son's love and support will surely lift her spirits.

[Chin music]

7. Good tidings, and high hopes, for you and your family.

Good luck and love, to Mom. She's in good hands, it seems.

[avebury]

8. Do you mind if I asked you how they caught it?

My brother had kidney cancer and they did not realize it until he broke his neck. The cancer had metastasized in his C-4 vertebrae. He think that he survived about 2 months post diagnosis. My Sister-In-Law had told me that kidney cancer is difficult to diagnose. She work in the cancer center at their local hospital which really helped in getting my brother medical help as soon as possible. We think that the combination of pain and the medications he was on was probably more than his heart could take and he passed away in his sleep.

It sounds like your mother is very lucky. Best of luck to her with a speedy recovery.

[Aristus]

11. She had been complaining of mild, vague, but persistent right flank pain for a while.

A non-specific mass showed up on the renal ultrasound. So they ordered a CT. The mass showed up pretty solidly on the CT image.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Oh my dear Aristus...

All my best to your mom! The good news is VERY good. The surviving kidney will get a little bigger, but it can do that without difficulty.

I'm hoping for the good news to continue and thank you for keeping us informed.

for you both.

[Solly Mack]

12. Wishing her the best outcome.

[Ohiogal]

13. Wishing you both all the best, Aristus.

I’m sure your mom is very grateful for your presence throughout whatever lies ahead.

She’ll be a survivor just like me, I’m sure of it.

[3catwoman3]

15. Sending positive thoughts to your mom, and to you...

...my fellow healer.

[pnwmom]

16. That's great news. Usually it's not caught this early so your mother is fortunate.

My father was in a similar situation except it was in a time when they just automatically removed the whole kidney. He died many years later of something unrelated.

So I hope you and your mother are feeling very hopeful now.

[lunatica]

17. I hope she gets well and healthy!

[cyclonefence]

18. I had kidney cancer in 2014

The only symptom I had was persistent, terrible fatigue, caused by pretty impressive anemia. I had a resection, done with the DaVinci robot, which made for easy surgery and, I thought, easy recovery. I was told chemotherapy and radiation were not warranted. I am followed annually now, with a kidney scan and a chest x-ray.

I thought I had recovered easily when I felt fine after surgery, but the fatigue which set in took about 2 months to fully resolve, so please tell your mom to take it easy (I was 68 y.o. at the time, maybe around your mother's age). The other thing that happened that I did not expect is that I experienced two more bouts of severe anemia a few months after surgery, severe enough in both cases to need infusions of iron both times.

I am sure someone will explain to your mom that even though her kidney cancer may be cured through surgery, this type of cancer (I had renal cell carcinoma) is notorious for recurring, both in the kidneys and elsewhere in the body, especially the lungs, so she will need to be followed for the rest of her life to watch out for that.

Other than that, my recovery has been total, and (so far) no recurrence has been detected. All my best wishes to you and your mom. This kind of surgery has a very high rate of success, and I'm sure she'll do fine.

[samnsara]

21. hubby had his kidney removed in Oct but I dont think he knows about the anemia...

...also he had a 6 month lung xray and they are keeping their eye on a tiny spot.... but speculated its probably not related. Hubby was 64 at the time.

[cyclonefence]

45. I don't know that anemia happens to everyone

with kidney cancer. I was apparently sick longer than I realized; my cancer was discovered only because I had a followup visit to my oncologist (breast cancer two years prior), and he asked me what was causing my anemia. Told him I didn't know--my primary had told me to start taking iron every day. The oncologist sent me for full-body scan, and only then did we discover the kidney cancer. By then I'd had debilitating anemia for over a year.

[TygrBright]

19. Hang in there! There's lots of hope.

My beloved partner received a similar diagnosis in 2016. After consultation they decided a partial nephrectomy would be possible, although a bit difficult due to location of the mass (which also ruled out some other therapies such as the thing where they go in and freeze it off, or use a form of electrochemical cautery).

I won't lie to you, it's a tough surgery because it involves a big incision, but my partner opted for the epidural block and that made it a lot easier. (Would recommend!)

We've had two clean scans and the kidney function monitoring continues to improve as the remaining 1.4 kidneys take up the load.

No more booze, attention to good hydration practice, and avoiding certain OTC medicines and supplements are helping.

Best wishes to your Mom and your family!

helpfully,
Bright

[samnsara]

20. hubby went thru this is October.. its scary as hell esp after surgery and they..

..dont tell you much. His kidney was removed as was the 8#tumor and an unrelated 12# blob of something off his bladder. Two surgeons, 4 pints of blood and he came through OK.. so after the 6 weeks recoup your mom should be OK! Be sure to take her lots of flowers!


Hubby had an epidural as well and it really was a lot easier on him..

[irisblue]

22. Well, hell.

Mama Aristus, wishing you better days, soon

[Duppers]

23. ...

Wishing your dear mom a full recovery.

[ehrnst]

24. My thoughts are with you and your mother.

Strength, wisdom and love be with you.

[LuckyCharms]

25. Good thoughts to your mom, and to you also.

[whathehell]

26. My cousin had it 20 years ago -- He beat it and is doing fine.

Best of luck to your Mom.

[CentralMass]

27. Best of luck Aristus. I have a friend that underwent treatment and surgery for kidney cancer around

15 years ago and he has been cancer free since.

[sheshe2]

28. Hugs to you and your mam, Aristus.

[secondwind]

29. This all sounds very promising.

I have a feeling your mom will pull through!!

[livetohike]

30. Positive thoughts for your Mom Aristus. Hope this challenge is over

soon and your Mom has a quick recovery.

[krispos42]

31. Jeez. Good vibes to you

[ccjlld]

32. My Mother had kidney cancer about 2 years ago

They removed her kidney, the margins showed it was in situ and she has required no further treatment. She is checked every 3 months and so far has been clear. She also opted for the epidural and that helped considerably. She also had 2 bouts with bladder cancer before the kidney cancer. Good luck and positive healing thoughts for your mother.

[gademocrat7]

33. Sending healing thoughts to you mother, Aristus.

[MLAA]

34. Wishing her the best.

I’ve been living with one kidney for about 15 years...gave one away to my mom....and no issues at all!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

35. Sending good vibes!

I don't know her, but give her a hug for me.

[Fla Dem]

36. Hope the good news continues. All the best for you and your family.

[Anon-C]

37. I wish her a healthy recovery and please sustain yourself!

[DashOneBravo]

38. Wishing you all the best bro

[csziggy]

39. I'm sorry to hear that but at least they caught it early!

And that is very good indeed.

I had a mass on my kidney that was only found because I was being tested in preparation for aortic valve replacement. Because of the need to get the mass out quickly I got TAVR (trans arterial valve replacement) and a month later they took my kidney out. Due to the location of the mass resection was not an option.

It turned out to be cancer, but same as your mothers, no spread. So no chemo and the only follow up is to go back every six months for X-rays, CT, and ultra sounds to make sure there is no recurrence.

If I had not been getting a CT scan for the valve replacement they never would have found the kidney cancer until too late. I was completely asymptomatic and up to the urinalysis the day before I went into the hospital there was no indication of any problem.

So be glad that your mother's kidney cancer was caught at this point. Check out the videos on Youtube for robotic kidney resection. It's pretty cool and really reduces the size of the incisions.

Good luck to your mother and to you

[dixiegrrrrl]

41. best wishes to you both.

So lucky you have a good medical background, it certainly would make my mind easier in that situation.

[denbot]

42. Good thoughts to your mom, and all who love her.

[Demovictory9]

43. glad it's treatable

[ploppy]

44. Healing wishes

For your mom. Sending positive vibes.

[samnsara]

46. we can send her cards! but we need her address first. Dont know how you feel about that...

...on another DU forum we sent get well cards to someones family member.

[Aristus]

47. Thank you, everyone, for your kind regard and generous expressions of support.

I took my mother to her urologist today to discuss treatment options. The most common with this form of cancer are monitoring ( because kidney cancer, like prostate cancer, tends to be slow-growing), cryoablation, which is an office procedure instead of surgery, partial nephrectomy, which is risky and can lead to significant blood loss, and radical nephrectomy, which is less risky, but leads to a longer convalescence.

My mother has opted for the partial nephrectomy, and agreed to the radical nephrectomy if it becomes necessary mid-procedure. She is cheerful and in good spirits. Thank you all.