Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer) Support Group

Hi, first of all, you have my sincere prayers on your brother's condition. A sibling's illness eats at one's core... I cut and pasted some pretty recent links on RCC and mRCC. below. The one's especially good are on reading Path reports.
I know too much about this disease, more than I'd ever have wanted. I got lucky, although now a spine tumor..yuk...Anyway,
, I have signed up, and subsequently go on the Kidney Cancer Association's webinar's for mRCC and RCC patients and their caregivers. My doctor and friend of many years approves of the sites I've looked at and here's a big starting point for you. I'll include them here. Others here with mRCC can better instruct you on their experiences, but I will say, that since my partial NSS in April, I've now met many with RCC and it's a horrid thing. Anyway, besides what's here, the last Webinar was for those with mRCC and the Kidney Cancer Association may have the webinar achive of the webcast somewhere online.

I have the slides, and the voice file. If you wish to have me send it to you, let me know via email at execworks@gmail.com. Anyway, again, I'll be in prayer for your brother. Oh, btw..the Kidney Caner Association can help you with finding Clinical Studies, if appropriate, and they have an online 'Chat Line' with medical professionals...probably nurses, etc, but they are wonderful people..I've spoken with them before my surgery in April. I may have more extracts, but for now, don't want to overwhelm you. Thanks! Hunter (a girl)
See the following trusted links:
A Typical Path Report:

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/pa...

the Stains used in a Path report:

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/la...://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/labtests/special_stain.htm

Common medical terms in a Path report

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/pa...

How Accurate is my Path Report

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/la...

What's Tumor/Illness:

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/pa...

The following I cut and pasted from my Caringbridge site, don't let the 'wordiness' get in the way of your pasting, I'm on a short lead for time, but wanted to get this to you:
What is Kidney Cancer?


(MedlinePlus website, Div of National Institutes of Health)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus...

Both the above link and the next link has good links to other reputable medical sites, so I'll only list 3 or 4 for now. I've already wrote about the Kidney Cancer Association, whose website is EXCELLENT for support, resources and of aid to how to speak with your Dr or Drs. about your illness. The antigenics page is easy to read through, and their links are very good. For example the National Cancer Institute's page on Kidney Cancer is an excellent starting point for the patient and the family, so go on the page below and check out the links there; and remember, if you don't see the word KIDNEY or RENAL CELL Carcinoma on the main page, it's there...put it in the search area of each respective link. If you have a problem finding a page, I'm not the webmaster, but I put these on today and they were there. :-)

http://www.antigenics.com/diseases...

for example, here below is the direct page to NCI's renal carcinoma page:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics...

The booklet that is "What You Need To Know About Kidney Cancer" is a downloadable pdf file. Also, there's alot of info on the main NCI page too. Don't let it overwhelm you, and DON"T let the stats make you crazed.

Final Phase 2 Results for IL-21 in Renal Cell Cancer Show Tolerability and Enhanced Efficacy of Nexavar Combination

http://www.reuters.com/article/pre...

The Mayo Clinic web site has been a big help to me.
Good luck and my prayers are with you.
lazerlenny