Hi I'm so sorry to read what an "unprofessional' person spoke about to scare you. I've Never had any person doing an ultrasound to give me their take...I have been told when I asked they are not allowed to tell you.

In any case, I too had three masses and had my kidney removed in 2012. I live a normal life. The only thing that has changed is the level function of my kidney...you are 47, I'm 67. All I did was to change my diet to plant based, drink filtered water and see my nephrologist every three months and not live a sedentary life.

This room has very little action...if you have any questions, please post and I'll do my best to answer. I also suggest if you have a Davita Center near you, they have a very good program that teaches you about the kidney and kidney care...also a support group online.

Take good care :)

Thank you for replying. How did you get through the scary diagnosis and not feel like you’re dying? That’s all that goes through my head is that I’m going to die and not be around for my girls. I see the doctor Wednesday to see what the ultrasound revealed. I got the report Friday and it says I have a 4 cm mass on the left and a 5mm cyst on the right . Other than that it says my kidneys are unremarkable. I feel fine. No symptoms! That’s what is so crazy. My labs are perfect. No indication that anything is wrong with me. I’m freaking out with all this information!! Reading how some of you have been living with this for more than 10 years gives me hope but then there’s others who died in a year. I’m just scared of what the doctor will say Wednesday.

Hi...I've just come back on since and just read your note. Yes, you would not be normal if you weren't scared. I'll tell you I prayed not for healing, rather than Please God keep me alive until my son doesn't need me any longer.

If you see this response, please do write about how your dr apt went on Wed. YES! It is crazy how there are No Symptoms! My nephrologist told me the cancer growing on my kidney is 'a slow growing cancer' and there is very little symptoms, thus when you get to a dr, usually one is in stage 3.

One of the best coping strategies I had was to accept what I could do and what I could not do. So I had a Plan, I had knowledge of the future, I had a Clear Understanding of the cancer and based my decision on what I thought was my best out come, not only physically but also mentally.

I had to let go of control and trust, my faith was Huge, and my dr was amazing that he took time, clearly gave me information...until I "got understanding' even going so far as to draw diagrams of the difference between a cyst/tumor/ and what he was concerned with....he gave me the choice of partial nephrectomy or having my kidney removed. This is where the "mental health" part for me as my family all died from cancer, I decided to have my whole kidney removed.

If your dr hasn't told you yet, find out what your GFR, Bun, Creatine levels are to determine your level of kidney function...some dr's just don't seem to do much until stage 3/4 when you can really get control of kidney health much easier in stage 2.

Try to avoid doing a lot of research online, base your decisions with what the dr has told you. Like I wrote above...take control of your water intake...drink 'filtered water', find out if your Vit D levels are low, do you have any thyroid issues...these two are effected by how well your kidney works.
Vit. D and CKD (chronic kidney disease) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20077598/#:~:text=Emerging%20evidence%20suggests%20that%20the%20progression%20of%20CKD,into%20the%20active%20form%2C%201%2C25%20dihydroxy-vitamin%20%20D.

Interactions of thyroid disease and ckd.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22470856/

Hang in there!!! I'll try to be more dilligent about checking here to see if you've posted...feel free to message me if you don't feel comfortable about writing anything personal.

Like you, I too am waiting for my next dr apt with some apprehension, mid august....all I can do is exercise, keep up with my water intake and eat a healthy diet...all that Is In My Control and Choice :) in addition to making sure I also find things in my life to reduce stress :)

So take Good Care Of You!!!

Hi Miro,

Thank you for the informative response. So I had a ct scan and my report said I had a 4cm mass with no sign of Mets. The tumor has no lymph node or renal vein involvement however my doctor says it’s still consistent with RCC. I have surgery August 30. He says he’s going to try to do a partial however the tumor goes deep whatever that means so a radical may be necessary. I’m ok with either but I lean towards the radical to play it safe. We will see what he says on Thursday when I speak to him. This is all so scary. I hope he is gentle when he speaks to me. I am super sensitive these days. Most of the time I’m optimistic but then I read something and it scares me. I’m on a roller coaster of emotions.

2 stage 4 cancers. First was renal cell. 2nd is esophagus cancer.. Did immunotherapy for 3 years and everything on the kidney and elsewhere has shrunk to scar tissue. Trust your cancer doctor. New medicine and treatments do work. Stay strong.