Renal Cell Carcinoma

FormerMember
FormerMember

At the end of May it was confirmed by the Urology professor that I have a 43mm RCC on my only kidney and he ordered a PET scan to check my lymph nodes as there was some inflammation in some of the surrounding ones showing on the CT scan.

I am waiting for the results for that, which I am hoping soon as the waiting is pure torture.

My question is, shouldn't there be some kind of treatment plan in place with regards to the RCC and then deal with the lymph node involvement (if any) or is it normal practice to check these first?

I see so many people starting treatment or having surgery within a couple of months of diagnosis and I'm already a month in with no idea of what the plan could be and still talk of a possible biopsy 

I would be grateful of any advice on this matter 

Thank you 

  • Hello Kittyslim and thanks for posting

    I am sorry to hear about your situation and appreciate waiting to have more tests before starting treatment can be unsettling.

    It isn't unusual for doctors to arrange further scans or biopsies after a diagnosis has been made to help guide the best treatment for a patient moving forward.

    I am sure the team involved will get in contact with you once the results are in and discuss the next steps for you and hope this wait is over for you soon.

    In terms of treatment decisions around kidney cancer we have some information about this on our website. Treatment will very much depend on the type and stage ( size and extent and whether it has spread beyond the kidney) as well as the general health and fitness levels of a patient. You can read more about this here.

    I do hope everything is okay for you.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Best wishes

    Naomi

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to CRUK Nurse Naomi

    Thank you Naomi, you've put my mind at some rest. I guess it makes sense to see whether it has spread etc before embarking on any treatment plan.

    I'm praying hard that it hasn't gone walkabout anywhere else as I was told that the mass is in the lower lobe of the kidney making it easy to just nip off, everything crossed!

    Thank you again x