Need more time - metastatic renal carcinoma, been given 6 - 12 months

Last month, I was told my prognosis of surviving my cancer was 6 to 12 months.   I have metastatic renal carcinoma with spread to the bone, in English  I have cancer in the right kidney that spread to my bones  I was diagnosed with this in September 2022 since October 2023 it has now gone to my lymph glands,

What I don't understand is since my CT scan in October and the one I had in January, it showed no changes, so how come I was only told last month about my survival prognosis .

I've spent this last month house bound with pain and waiting for an operation for an intrathecal pump, which is next week to help with my pain..

For a few seconds every morning I forget what I've been told, then the heartache sets in, and the fear I feel lost, angry, I'm so mad.. 

My family all know, boy, that was hard having to tell them all, watching their faces and hearts break as I tell them... 

Sorry for the long introduction  

  • Hi Baby-girl-73,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm so sorry to hear of the difficulties and pain you're in, and that there has been some confusion with the information you've been told. This is a lot to deal with - hopefully you have support around you from family and friends and others. I also hope that the operation you have coming up helps with your pain.

    I hope that the forum can be of some small support to you at this time. We are always here for support if ever you need it, even if it's just to write things down. Hopefully you'll get some more replies to your post soon - do have a browse or search of the forum for others to connect with as well, if you would like to.

    If you'd like to explore other places for support, have a look at Macmillan and Maggie's, who both offer various resources, helplines, and local centres.

    As I say, we are always here if you need it.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • My partner was diagnosed with advanced renal cancer in October 2017. He has multiple sites of spread including lungs, lymph nodes, adrenal glands and ribs.  Had 3 lines of treatment and radiotherapy to ribs. Nearly 3 years ago he started on immunotherapy which worked very well  for a year but January 2022 he had a minor stroke and the treatment caused inflammation in his remaining kidney.  He had a further stroke September 2022 and since April 2022 has not had any treatment.  The immunotherapy carried on working for over 18 months without actually having the treatment.  In December 2023 was told there was growth in the adrenal glands and lymph nodes in chest and at the time he was going to start on a 4th line of treatment but he had virus infection and was too weak to start the treatment. He is now not having any more treatment and hospital said it is watch and wait and medication for pain if required.  He is no pain at the moment. He has never been told how long he  has left. Take any treatment and pain relief you are offered. Take care and thinking of you  .   

  • Thank you , for your message, wow your husband has certainly had a tough few years,  my first line of treatment which was immunotherapy failed me as well my body couldn't cope with the treatment after 6 months,  I'm now on my second line of chemo in tablet form,  it's keeping things at bay, just.