Hi Dan, I’m sorry you’re having to go through this anxious time. I’ve been through something similar with a very positive outcome. I had no symptoms but an ultrasound showed a 14cm mass on my right kidney. That was back in March. I had a CT scan 2 weeks later. The good news was that it hadn’t spread but the surgeon said that my kidney had to be removed along with the mass and, because of its size he was 90% certain it was cancer. He also said that because it was so big he didn’t think he would be able to do keyhole surgery. 

My operation was May 11th. I woke up after very alert and they told me they had done it by keyhole surgery. It was a seven hour operation. Catheter and drain came out 24 hours later and three days after the op I came home. First two weeks I was very tired and often n some discomfort but nothing ordinary pain killers couldn’t sort out. 2 weeks after the op I got the news that is was an oncocytoma (I may have spelt that wrong) a benign tumour. Completely euphoric, that was the first time I cried. I was back at work full time June 25th. I’ve just today got back from a weekend in Crete. I have friends there and no one could believe I had had a nephrectomy because I look very well .

i sincerely hope things work out for you as well or better than they have for me  I think the waiting is by far the worst bit, the mind plays terrible games if you let it . I’ve been meditating daily for over 18 months and it helped me a lot as well as having terrific support from husband and family. I hope you can find a way of distracting yourself if only for short periods of time. And do ask lots of questions when you see the Dr & surgeon. I wrote my questions down and took my husband to all the appointments because I knew I wouldn’t remember everything. We have a tendency to only remember the bad bits!

keep me posted and please ask any questions relating to the surgery and recovery . I’ve stsyed on this site in the hope that my experience can encourage other people. It’s not always bad news  

love, Caroline  

Hi Guys, 

First and foremost thank you very much for your moral support!  

It's great to have a forum like this :)

Today was the day where I finally got to see my consultant in Ireland. Wow what a difference to the urologist I saw in Germany.  He took all the time and explained everything in detail in a calm / friendly manner. 

After looking at my MRI and CT scans he thinks that I might have angiomyolipoma. However he will organise a conference with other colleagues and radiologists to have another look at my images. If they all come to the same conclusion then the mass will only be monitored. However if it grows then he might have to perform an embolisation i. e. cutting off the blood supply of the tumor. 

If these specialists have any doubts then they will take a biopsy for re-assurance. However if it is cancerous they will have to remove the whole kidney as the tumour is right in the centre of it. This will be done by either robotic or normal keyhole surgery  (happy days :)).

I was also told that the tumour is small in size and therefore I don't need immediate surgery  (within the next two months would be safe enough ).

I feel much better but can't fully relax yet until I will be given the results.

I guess the wait continues so I have to be patient. 

Thanks again everyone! I hope that your health / treatment is going well!

I will keep you posted. 

Best wishes, 

Dan 

Hi Dan, that sounds like really good news. Brilliant news in fact. Looks like you're in very safe hands and going to be monitored so even if it is not in fact benign you will have it removed while it's still very small. So worst case scenario you could lose a kidney? That's why we have 2.

I'm sorry you still have to wait for them to have their conference. It is still very stressful and you should go easy on yourself if you're still feeling ansious and worried. Anyone would be. But still,  it's very good to know they don't think its urgent and that its probably angiomyolipoma.

Cheers, Caroline.

Hi Dan

That really is good news. What a relief! Whatever they decide there on to it. I found that when you finally get to see one of these consultants, they are more friendly and human. Mine treated me like a human being not a hospital number. And I just trusted him, I think that counts for a lot.

i hope everything continues to go well.

Sundial

Hi Dan

That really is good news. What a relief! Whatever they decide there on to it. I found that when you finally get to see one of these consultants, they are more friendly and human. Mine treated me like a human being not a hospital number. And I just trusted him, I think that counts for a lot.

i hope everything continues to go well.

Sundial