Hello, I came here looking for someone who is recently diagnosed with kidney cancer as I am. My initial thoughts upon receiving my diagnosis was feeling numb. It was a surreal feeling, like someone talking about somebody else describing their cancer to me. Once the news sunk in about an hour later, I was shaking and full of nerves. I did not want to discuss my diagnosis with anyone, even to my own husband. I curled up and cried. The next day I went back to work, I work at Heathrow airport, and its always that busy that my mind must remain focus on the job. As you said, the nights are the most difficult. Yes, it is.  Sometimes I don't sleep at all. I fill my time by binge watching series on Netflix or Disney. Or do digital arts, Colour by Numbers, especially the Mystery ones (which slowly reveals what the art work will be). I have 5.7cm lesion, on my left kidney on the upper pole. I saw the 3D scan and its prominence on top of the kidney. T1b but a possibility of T3a due to a small curve that is not visible on the scan. Initial MDT meeting seems to think it is ccRCC. I keep searching for prognosis online. But my Oncologist said it is 5 years as a guideline. During my pre assessment this week, the nurse said all the kidney cancers she has seen, all made it through without recurrence in the last 5 years. Even with all the reassurances in the world, I have been preparing myself for the worst but hoping for the best. I have mentioned to a few people at work including my line manager, they all said that I have a very strong psychological strength to keep coming back to work when they thought I should be relaxing at home waiting for my surgery which is scheduled on 15th April. I said, work keeps me strong, because I dont have the time to think of what lies ahead. I hope you can find the strength to  fight and see this through and know  that you are not alone.  (A quote from our very own Princess of Wales). 

 Cherie_W My partner had to go to a&e last Wednesday night with suspected gallstones, did a ultrasound scan and no stones etc so sent him for a CT scan on the Saturday, had the results within an hour and his appendix had burst so had the op on the Saturday night to remove them but before he went for his op the dr came and told him they had found something else on his scan something called a “squiggle” whatever that means and she didn’t believe holding anything back from anyone. My partner is 35 now and had testicular cancer when he was 21 so he asked her straight is it cancer and she said she couldn’t say. Fast forward to before he went down for his op the dr has come back and told him it looks like a “mass or a cluster”. We’ve now found out from his discharge letter it’s near his left kidney with a question mark. He’s been referred to urology mdt and now today had a letter saying he’s got a telephone consultation next Thursday 28th, it says to discuss his current and past medical history and accurate list of all his current medication so what does this mean please. I’m so stressed for him never mind how he’s feeling. I was hoping with it saying telephone it would be good news but now I’m not sure with it saying about current and past etc. was your diagnosis similar at all?

Hello there, thanks for reaching out. My diagnosis is slightly different. The tumour is right inside my kidney on the upper left pole. I had a telephone consultation with the consultant/surgeon after they already had the MDT meeting, this was after I had the blood test and CT scan abdominal with contrast a week prior.  He asked a few questions about my medical history and told me I need a  radical laparoscopy and during that call, he mentioned that it is indeed cancer and told me the initial staging. Then he booked to see me face to face after another CT scan of the thorax and during the face to face consultation, he showed me the clear picture of the tumour, explained the next process which are pre op assessment( where they asked for all my medications and dosage and did blood test, Sats, BP, ECG, MRSA, Urine and blood sugar test).  He also gave me a leaflet for Urology nurses to contact if i have any questions to ask and also that they will assign a keyworker to my case. She already called and again explained the process and what to expect. She was very reassuring and will meet me on the morning of my surgery. I hope my experience so far will give you some idea of what to expect and get hold of the right people to discuss your concerns. 

 Cherie_W thank you for the info, yeah he had the ct scan last Saturday and now got the telephone consultation on Thursday I’m already thinking the worst as why would they want to know past and current medical history and accurate list of medication he’s on if it wasn’t bad news, I’d love to think it wasn’t but surely if it was good news they wouldn’t want to know that. Did they actually tell you on the phone it was cancer? Didn’t think they’d do that thought they’d tell you face to face

 Cherie_W thank you for the info, yeah he had the ct scan last Saturday and now got the telephone consultation on Thursday I’m already thinking the worst as why would they want to know past and current medical history and accurate list of medication he’s on if it wasn’t bad news, I’d love to think it wasn’t but surely if it was good news they wouldn’t want to know that. Did they actually tell you on the phone it was cancer? Didn’t think they’d do that thought they’d tell you face to face

I think they want to make sure what medication he is on before they have their MDT. If he had previous record from same hospital, I guess they will not be asking these information of his medical history, if not that may be the reason so they can make definitive decision.  On my case, I  was told on the phone it is cancer but in a nice matter of fact way that I did not feel floored by the diagnosis. I already researched a lot after the ultrasound when saw the face of the sonologist with a worried look., I asked her to be honest with me and was told there is a small lesion, and I saw it on the monitor. She was hesitant but I insisted as I saw a flash on the screen,  3 times she repeated on my insistence. Then my GP called to say I got a 5.7cm lesion and she said don't be scared, we will send you for CT scan and place you on cancer pathway to fast track diagnosis.  The consultant's phone call only confirmed what I already suspected. 

 Cherie_W yes that could be right as when he had testicular cancer he was treated at a hospital in Birmingham with only being 20 at that time. I thought they would of already had the meeting so don’t know what to think now, he just wants peace of mind.