Hello MOONSTONE,

I am so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with a malignant tumour but it is good news that it is confined to the kidney and that it is a small tumour. We have some useful information on our site on kidney cancer treatments which you can find here.

I hope you will meet others here who have faced similar treatment choices and that they will be along soon to share their experience with you. If you have any questions on your treatment options, you are also welcome to ring our nurses on this free number 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Best wishes,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi, just found your post about kidney cancer. My husband had a nephrectomy in July 2015 through key hole surgery. He was sitting up and was fine in the afternoon. However he had a particularly aggressive tumour and it was already stage 3. I think if it had been caught earlier it would have been ok. It has now recurred and metastacised in the stomach so he is on Pazopanib - immuno therapy drug. It is stage 4 and we have to wait until he has undergone 3 cycles of the drug and then will have a CT in Jan to see if the tumours have shrunk.

Personally I would go for the nephrectomy as many people live happily with only one kidney. Get rid of the cancer and they should monitor you regularly to ensure you are clear. However we are all different but I know my husband was relieved after the op when he got rid of the primary tumour. He unfortunately has a low immune system due to the fact he has been fighting MS for 38 years so that is why they think it recurred.

Best wishes and make sure you get all the facts.

HI moonstone   I had my kidney removed surgically in May it all happened so quickly  literally 10 days after I had a blood test and a ct scan.. It was only by chance that I went to have a prostrate check up after seeing the advert on tv.  

I was just told I needed surgery asap which I had.. I'm not a specialist but I would have it removed before it gets a chance to metastice .. 

That's just my suggestion in my case although my tumor was confined to the kidney I was told surgery was the best and only option.  Now I have an 11 mm nodule in my lung which on a pet scan in September I was told that I did not at the moment need treatment. Just come back in 6 months for another pet scan.

the surgery was done by key hole .. 3 nights in hospital  recovery good no pain after about 7 days . I'm no expert but having read so much on the internet early diagnosis and surgery seems to be the best option for longevity..  Hope this helps in your difficult choice  hope all goes well Alan 

HI ALAN thank you for your reply I am sorry to hear your cancer has gone into your lung I have already decided to have the surgery I rang the hospital on Thursday I should be having a partial nephrectomy by the end of November they have told me the CT scan showed KNOW other tumours but having read your email it makes me wonder if they have missed something I suppose time will tell I wish you all the best

HI thank you for your reply I am sorry to hear your husbands tumour has returned  it must be very difficult dealing with this on top of everything else I wish you both all the best I have already made up my mind to have the tumour removed it will be done by keyhole surgery it will be a partial nephrectomy they say it will be by the end of November I am still very scared especially as so many people's tumours seem to return somewhere else even though they say that they can't see any tumours on the CT scans but I will just have to hope for the best