complex cyst health scare

[Schnoodle2017]

hi everyone,

I posted about my renal results about a week or so ago.

I have two cysts in, or on? Kidneys. Left has the tiniest of simple cysts whilst the right one has a small? Complex haemorrhagic cyst.

The complex cyst was first detected with ultrasound back in 27 April measuring 63x50x51mm.

Radiologist recommended a 6 month check up. Fast forward to December 1st where I had renal scan. It appears this complex cyst has increased in size 85x63mm. It took seven days for the Robert to be released. It was coded GREEN meaning this was not a major problem. Dr. Said she wanted advice and guidance from urology.

they’ve received the advice and it’s resulted in putting me on a two week pathway to “expedite the investigations. “

So, all of a sudden we’re talking health scare with possible risk of cancer. This is all based on the complex cyst growing.

I had a phone call from doctor last night wbout this and urgent referral sent early this morning.

I felt pretty ill with the thought last night, shaking etc. today I’m coping, I’m having cope as I have to wait see a specialist at hospital.

I’ve had blood tests in June this year that indicated everything was fine. I ‘ve done an early morning wee sample for testing just over a week ago. Conclusion of result were everything normal, no further action!

I’ve gone from being told that cysts are rarely danger two weeks ago to I might have a risk of cancer!

lovely, isn’t it? My peranrs are trying to reassure me. They’ve been on teo week paths their medical issues. They sat me down and told me things about how grandad was at stage four prostate cancer. Things I didn’t know before. I’m no where near the poor state my grandad was in.

My symptoms are very few and not sure if related. I have mild back pain from time to time. It feels like muscular pain. I have had sciatica, mostly in the months of Jan -April.

no other symptoms that I can think of.

My head’s all over the place. Feels like I’ve gone from one extreme over the other.

Any experience these dramatic turn of events?

[Tulum]

Hi Schnoodle2017

Being told you’re in the 2 week pathway is scary and our minds always go to worst case scenario. But all I can say is urology will have best knowledge and advice.

I’ve been through something very similar and the main thing that I held on to was the consultant telling me that if you’re going to have cancer ‘kidney cancer is one of the best ones to have’! Weird thing to say but it helped me - my cyst is still only small but like yours is complex and growing. I saw urology a couple of months ago and they’ve decided to leave it alone for time being and continue to monitor closely. However prior to that appointment the nephrologist scared the life out of me and told me I had to make immediate decision about whether to have partial or complete kidney removal to deal with it. I’ve since realised that nephrologist is great for my kidney disease but I listen to urologist about my cysts!

Coincidentally I also suffer with sciatica type pain but that is not linked to my kidneys and when I do the exercises recommended by physiotherapist they are better. Perhaps it’s worth asking for referral to physio if back flares up again.

Hope this helps a little and also hope your appointment comes through quickly. The waiting is always the worst part. Let me know how you get on and if I can help anymore let me know.

[Schnoodle2017 in reply to Tulum]

Thank you so much for your reply. The pathway does scare the life out of you. The language/message I’m getting from NHS seems to be you’ve cancer until result prove otherwise. Not a great approach as it’s not wise to label me too early!!!

When you say kidney is one of the best cancers to have “said by… urologist?”

Is that because it’s very slow growing cancer? Is it survivable it happens to be caught by ultrasound incidentally? I’m glad it was spotted incidentally since April. Especially, I don’t if it’s early stage. I don’t know anything really. Referral was made first thing yesterday morning. The text telling me it’s been done came with a link to download leaflet. Leaflet mostly went on about cancer. So, that stirred me up.

What makes this hardest for me is that this starts just before Christmas. It’s supposed to be a happy time. All systems will be hap-hazard and temporarily sluggish this time of year. I just don’t wanna know about Christmas. I feel sick when I think of it. However, I’m seeing this Christmas as a needed distraction. I will be drinking during that period. Might not be wise but, Uni need an escape this celebration goes on. Nothing’s gonna happen until after Christmas. Maybe after Bew Year’s celebrations. I’ll have plenty of time to be good. Plus, I’ll look at my diet again come January. I have bought an organic barley powder to add to water or juice I can take this time of year. It’s meant to supply me with my greens when we lack green veggie intake during Christmas. I’ve got some health tea as well from the same place. I forget what it is but I remember that it’s known as the “lady’s ginseng”.

One of things the leaflet said it the people on this pathway tend to reevaluate their health and life style with a further link on that info.

I had a cry today. Just happened and it was welcome. Did help. Expect there might be more over this period but, that’ll help you, I honestly think this time of year makes this situation even harder. Coukdn’t sleep Tuesday night. I noticed a slept a but better last night. I think I’ll get back my sleeping before long.

Sorry for rambling. This is all very brand new to me. Never been in the urgent referral situation before.

[Schnoodle2017]

UPDATE;

Hi p, I thought I better post an update as a fair bit has happened since being on the two week pathway.

Christmas and Nee came and went. Was glad it was over as I was struggling with the worry and how this year (2024) was going to start.

I saw a consultant urologist on Tuesday. 2nd January. I certainly did bring up my worries of cancer.

His response was, he was confident that it wasn’t cancer. He explained that he looked at both my scans of 7months apart. He’s looked at my urine and blood tests. They are fine. My kidney function is excellent (his words). I don’t have any relatable symptoms. I mentioned sometimes it burn when a pee. Sometimes it burn after I’ve finished. Other times nothing at all. He says that’s done not not drinking enough water during the day.

he wants a CT scan done. He says just to be sure we’re not missing anything.

I had the scan on Friday 5th. Have been waiting for scan results for over a week now. Just hope the scan proves consultant right.