Still worried :(

[Marz822]

I had my left kidney removed in July 2016 I have Stage 3 kidney cancer. I know I should be happy about 3 years , but I am worried still it will be back. I have been told I can go once a year now for scans versus every three months now. I am worried that is too long in between and they won't catch something earlier. Does anybody feel this way? It still has me worried.

[Ncrosby]

Have you shared your concerns about the scan frequency change with your Dr.? Perhaps you two could settle on every 6 months? Without knowing the stage or extent of the disease I don’t want to engage in should or shouldn’t. But I will share this advice : do everything you can to really engage in life everyday there will always be time enough to worry. I spent years seeking treatments and immersed in the disease when I could have made that time special. Now I’m limited in what I can do and can’t get that time back. Be prudent but be free of it while you can be.

[Dolhill]

I have the cancer coming back in my lymph nodes so my advice to you is get a nefrologist or oncologist to watch your case. Dont depend on a urologist. Mine ordered scans way too far out.

[greg1976]

Yes, I totally agree with Dolhill. I had my kidney removed and was stage III but asked for a referral to an Oncologist. The Urologist advised me that they were trained in Oncology but he happily referred me upon my request. You have to be your own advocate and do what is best for you.

[Dolhill]

Update!! Have 2 enlarged nodes in the para cavity where they removed the kidney. Current urologist said let's watch for 3 mos. Made apt with MDAnderson and he said papillary clear cell goes to the lymph gland and scheduled surgery 1 week away to remove lymph nodes involvedved. See the difference. So glad I made that big trip. He said he can cure me.

[Mafaldaaa]

Hello! My kidney cancer is in stage IV. I had a left partial nephrectomy because I had 4 tumors, one 9 cm and the other 6 cm; Then they performed another right partial nephrectomy of 4 small tumors and removed the right suprarenal. The two treatments that I did have not worked, in addition the most "important" metastasis is in the psoas muscle, where last year I underwent surgery and metastasized again.

This year I went to my gynecological controls and oh surprise! Breast cancer taken on time, I had surgery 3 weeks ago but if that was not enough, on Monday they must go back to perform surgery.

My advice, live and be happy! I work and I try to live a normal life, what I like is to travel so I live like a monk all year round to go on vacation to Europe or to travel through my country. I'm not married, I do not have children, I do not have anything ... I just want to keep traveling.

Do not worry, get busy if you have to do it.

Luck!!