Discrepancy in size of tumor

I firmly believe that the mass that “disappeared “is going to show up on yet another scan. As long as it stays in a very small size range that is is the doctors and I all seem to be OK with continued active surveillance. If only other hand it starts to change size and or shape that’s a whole Nother matter. And I know that if I go through with surgery eventually, the odds are probably pretty good that the biopsy report is going to come back favorably but that doesn’t mean that it was a wasted surgery. My grandmother died of kidney cancer so my risk for that is a little bit higher. The fact that I already had breast cancer also makes it a little more likely although the original mass showed up about the same time the breast cancer did and that biopsy report on the kidney was negative. Well, the biopsy report on the breast cancer was highly positive. So it’s always a judgment. There is never a right or wrong answer . Everybody patients and doctors included do the best they can. I was happy that they shared with me the information that making the decision to have surgery or not have surgery, especially with a very small mass on a kidney is always totally a judgment. And it almost always would involve removing the entire kidney.

I hope you continue to do well with just monitoring the mass and, if it should "reappear," that it continues to remain small and poses no problem. Thanks for your input. Blessings.

I'm hoping that you will receive positive results from your provider. I'm having my own doubts about my recent CT scan which revealed a "mass" 2.1cm on one kidney. Six months later, it's measuring 2.6cm. My Dr. advised a partial nephrectomy. I asked about cryoablation instead and was told that due to the location of the "mass", cryo would not be advisable. I was desperately hoping for the less invasive option. I'm now awaiting a second opinion
from a Boston Surgeon who specializes in cryoablation. (Not even certain that it's cancerous).
Fingers crossed.

Anita B.

I haven't heard from my provider about the possibility that the mass had decreased in size between the CT scan in April (4.5 cm) and the biopsy in August (3.5 cm) and, since he's moving, I may not. From what I had read on various sites, a mass of less than 4 cm is usually benign and they just monitor it. I had no risk factors at all. but because of the size of the mass (based on the results of the CT scan), its location (right in the center of the kidney), and my doctor's recommendation, I agreed to the radical nephrectomy. I don't know about the accuracy of the tests or why there was a discrepancy between the tests in the size of the mass, but the doctor did a lapaoscopy in May and said the mass was larger than the CT scan had indicated. Think about getting a second opinion on the necessity of any action at this point. I wish you well.