Kidney cancer patients: Let's connect and introduce yourself

Hello, All.
I'm Michael, a 83 YO man with stage I kidney cancer, It was found about 18 months ago incidental to a bladder retention problem which necessitated a CT. Also found was a small tumor on my right lung. The kidney was treated with a short course of radiation this past May, but has continued to grow, albeit very little. The lung tumor was treated with radiation in October, and a follow up CT will be done in March. The Thoracic Oncologist believes the lung will have been cured.
I should mention that I do not desire to have any major surgery, especially at this age. Also of not; I have chronic kidney failure of long standing, possibly caused by overuse of Ibuprofen. The CKF is stage III, and well controlled. My Type II Diabetes is also well controlled without any meds, and an A1C that has been around 6.4
The Radiation Oncologist has resumed following me for the kidney mass. This after discussions with a surgeon I saw last year, and the GenitoUrinary Oncologist I have been seeing lately. The GU Doc suggested a course of Chemo, and frankly the side effects were off-putting, so I was delighted when the RadOnc called to tell me that she would like to follow me, as the tumor is very slowly growing, and her thinking is a follow-up MRI in six months.
I had been very anxious and upset about having two different, and primary cancers. She put me at ease about my kidney tumor, and I'm hoping the small lung tumor is taken care of.
Thanks for reading this. It is important for me to know that there are so many more out there with similar diagnoses.

At 82, being about your age and having low dose treatment for prostate cancer a couple years ago and now being treated for kidney cancer with Keytruda and having had high dose radiation to stop bleeding from malignant kidney lesion six months ago which was successful, I can relate to you. I also opted out of surgery for Kidney because of my age. I take it a day at a time and am in the process of deciding whether to continue with the immunotherapy because of severe skin rash. There are many of us going through a difficult time battling cancer.

Thanks for your comments. Getting old seems to have a few drawbacks for some of us. We travel on and take each day as it comes. You are a inspiration. Please, keep on keeping on.

Hello All....I'm 63 yrs old and had kidney cancer when I was in my early 30's. Kidney was removed, cancer was all contained....no radiation or chemo after. I was Blessed for 25yrs (cancer free). It metastasized in my maxilla bone in late 2022, I had chemo until it proved to be not working. In April 2024, I had my maxilla bone (left side) removed, cyst removed, plastic surgery to reconstruct that side of my face (free flap construction with muscle, skin, vein and artery from right leg). Been a long haul, but the end of the tunnel is here. Still have numbness on left side of face, nerve damage (droop of lips), numb lips...but no cancer there. In a couple weeks, another Pet scan to make sure, Again, it hasn't gone anywhere else. Counting my Blessings every day. God Bless to All that have this horrible disease....

You are a very strong person to share your journey.
This too shall pass.

I have just been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic Kidney Cancer. Still trying to process this. Any feedback on how to manage the anxiety of it all.

Awaiting input from Specialist to find out next steps.

Any feedback would be great.

That is a very difficult question to answer. Each of us who are facing this scourge of mankind is in a unique situation. I am in my second struggle against cancer in three years: the first being radiation treatment for prostate cancer which ended in February of 2022 and my current treatment for kidney cancer which is Keytruda immunotherapy which started several months ago and continues with 9more treatments to go for a total of 18. Because of my age, 82, I have opted out of surgery. I cannot really advise any one person on how to handle the anxiety other than to say that once I got over the shock of each of these diagnoses I decided to take one day at a time and enjoy each day that I am allowed and to just do the everyday tasks at hand without dwelling on my illness. Knowing that there are many of us dealing with the same illness also helps in that I am not alone in this journey. My current treatment is palliative and not curative, but by not dwelling on the illness and remaining positive and enjoying each day and being thankful for that day I am dealing with any anxiety I may have.

I SO remember the day I was told I had cancer. I completely fell apart in the drs ofc at Mayo. My husband was w me and has been a saint thru it all.
I can only tell you how I'm dealing w this scourge. Though I had surgery and the tumors were successfully removed, it's 3 weeks til I go back to make sure the cancer's still gone, and apprehension is building; fear of the unknown, and the waiting, are the worst. To fight it, my motto is, 'Today is the only day"& try to daily buy off on that. I try to keep busy. And i've surrounded myself with lots of moral support of family & friends. I try to not get annoyed when well-meaning people give me advice that sours me..they aren't walking in my shoes, and don't truly know the true angst we are in. Each of us has to figure out how to daily deal emotionally w this beast, so all I can do is the same @ronsale has done and tell u how I'm handling it. Sending hugs and very best wishes to you!

Also anxiety of now going to deal w the tumor on my right carotid artery; like I said, fear of the unknown and the waiting is the worst.

@siobhain Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Good for you to see you reached out here! You have had a couple of awesome responses from @ronsale and @gangcarotid1

While I do not have renal cancer, I am an end-stage renal patient, on daily dialysis, and also a blood cancer patient, under treatment. The anxiety is definitely real. Take each day as it comes, live your life as fully as you can, include your medical team in your considerations, take to heart the support we can offer you here.
Ginger