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Scheduled for kidney surgery
I am new to this group. Thanks for all your experiences.
The following is reported on my personal health records.
(EXAM RESULTS 002318945 DICT/RENAL QUAD PHASE)
My left kidney has a: "Well defined 3.7 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm complex cyst arising from the medial lower pole of the left kidney."
IMPRESSION: or concluding notes.
"3.7 cm complex left lower pole renal, suspicious for renal cell carcinoma, stable from previous and minimally increased in size from 3.4 cm in August 2022. No new abnormality."
About me: I am 77 years old, active and otherwise fairly healthy at 5 ft 2 and 102 pounds.
My surgeon has 5 * ratings from many of his previous patients and I would like to trust his advice. He is recommending laparoscopic nephrectomy for me in January 2025.
I asked him if a biopsy could be done before the operation as I have read your experiences that many tumors are are found to be non cancerous after the operation. He did not recommend a biopsy because if the tumor is cancerous the cancer could possible spread.
I am thinking to wait and continue to monitor, if I knew the tumor was not cancerous.
Conclusion: I know many of you have similar experiences, and I am not asking for specific advice, just some thoughtful feed back.
Thank You, Fern
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Hello, my kidney cancer is 3.6 cm. I am 65 yrs old.
I am scheduled for surgery on Dec 12 to remove the cancer (about 10% of the right kidney). Initially, I asked my doctor to see if we can do the surgery in the spring as I would like to be in Florida during the winter months. He said no problem as the cancer is slow growing.
But, being a retired engineer, I was trained to gather as much info to find best solution to a problem. And also weigh the benefits of my decisions.
After analyzing the issues, even though he said it's slow growing, what if he is wrong? The only negative for me to have surgery sooner is I will be in cold weather for a couple of months, instead of being in Florida.
So, I decided to have surgery done sooner, rather than later.
In your case, I do not understand why your doctor would not recommend a biopsy (again, my background is engineering, more info is better). I had my biopsy at 9am and by 1pm I was home, with one day of rest.
So, I hope my comment will help you.
Good luck! This too shall pass.
@mysupportmydr46 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear you have a complex cyst that may require surgery.
From your post, it looks to be slow growing. If that is the case, perhaps you could seek a second opinion regarding a biopsy before surgery? I, too, had a complex cyst that was followed for a couple of years with ultrasounds and MRIs. It was decided that after starting dialysis [in Sept 2022] they would do a nephrectomy. Earlier in that year, however, after additional consultation, the surgeon told me that the cyst was not acting like a tumor or anything cancerous, and we elected to not follow through with that surgery. His information was as he reviewed diagnostic images, there was a difference in the blood flow that gave him pause.
I will be interested to hear what you decide, and please let us know if we may be able to answer any more questions?
Ginger
Hi Ginger
Thank you for your info.
I have not yet decided what to do. But will post later when I and family, and more research can make a decision.
Fern
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1 ReactionThat helps a lot!
So your biopsy result proved cancerous, that is what I want to find out as well.
Did you have a radical nephrectomy or a partial?
Did you have an open operation or laparoscopic?
Sounds like I know what I'm talking about, but I am only learning through this chap room
Thank you Fern
Hi Fern
I will have a partial nephrectomy, Urologist said he will remove the cancer, which is 10% of kidney. My surgery is scheduled for Dec 12 (in 2 weeks).
I am not sure regarding open op or laparoscopic surgery. He did not used those words in our last discussion.