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Scheduled for kidney surgery

Posted by mysupportmydr46 @mysupportmydr46, Nov 26, 2024

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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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Nov 30, 2024
In reply to @conniefg "It's an ok holiday. We're glad the bulky cancer is gone and his surgery was safe...." + (show)
@conniefg

It's an ok holiday. We're glad the bulky cancer is gone and his surgery was safe.

I wanted to give the person with biopsy concerns some insight that maybe their questionable complex mass could be papillary.

My husband has a left kidney only with some renal disease but it seems to be functioning well post surgery. His left kidney tumor is 1.8 cm. He will scan again in 3 months to see if the tumor has any change. If no, the plan is watchful waiting. At some point they will likely freeze it vs doing more surgery.

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@conniefg I believe @collegeprof had an freezing or ablation of a kidney tumor. Hoping he will check in with his experience, so you will be able to listen to that.
Ginger

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1 reply
conniefg | @conniefg | Nov 30, 2024
In reply to @gingerw "@conniefg I believe @collegeprof had an freezing or ablation of a kidney tumor. Hoping he will..." + (show)
@gingerw

@conniefg I believe @collegeprof had an freezing or ablation of a kidney tumor. Hoping he will check in with his experience, so you will be able to listen to that.
Ginger

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That would be great!

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collegeprof | @collegeprof | Dec 2, 2024

@mysupportmydr46 @gingerw
Sorry for the delayed response. I celebrated turkey days out of state.
Several years ago, I had a mass on my right kidney. My urologist sent me to an "interventional radiologist" for further study. It was cancerous and this radiologist performed a procedure called "cryoablation". This is a total outpatient procedure done in the hospital with no pain whatsoever. Basically, the radiologist freezes the mass where further growth is halted. Over a short period of time, the cyst or mass dissipates or desolves. For each of the next 5 years, you would get an annual Xray of the area to make sure that no further growth has taken place and the mass is completely dissolved.

For me, if surgery is needed by any 5 star doctor, I would always get a second opinion no matter what the age. I have seen trained surgeons practice their trade quite well, even when a less invasive alternative may be a viable solution.

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