Connect
← Return to Stage 3a ccRCC - Keytruda or Surveillance?
Discussion
Stage 3a ccRCC - Keytruda or Surveillance?
Kidney Cancer | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (3)Comment receiving replies
WOW! This sounds so familiar! My surgeon insisted it was Stage 1- easy-peasy- simply remove then nothing further. Wrong! It ended up being a Stage 3, which he didn’t tell me til 3 days after surgery. Went for 2-wk follow-up, and he said “see you in 6 months”. So I called the American Cancer Society, and found out enough to know we had a problem. Let’s just say that after talking with them, I connected with an oncologist at WVU Hospital in Morgantown, WV. I am just over half-way through my Keytruda treatments, and have continued to work full-time, plus a side job, and continue most of my regular activities. Although I get tired easier, basically I’m doing well and feel confident that I made the right choice. There have been some side-affects, but nothing major. I’m so glad I took the initiative to seek further treatment because the surgeon did not check anything, just removed the kidney, and left some cancer in there. This would be quite a different journey if I had not done my own research. Follow your gut, and remember that you are your own best advocate. I will keep you in my prayers. Robin
Replies to "WOW! This sounds so familiar! My surgeon insisted it was Stage 1- easy-peasy- simply remove then..."
Connect
Wow, I thought it was just my situation like that! My path report listed my tumor as pT1b based on size (6.1cm), but didn’t take into account the fact that it extended into the peripheries space and renal sinus. I looked up what that meant, and found out that made it pT3a. I called my surgeon, and she agreed the path report didn’t make sense due to conflicting info. She told me she would contact the pathologist for clarification. After a couple of days, I called the pathologist and left a voice mail. He called me back the same day and said he amended the report, and that the correct diagnosis was pT3a. Said the templates they use are electronic and they just click on the boxes with the results of each variable, and the report is supposed to be automatically generated. After the amended path report was posted, then I got the referral to an oncologist. I’m not even scheduled for a follow up with my surgeon until 2/3, 5 weeks after my surgery. Oncologist visit isn’t until 2/10.
However, a friend of a friend was able to get me in to see the head Kidney oncologist at Duke on 1/29, so I will see someone very highly regarded who specializes in renal cancer oncology. And that’s almost two weeks before the local guy I was referred to could see me. I’m basically getting my 2nd opinion first.
May I ask what jobs you do? As a dentist who works with a mask on pretty much all day, nausea would not be conducive to working for me. Someone recommended of if I go with Keytruda, try a cycle or two and see what side effects I get before committing to full time back to work.
Appreciate your reply!! Continued good luck in your journey.