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Small indeterminate kidney lesion - Very Nervous

Posted by am1974 @am1974, Nov 14, 2023

Hello All: I am new here. Just had Abdominal CT Sscan due to right side cramp/discomfort and it found a 11mm indeterminate lesion on right kidney. I am in the process of getting an MRI as recommended by the reading radiologist. I am very nervous and just wanted to know your thoughts or any helpful guidance or insight. Thank you so much in advance.

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abbigail89 | @abbigail89 | 6 days ago
In reply to @pattymltn "@abbigail89 I can relate to your frustration. Blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI and a tentative diagnosis of..." + (show)
Profile picture for pattymltn @pattymltn

@abbigail89 I can relate to your frustration. Blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI and a tentative diagnosis of renal carcinoma ( 3 cm lesion on right kidney). All within 2 weeks. One thing I have learned is that kidney cancer is relatively slow growing. I saw the lesion on the MRI report but it was impossible to determine the size and extension of the tumor. My GP was able to read it and said it most likely cancer. After repeated calling to surgeons office I now have an appointment 2 weeks from now just to talk about the testing results. My feeling is that I just want it out but waiting for the best doc to do the surgery will have to take precendence. Very hard to wait.

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@pattymltn that’s the crazy part the amount of waiting that is done. I’ve been waiting 6 months I’ve had the tests done. Been told
Many different things. Drs don’t like to help anymore. They don’t even care to learn your name either. Well I hope everything goes good for you.

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abbigail89 | @abbigail89 | 6 days ago
In reply to @jakefix82 "I’m 77 and developed left flank pain about 3 months ago. I still have the pain...." + (show)
Profile picture for jakefix82 @jakefix82

I’m 77 and developed left flank pain about 3 months ago. I still have the pain. Two weeks after the pain started, I developed a uti, my second one in as many years. The first UTI was preceded with left hip muscles clenching - took months for muscle to loosen up/heal. I suspect there’s a nerve pathway in the gut area that sets muscles off when infection is first detected - I have fibromyalgia, so nerves are super-sensitive to pain. The UTI cleared with antibiotics. Never ran a fever.

I had a CT for the left flank pain and it was ruled musculoskeletal - but an incidental finding was a 14mm kidney lesion. I’ve seen a urologist & am getting more imaging this week to determine if it’s a benign cyst or solid tumor.

The lesion is located in one of those vessels that drains urine to the bladder. The urologist does not think a needle biopsy or surgery is recommended if it’s a tumor, just active imaging surveillance. He believes its location is tricky in terms of quality of life outcomes to have surgery or biopsy. They grow slowly and someone my age, I guess they think something else might get me first. He’s also concerned about complications at my age, like slow-to-heal infection, with any treatment of it.

I can’t help but wonder if my very sensitive nerves are able to detect the small cyst and causing muscle tension in that area.

BTW, I’m getting a different type of CT scan this week, not an MRI.

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@jakefix82 it’s still scary though and you can’t help but worry about it. I hope everything goes okay and at least something can be done for you. To get some kind of relief,

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abbigail89 | @abbigail89 | 6 days ago
In reply to @susanris "Ask your doctor what would they tell their family member to do- sit and wait is..." + (show)
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Ask your doctor what would they tell their family member to do- sit and wait is not treatment! Did you get a referral to a kidney specialist? If your insurance permits, schedule it yourself snd bring that film with you!!

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@susanris that’s what I was going to ask at my next appointment. To see how they would like to sit around and wait when it comes to their health. I am also making an appointment with a different doctor out of my state. Since I’ve noticed Michigan health care is horrible.

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abbigail89 | @abbigail89 | 6 days ago
In reply to @susanris "@abbigail89 Do not stop advocating for yourself and contacting a kidney specialist!" + (show)
Profile picture for susanris @susanris

@abbigail89 Do not stop advocating for yourself and contacting a kidney specialist!

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@susanris that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to go out of my state to find a doctor. Seems like you’ll get better treatment out of Michigan and find an actual caring provider.

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susanris | @susanris | 6 days ago
In reply to @abbigail89 "@susanris that’s what I was going to ask at my next appointment. To see how they..." + (show)
Profile picture for abbigail89 @abbigail89

@susanris that’s what I was going to ask at my next appointment. To see how they would like to sit around and wait when it comes to their health. I am also making an appointment with a different doctor out of my state. Since I’ve noticed Michigan health care is horrible.

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@abbigail89 you go take care if you!!

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jakefix82 | @jakefix82 | 6 days ago

I’m 77, have had left flank pain since April 1. After 2 weeks, I had very slight chills, intense itching. Diagnosed with UTI, cleared up after a week on Cipro. Flank pain continued, so went to ER one weekend because it was throbbing pain. I’d decided it felt better and I went out shopping that day. Feels like the muscles in that area just get tired and inflamed.

CT determined flank pain is muscular skeletal and an incidental finding was 14mm kidney lesion. Flank pain continues…off to urologist and just had another scan yesterday - don’t get results for another 2 weeks.

Have been told yesterday’s scan will determine if it’s a fluid filled, benign cyst (fingers crossed) or very slow-growing solid tumor. Because of where it is, right in an area that drains urine into the bladder, the urologist recommended active surveillance ( imaging it regularly to check its size).

I have fibro, so nerves are hyper-sensitive to pain. Next question to dr will be about the continued flank pain. I’ve had to stop exercising because movement aggravates the pain. I can no longer take anti-inflammatory meds (I had an internal bleeding while on daily baby aspirin a few years ago), so trying to do mild walking. That’s tricky with none on bone knee OA and being overweight. Muscle pain in the flank area, seems to trigger a chain reaction - clenching of my hip muscles. Sometimes it’s my shoulder, my leg (knee OA). I have a curved lower spine, lower compressed disks, so I’m thinking there’s a cascade of issues that could all contribute to the flank irritation. Plus, Cipro could be causing muscle tightness in leg, hip, shoulder - that’s a side effect risk for months after completing it.

Because of my age, dr will not consider surgery or a needle biopsy if it’s a tumor because the risks of infection and age-related slower healing might give me a worse quality of life. I think they figure something else might get me before this lesion will.

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susanris | @susanris | 6 days ago

My son, praise God, just had his first scans with no metastasis's after Keytruda for a year following removal of a large cancer in his right kidney and draping down into his renal vein, removal of adrenal, ureter and fat around kidney with clear margins in January 2025. He had a surgical team in Boston at Brigham & women's hospital which included a vascular surgeon and you are smart to find the best experienced surgeon you can!

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