Renal Cell Carcinoma: Whar are long term effects of losing a kidney?

Posted by Traci M @tmoore83, Dec 28, 2024

Hi, I just joined connect and this is my first post. I was recently diagnosed with a Bosniak Renal Cell Mass. I was told by my Dr here in Oregon that due to the location of the mass, it was inoperable and he also ruled out Ablation. He wanted to take a wait and see approach. Well I’m not one to wait for it to grow so I can see it metastasize. Thankfully I was accepted here at Mayo in AZ and within a week I was able to be seen. My surgeon told me that he will attempt to remove it and do a partial Nephrectomy, however depending on bleeding, he may have to do a Radical Nephrectomy. He won’t know until he gets in there. I was also told that they have also discovered multiple tumors that appear to be benign yet have some characteristics of the Bosniak mass. This all feels overwhelming. I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons of just opting for a radical Nephrectomy and being done with it. Has anyone dealt with this sort of thing and were there long term effects of losing a kidney?

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bettychamb | @bettychamb | May 30 10:40am

I go to MAYO in Phoenix and I’m facing a radical robotic nephrectomy July 28th. Want to talk? I live here, do you?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 12 5:45pm

In reply to @bettychamb "I go to MAYO in Phoenix and I’m facing a radical robotic nephrectomy July 28th. Want..." + (show)

Hi @bettychamb, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I bet you have a lot of thoughts racing through your mind as you prepare for surgery later in July. You're in good hands at Mayo.

Do you have any questions you'd like to ask others who have had a radical robotic nephrectomy?

susanris | @susanris | Jun 13 7:36am

I had a radical nephrectomy in 1964 at age 18. I am 80 now. I have had 2 children and several surgical procedures-fusions etc. my remaining kidney is larger and my blood work for kidney function is great! There is a full life after you lose one kidney. I hope this helps you to know you can do well!

skypilot77 | @skypilot77 | Jun 14 8:43am

I had a Rt Nephrectomy in Jan 1998. Stage IV. It was a “fist-sized” tumor sitting on my Rt kidney. The silver lining was the fact that the tumor was fully incapsulated and not metasticized. I caught it early through my annual FAA flying physical and microscopic traces of blood in my urine. I did not experience any charactistic symptoms (flank pain, fatigue, malaise, etc). Only surprise during surgery was that tumor was also growing in a part of my vena cava which required the expertise of a vascular surgeon who performed some reweaving magic. Been cancer free ever since due specifically to early warning signs (microscopic traces of blood in urine)!