← Return to Kidney cancer patients: Let's connect and introduce yourself

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@dougr19

Thank you so much. It is comforting to know someone is watching and listening. I have an MR I tonight. I have not had a biopsy yet. So they know I have a mass, but do not know if it has spread or even know what kind of pathology it actually is. Cancerous or not. Did you have biopsy before surgery? Appreciate so much your reply. Blessings.

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Replies to "Thank you so much. It is comforting to know someone is watching and listening. I have..."

Actually I did not have an biopsy before surgery. The tumor was encroaching on my kidney and reducing its function... have they done kidney function blood and urine tests? Those are important to monitor.
so whether benign or positive... tumor needed to go. For me it was why go thru another procedure , that has its own risks, when it needs to be removed anyway to save my kidney. So I opted not to. I actually had two ... one on each kidney, so had two surgeries 90 days apart.
MRIs are relatively easy procedures... possibly with an IV, roll you into a tunnel , and you hear lots of loud, very loud, rhythmic knocking noises. Key is to find a comfortable position at start and do your best to not move for the most accurate views and shortest time. I always get a pillow under my knees cause it is about 45 min . Sometimes they do no contrast first, then they add the contrast and it's another 20 or 30 minutes . Again, key is no movement . Drink lots of water afterwards to flush the contrast medium out.
Take someone with you to drive home, just in case you feel odd.
Also always take someone with you to appts to take notes for you. Write down you questions before you go... as they come to your mind. You'll have a lot. For me if a Dr seems reluctant to answer my questions when we have big decisions to make , I get another Dr. I need to be active in my own care.