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Kidney cancer patients: Let's connect and introduce yourself
Kidney Cancer | Last Active: Jul 20 9:57am | Replies (240)Comment receiving replies
Kidney cancer is the crazy aunt of cancer. It apparently manifests in weird and unusual ways. Mine chewed through my right humerus. April 2020 - right at the start of Covid. I got my arm "rodded" and radiated. They started me on Keytruda. I had a reaction and got pneumonitis after a few weeks and had to go to the emergency room at the height of covid. Fun! I was put on Cabometyx - we dinked around with dosages - I tolerate a 40 mg dose, which I still take. After the vaccine came out - I got immunized and then had my cancerous left kidney removed in May 2021. It was a laproscopic procedure, but I have to be honest - I felt like I had been scooped out with an ice cream scooper. After my recovery my routine became: Cabometyx 40 mg every day / monthly blood draws and a shot of Xchiva. I get stuck in the tube for a bone and CAT scan every 6 month. The last scan (6/23) showed some inactive tumors on my arm, but I it wasn't bad news, I just got scanned again the day after Christmas. I get the results on Friday. The thing about cancer that people don't get is the overhanging dread all the time waiting for the results. I work full time and it helps to keep my mind off my predicament. But when I get some down time the negative thoughts start going. I hope my story helps somebody. I would love to hear from other folks. Misery loves company.
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@khunnewell, waiting for results is dreadful. But I believe you've got the results of your latest scans now. What did you learn? What are next steps for you?
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Thanks for the information. I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in April of last year. The doctor said that I needed a radical nephrectomy of the effected kidney. Since I am 81 soon to be 82, I have not had it done because at my age I don't know if I would survive and how severe the recovery would be. The urologist referred me to an oncologist who wants to put me on Keytruda. I still have not decided because it seems that Keytruda can have some bad side effects. My last CT scan last September showed that the cancer has not spread, but it did show small nodules in the lungs which urologist was not concerned about. Next scan is in three weeks. I struggle with what is the best course to take at my age; I feel good now and take it a day at a time. I enjoy walking every day and am able to do all of the normal tasks to be done, and at my age I don't know if I could take long recovery time and bad side effects when I don't a lot of years left. It's the most difficult decision of my life. I should also say that this is my second round dealing with cancer; I had 42 radiation treatments for prostate cancer that ended in early 2022.