Any experiences with Cryoablation for renal cell carcinoma (RCC)?

Posted by mb4414 @mb4414, Sep 18, 2022

New diagnosis of RCC and am considering Cryoablation. Does anyone have experience with this treatment?

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Hope all goes well. Tough problem to deal with. Healing wishes sent.

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@deebee41

Mine was on lower pole . If it is not too big ask the surgeon. On top of kidney is usually no go . Good luck and healing wishes sent !

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Thank you very much. One of my dad's lesions are in the upper pole which his dr said he would be able to remove but the other is pretty much in the center. They have gone from roughly 3 cm to now 6.2 (the largest). He only has one kidney so we were asked to see the dr. in 3 months. I was told his dr. doesn't really support cryoablation but given my dad's situation and the fact that he is 82, I'm trying to explore other options. I appreciate any information you share with me and wish you all well.

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Mine was on lower pole . If it is not too big ask the surgeon. On top of kidney is usually no go . Good luck and healing wishes sent !

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@daughterofpatient22

Hi,

Which dr. performed the cryo? Looking into this as an option for my dad.
Thank you.

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It was done at Scripps in La Jolla Ca. They have a program for interventional radiation which includes cryoablation. Dr Grusd performed the procedure. Mayo may have similar facilities.

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@deebee41

I had cryoablation done in March of this year. It was a 6 cm. spherical shaped mass on the lower lobe of left kidney. They wanted to do a full kidney removal but I asked for a 2nd opinion using cryo. They at first poo-pooed the idea but I finally got the consult and the cryo people said it could be done. The doctor said he had done similar sized tumors before so it was a go. Total procedure took about an hour using 4 probes. There was about 2 hour prep time ( injections etc. ) before and then just local anaethesia. Recovery time was spent lying down and taking short walks. They checked for blood in urine twice and was released 4 hours after the procedure

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Hi,

Which dr. performed the cryo? Looking into this as an option for my dad.
Thank you.

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@mb4414

Happy to post that 1 year post cryo-ablation MRI showed no lesion. Moving from every 3 to every 6 months follow ups. !

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Great news! What was the size of your lesions?

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Hi Everyone,
My dad has a kidney removed 20+ years ago. His remaining kidney has been checked and in 2007 they found two small lesions. His doctor wanted to watch it because he only has one kidney. For 17 years the lesions were stable. He was checked once a year. He went this past June and the two kidney lesions have nearly doubled in sized. The biggest is 6.5 cm. The doctor wants to see him now in 3 months. We are obviously very nervous. I set my dad up with a dietitian to try to eliminate foods that aren't good for his kidney and suggest foods that may help. His kidney function has dropped a bit but his primary dr thinks it may be not drinking enough water. His GFR went from 44 to 48 and now to 50 after him being mindful of his water intake. He is 83. I know dad isn't 50 but also know that his siblings are still living into their early and mid 90's and looking into options such as cryoblation, having the tumors removed, what made the tumors suddenly grow after not growing for 17 years (was it covid? covid shot? shingles shot? Something caused a sudden growth) and will it stay like this because I am hoping it does not continue to grow. While we are putting all of our trust into his dr, I am looking at other options and trying to leave no stone unturned. One tumor is close to the upper pole of his kidney but the other is closer to the center. Thank you.

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@mb4414

Happy to post that 1 year post cryo-ablation MRI showed no lesion. Moving from every 3 to every 6 months follow ups. !

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I wonder if this works for a tumor is in the center of the kidney?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @rx2rich, just checking in. How did your appointment go? What did you find out?

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Hi, on July 10th I have 2 cat scan with and without contrast because they didn't see the complete tumor. What they saw was at least 7.5cm. Then I have surgery aug 2 to remove tumor possibly part or all kidney. I choose to take the whole thing but he wants to save what he can.. we don't know if the cells have spread.. dr did say I have had it for a couple of years..and it explains alot of thing going on with me that I didn't think it was anything.. it is very uncomfortable.. tylenol doesn't seem to work.. kinda anxious to find everything thing out.. thank you guys for checking in... ill try to update as I find out..🧡

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@rx2rich

Hi ginger, I did get an appointment for wed June 19th yesterday afternoon.. they did say I need to get in as soon as possible so I took the appointment.. please keep chatting with me.. this is all new.... do they not have patient advocates to help this transition for new patients?

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Hi @rx2rich, just checking in. How did your appointment go? What did you find out?

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