Kidney tumors in remaining kidney: What are our options?

I am also 82, and the tumor in one of my kidneys was diagnosed as being high grade cancer; that was in April of last year, and for now I have opted out of surgery and am instead on my fourth of eighteen infusions of Keytruda. I also completed this week the last of five high dose radiation treatments mainly to control the bleeding and clots from the tumor.

If you don't mind me asking, how large is the tumor? What is the risk of just active surveillance? I would obviously just like my dad to just keep watching it but concerned if it keeps growing. Does the infusion or radiation shrink the tumor at all? What does your doctor suggest?

Hi @daughterofpatient22, I'm mentioning @ronsale so that he sees your follow-up questions.

@daughterofpatient22, has targeted therapy or radiation been ruled out as a possibility for your dad? Has he considered getting a second opinion?

Sorry, we have not asked about that yet but we are looking for second opinions. Any suggestions on drs at mayoclinic? The tumors are both before 7cm.

@daughterofpatient22, if getting a second opinion at Mayo Clinic is an option, here is how to get started with the request http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

How are you doing?

I just had a CT scan done this week, and it shows that after the five high radiation treatments to control bleeding and my continuing of Keytruda immunotherapy there has been no spread of the cancer. In addition, the tumor has shrunk in size, and I have experienced no bleeding or clots for the past 30 days which was shortly after the full series of high dose radiation treatments to stop bleeding. I have opted out of nephrectomy of the kidney that the tumor is in, which has been 15 months since diagnosis of the cancer and recommendation for surgery. Because of my age of 82 I did not want to go through the rigors of surgery. Since I had iron infusion in June and the bleeding from the tumor has been controlled I feel much better and have regained my strength. I had my fifth infusion of Keytruda today on my way to a total of 18, and so far side effects have been quite mild. For me even though treatment is palliative, I am thankful it allows me to enjoy whatever time I have left.

@ronsale, I appreciate this update and the details of your treatment decision-making. Surgery is no walk in the park. What great news that the CT scan showed that the bleeding has stopped and cancer has not only not spread, but the tumor has shrunk.

You mention that the treatment is palliative. Are you in the care of a palliative team?

I guess that you could say it's a palliative team. The oncologist who directed my high dose radiation treatment told me that the treatment was to stop the gross hematuria I was having, which it has, and that it might slow tumor growth, but it was not a cure but palliative treatment. The other oncologist who is directing the 18 treatments of Keytruda infusion also said that the immunotherapy is not designed to cure but to control the cancer so that I can live a normal life; he is quite clear it is palliative. But so far I am holding my own and enjoying my life with minimal side effects. I am also being monitored by a urologist who is pleased with my current health, although he is clear that surgery is the gold standard of treatment.

I'm glad to hear this! Would you mind sharing the size of the tumors? My dads are 6.2 and another is a bit smaller. I'm wondering if this would help. His surgeon doesn't seem to support radiation but wondering if we need to explore other options. Thank you.

Thank you so much Colleen.