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Just diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC): Treatment options?
I was just diagnosed yesterday with RCC. I'm devastated. My head is spinning. I'm waiting for my Dr to give me referrals to kidney RCC specialist so I can find out what my options are.
I've been looking at surgery to remove my whole kidney, surgery to remove just the tumor , cold ablation and heat ablation, laparoscopic surgery etc .
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@cobb 12 x 11 mm.
The tumor is not viable as the cold destroys all the blood vesells connected to it. It gradually decomposed.
@deebee41 ooh ok. So eventually it will basically shrivel up and go away ? Or shrivel up so small but stay on the kidney?
My RCC oncologist wants to do ablation on mine as long as the MRI results come back that it's a good candidate for ablation. I thought the ablation would kill it and destroy it ( make it go away once killed) a
Your doctor can answer these type of questions. This is all the inforation I have. My docs are not concerned about regrowth or recurrnce.
@mlpw :
I can understand how you are feeling devastated. My kidney cancer, and my lung cancer, were both found incidental to an MRI done for an enlarged prostate. I was also devastated, as well as dumbfounded. When I was able to take a deep breath, I realized that on some level I was grateful that these two disparate cancers were found early.
I had biopsies done of each tumor to determine if they were, in fact, malignant (which they were), and if they were from the same cancer or were separate and distinct tumors (which they were).
At the time I was 82, and did not wish to undergo any major surgeries. The thoracic oncologist told me that radiation will take care of the lung cancer, and the urologic oncologist said that radiation may take care of the kidney cancer.
I have chest CT scans every three months, and follow up with a Nurse Practitioner in the thoracic dept. The lung cancer has probably been stopped in it's tracks.
I have an MRI every six months with a follow up visit with the urologic oncologist following. The kidney cancer has not grown or metastasized. All of that said, I still sometimes feel that there is a guillotine above my neck, and it may drop at any time.
Why do I write all of this? To let you know that you are not alone. That cancer is scary, but it is not a dirty word. I'm confident that when you are over the initial shock of being told you have cancer, you will find it easier to deal with. You'll probably do some research about your type of cancer, and you will make a list of questions to ask the oncologist that you see. Share your thoughts and feelings with people you are close to and trust. You might be surprised at the understanding some folks have. Speak to a professional counselor when you need to. You will reach a point when you think, and feel, differently.
I would suggest that you take a trusted family member or close friend with you when you do visit the Onc Doc, as you may not be able to immediately process what you are being told, but your assistant is there to listen and learn as well.
@ronsale that may be the reason. My husband’s is 4.3cm. Thank you for letting me know.