Kidney cancer patients: Let's connect and introduce yourself

Welcome, @drmarci. I agree with @sav1 to stay hydrated and physically active as you prepare for treatment. You may also be interested in joining these related discussions about urothelial cancer:

- Urothelial adenocarcinoma
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/urothelial-adenocarcinoma/

- Diagnosed with High-Grade Urothelial Cell Carcinoma - ANYONE?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diagnosed-with-high-grade-urothelial-cell-carcinoma-anyone/

I'm sure you have loads of questions looping through your mind as you wait for your treatment planning appointment. I suggest keeping pen and paper (or phone) handy and jotting them down. Naturally, keep asking questions here. There are others here who have been in your shoes.

When will you find out about the treatment you'll be getting?

Counting the days. Unless something changes I will have radical nephrectomy for RCC on January 12. I have been working out 4-5 days a week, but I have been an “exerciser” my entire adult life. If you are new to exercise than begin slowly. Do not overdo any exercise. I do not worry for myself. If something were to happen to me I will not even know. However, I worry constantly about my family and their future. Blessings.

Tomorrow afternoon 12/19

How are you doing, @drmarci? I know you probably received a lot of information at your appointment. How are you feeling about the treatment plan?

Having my port placed tomorrow, Echo next week, chemo begins Jan. 3 and 4. 12 weeks of chemo, 1 month off, then surgery. This will be followed by one year of immune therapy. I think there is way more I don't know. Don't know anything nutritionally yet. Best news for stage IV is "curative intent". I just hope I'm as tough as I think I am!

I had my kidney removed (stage 3 cancer) June 2017, and have had no problems with one kidney since. Subsequent immunotherapy has shrunk the post surgery "spots" that popped up in the lungs, then the spleen and pancreas and is now almost all gone (although I believe that cancer is never "all gone". Good Luck in whatever you decide...

Hi! I take a chemo drug daily and immunotherapy every 4 weeks. Did you ever take chemo drug? Do you still have immunotherapy? If not, how long did you and when did you stop?

YOUVE GOT THIS ! ! Praying for strength and healing !

I take Cabometryx every night and receive an Opdivo infusion once a month at Cleveland Clinic. Other than that, my life is just the same as before.
There are a few side effects (relatively minor), but none that would dissuade me continuing the treatment. Normally doctors limit Opdivo to 2 years due to concerns about the possibility of side-effects, but I convinced them that we should continue the same treatments, as they were working...
It is important to have doctors whom you trust and will listen to your desires for treatment - It is your body!
Good Luck....

I take a Cabometryx tablet every evening and have an Opdivo infusion each month. No chemo drug treatment, just this immunotherapy that I have taken for the last 2 1/2 years (I had some problems from the surgery itself that delayed starting any real cancer treatment).