Kidney Cancer

[janelle]

Well, This was my 3rd visit to the Doctors and it was a Specialist and he said it probably is cancer and he does not do Biopsy's. They consider it cancer until they send it to the pathologist. He will be doing Laproscoptic on part of my kidney. The tumor on my right kidney is 1 cm . I worried how the surgery will go and also the recovery. Anyone had this done? Could you give some information.


Janelle

[gborin]

I can only relate my experience. At 59 I had the removal of my kidney and a 2.6 cm tumor laproscopicaly. After surgery felt in total pain for 1 day. Got up and took short walks attached to an iv on day 2. Discharged on day 3 in pain. Surgeon wrote in his discharge report that I was discharged without pain. I do not know what he was on when he wrote that. Seven to 10 days on the couch. Very little walking, no lifting. Took vicodin for pain. Nobody told me Vicotin makes you constipated. Being constipated 1 week after surgery was the most painful thing I can remenber. In hindsight should have taken less vicotin. Started driving and going to work after 2 weeks. Could only function well for a 5 or 6 hours a day without rest. Went to a wedding 30 days after and could not do any dancing except for slow dances. Back to work full time after 30 days. Six weeks after Surgery flew from Michigan to Seattle to see family. Did trail down to bottom of Sequamie Falls and back up. About 500 foot elevation change each way (this is when I really felt back to normal). Following Summer went to Club Med in Florida with wife, children (2 so far) their spouses and 5 grandchildren for my 60th birthday. Waterskied for 10 or 15 minutes without falling and dropped a ski at the end ( had not waterskied for some 20 years prior to that.) Took a trapeze lesson but found that a little too strenuous. I will be 65 in 3 months and just applied for Medicare. I intend to go parasailing next winter in the Carribean when my wife is not looking. Only did that once in Lake Tahoe about 25 years ago. Plan on slowing down when I get in my late 70s.. In other words plan on living a normal life and doing everthing I did before the surgery and then some. As a Survivor I also participate in 1 or 2 Cancer walks each year,