There’s a lady on here who has just had the same op. [@caggie60]‍   

Hopefully she might drop by for a chat. She’s just over a week post surgery so might already be asleep!

Thank you so much for tagging her hopefully she’s getting some rest and when she recovers we shall be able to discuss xx

Hi Dannii,

Sorry to hear what's happening to you. I was looking for kidney cancer info and stumbled across this forum. I've never posted anything on here before but I saw your message and felt I might be able to offer some advice.

On the 8th Jan this year I found myself in hospital being told I had a large tumour on my left kidney and on the 31st Jan I was on the operating table having a laporascopic radical nephrectomy (think that's how you spell it) or in simple terms, they whipped out my kidney.

Like yourself I was very worried about the op. I looked online and found advice on what to expect and that helped but I have to confess I was still worried and maybe a little frightened as they prepped me for the operation. I just tried to think positive thoughts like "The sooner they operate the sooner I get rid of this nasty thing that's trying to kill me" and I reassured myself that I was in good hands with the people looking after me having performed this procedure hundreds of times before.

I came round after the op and I was pretty sore but the painkillers took care of things. The next 24hrs weren't great but it quickly got better once the catheter was removed and I was able to start moving around. My op was on a Wednesday and they let me go home on the Saturday. I propped myself up in bed at home but I had no problems getting up and going to the bathroom etc when needed. One week after surgery I was able to take my daughter to an appointment 10 miles away from home. Less than 3 weeks after surgery I was back at work.

I hope this helps and I wish you the very best of luck for next week. 

Rich.

Hey there,

My long time hairdresser had a kidney removed due to cancer. She took about three months off work - her son ran the business in the meantime. Otherwise, she may have returned much sooner. She went part time on return, and recently retired aged 67. I thought she was about 58! Honestly, she was off on adventurous foreign holidays three or four times a year, amazing stamina, trips to shows in London. I should have been a hairdresser.

On another point, I ran into non-cancer health problems when my kids were young and about to start school summer holidays. I declined hospital admission because I didn't want to spoil things for them. Big mistake. 

Look after yourself. Everything else will fall into place.

Regards, gamechanger

Thank you soo much RLS for your reply and advice! 

I dont think I’ve actually stopped and thought about what cancer is? I read your reply and it struck me to the core when you said “get rid of this nasty thing that is trying to kill me” ................ wow 

I suppose the unknown is a very scary place but with stories from people here I can start to feel safe and reassured that it’s gonna be ok and that it’s not a ‘radical’ as it may sound 

xx

Thank you Gamechanger for your reply!

hopefully I can see the bright side of the recovery process and begin to live my life with my children! 

It is something I’m not starting to think about 

xx

Cancer can kill, so can being hit by a bus. The effect both can have on you is life changing. 

Hello there, I’m so sorry it looks like you are joining this club. No one wants to be here but you will feel very supported I hope by the brilliant people who have certainly helped me through some of the difficult bits. You can read about me from my various posts but here’s some stuff that might be helpful. 

My tumour (on right kidney) was 14cms. I had a radical nephrectomy 2 weeks ago today. Despite its size my surgeon removed it by keyhole surgery which meant less pain and quicker recovery. It looks like you are still waiting for a date for your op. Once I had a date I felt a lot better about it all.they removed the whole kidney but I’ve been assured that just one kidney is all we need. I got out of hospital in three days. I still don’t have the histology results so don’t actually know whether or not it was cancer but from the scan the surgeon was sure it hadn’t spread so I’m not overly anxious most of the time. Would be nice to know though. 

The worst part for me of healing has not been the pain but some intense nausea which only started up a week after I came home and now comes and goes. Most likely this is because some of my blood levels are not what they should be. No one seems very worried but I am having to have blood tests every couple of days. Hopefully this won’t happen to you but if it does, don’t panic ( I did) as it’s quite common. They tell you it’s a big op and its going to take you a while to feel better but I’m only now understanding that this is true!,So do rest as much as you can.  They also said that a tumour this big means other organs especially the liver, have been displaced and after the op the organs move themselves back which does feel a bit weird.

Wherabouts in the country are you? My hospital is in Ipswich and everyone and I mean everyone has been brilliant. You shouldn’t have just been given a guide to cancer without someone talking to you first? Do you have a Macmillan nurse you can call with any questions or anxieties? I was introduced to a lovely lady when I met with my surgeon and she has been great  

One last thing - and this is for everyone. People say “don’t research on the internet”  but if course lots of us do. I sent myself into complete meltdown reading something which I later realised was completely irrelevant to my situation  so please please be very careful what you read  

if you want to chat I’m there for you. I’m sending you a big hug and I would love to hear how you progress.  Caroline  

Hi Danii, I did respond to you May 25th - it's in the thread. How are you doing? I've been thinking about you. I got the histology result back last week and my tumour was benign. They thought it was cancer because of its size but there you go, it wasnt. I feel like the luckiest woman on earth and I'm almost fully recovered from the op. It will be four weeks on Friday since the op and this week I have started work, from home and part time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get the same good result. 

Hey [@caggie60]‍ 

sorry i I am only replying back to you know as I am just about feeling a little normal!

surgery didn’t go as planned the began with the robotic laparoscopic procedure and something went wrong they nicked a vessel of some sort so they had to open me up fully so as well as my 3 small scars I’ve now a big one running from under my chest right round to my back.  Also I had a few post of complications whilst in hospital (internal bleed and infection at site of big scar).

thought that was it over with until they told me they’ve found a secondary cancer of the lymph nodes and also melanoma so I’m due back for more tests on 29th of June alough I am nowhere near fully healed so I’m kind of dreading these test I know it’s for the greater good! 

That is amazing news regarding your results I am sure you are the happiest person alive right now and you should be! Congratulations I’m so happy for you 

Thanks for reaching out i apologise that that I didn’t not reply any sooner!