Diagnosing...Staging...Grading...Treating.

I saw Dr Huerter at Lawrence Oncology Center today.  He had the final report from pathology and my official diagnosis. 

My diagnosis is stage II, grade III Renal Cell Carcinoma

Dr Klingler told me on the phone Wednesday, and Dr Huerter repeated today, that they are quite confident that the cancer was confined to my left kidney and that the surgery performed got it all out.  The surgery was a "radical left nephrectomy with lymph node and adrenal gland removal". It was definitely "radical", but not in the good TMNT sense of the word. 😉 

The pathology report clearly states that the "tumor is confined to the kidney, with no extension into the renal vessels identified.  No carcinoma identified in the adrenal gland... two parahilar lymph nodes with no evidence of metastatic carcinoma identified."  

PRAISE JESUS. 

 

There is not a need for any treatments or radiation at this time, and I'll need to be watched and followed closely over the next 5 years for recurrence or metastasis.  He told us (Jeremy, my mom and myself) that there's no medical proof anywhere that shows there are any treatments available that are effective in prolonging someone's life following a kidney cancer diagnosis. He explained by saying that he could have two people with the exact same diagnosis and could administer chemotherapy (or radiation or whatever treatment) to one of them and not the other and that the treated person would not have any added benefit from fighting off or avoiding recurrence. Of course, if the cancer decided to metastasize-  grow in an alternative location- there are different treatment options and that's a whole new ballgame. We will deal with that if the time ever comes, it's not a priority or an issue at this point in time, and God willing, won't ever be.  Dr Huerter said that he and his staff are looking at clinical trials and such, but I am not really comfortable at this point in time potentially sacrificing my health to have no guarantee that it will actually help another person. I know that sounds very selfish, but for today, I'm going to be selfish. I am going to focus on myself and my boys right now. They are what matter to me the most today. 

I have an appointment scheduled with Dr Klingler on Monday, and he will have hopefully been in contact with Dr Huerter, to determine my follow up schedule.  It sounded like I'll be on a schedule of scans every 3-6 months for 3 years, and annually up to 5 years.  Baseline post-nephrectomy scans will be scheduled and obtained in the next couple of weeks and then we will go from there. 

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, cards, food... we deeply appreciate everything. I'm trying to recuperate from surgery and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of this. It's been a very intense 16 days. I can honestly say that I was not prepared for what Monday brought- that was a horrendous awful pain.   Despite seeing the words on paper today, I still feel apprehensive. Almost as if I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I had told myself (and anyone that would listen! Lol) that I would feel better after the oncology appointment on Friday. I don't really feel better, though...I want confirmation right now that there is not a single bit of that mess left in there, and I didn't really get that. I want every scan and lab test and able-bodied, clear-minded cancer specialist in the world to go over every result with their expertise and all return to me with the same plan and consensus...maybe then I'll be able to take a deep breath and truly believe that it is gone.   For now, I don't get that, but I do have an amazing support group that I've tried to not unleash the crazy, irrational thoughts on.  Well, friends...hold on! 

Haha...just kidding. 

I'm grateful and thankful for all that I have and what I have been given. I truly love and appreciate all of you that have sent a prayer, made a comment, sent a card offered a meal and wished me well.. I'll never be able to adequately express my gratitude to you. Please just know that from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.