Thursday, December 31, 2009
Post-surgery
I'm taking it easy recuperating. In just over a week though I was able to walk over a mile although I'm dragging as I get back. The cold clean air, after the rain etc., is very nice to be starting my outdoor exercise. Next week I get my staples out and a couple weeks later I talk to the oncologist about doing the tests to start the immunotherapy (HD IL-2).
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Surgery
I went in Monday 12/21 for my pre-operation hospital stay. They did lots of preparation and tests that kept me busy all day. 12/22 they did the open kidney removal operation which took more than 6 hours. It went smoothly and they accomplished everything without complication. I was supposed to be in for about 7 days but even on the day after I had all my color and good mental disposition and ended up staying only 5 days. The incision was all up my middle and across and under my chest. Very big. I'll have lots of pain from coughing, sneezing, laughing, blowing my nose and other things for weeks. I have to take blood thinners for 6 months due to the potential of blood clots and vicoden for pain. Cheri and Jeff say that I look better than before the surgery in that my face looks less tired and thin than before. It's tough to move around but I'll work to walk etc., ASAP, and get back to normal and ready for the treatment next month or thereabouts.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
It was a bit of a rollarcoaster this week. After my MRI they said that the surgery had to go off and that my tumor had worked it's way too far up this vein that goes to the heart. Laproscopic just couldn't get it all with the small incisions. I had to have "open" surgery. Going after all the tendrils and going up a heart vein sounded risky to me and I was a bit shaken by that. I emailed the oncologist, Dr. Quinn, that maybe it's too risky and we should go right to IL-2.
We went and saw the surgeon, Dr. Schuckman, 10am on Wed., 12/16, and she said that it is major but that it's routine for her, a "no brainer" and not that risky. She says once they control the vena vein (it had a longer name), that they just pull the piece out of the vein that was partially blocking it. Dr. Quinn reviewed the MRI and texted Dr. Schuckman, while we were there, and said that he recommended going ahead with the surgery.
Depending on the opportunity available, since they are in the chest too (and remove one rib), they may remove the two tumors in the right lung. This may aid the high dose immunotherapy that will probably start late Jan. or Feb., to have less large tumors to deal with so that it will just be attacking tumor cells and small tumors they couldn't see or didn't have access to.
She, Dr. Schuckman, said that my lung tumors won't give me symptoms unless they grow a lot (I'm always wondering if my cough is related to them and she said "no"). She said that there was no invasion into any bones (which is very good). They will take out some lymph nodes around the kidney just in case since a couple are swollen a bit which could be invasion or infection from being next to a tumor.
I asked about the weight loss and she didn't feel that it was related to the cancer in that it was too slow over too long of a period. She said they are not sure why kidney cancer would cause weight loss but it might be that the growths are inefficient high energy tissue that burns more calories that one might think for their size.
I go into the hospital for some preliminary stuff Monday, 12/21, and 7:30 on Tuesday they start the surgery which may take about 6 hours. I'll be in for 5-7 days with the first 2 being in intensive care. Then it's about a month at home for recovery from this type of surgery.
She also said that between the 12/9 MRI and the 10/22 CAT scan that the visible tumors had not changed in size. This is, naturally, good news.
We went and saw the surgeon, Dr. Schuckman, 10am on Wed., 12/16, and she said that it is major but that it's routine for her, a "no brainer" and not that risky. She says once they control the vena vein (it had a longer name), that they just pull the piece out of the vein that was partially blocking it. Dr. Quinn reviewed the MRI and texted Dr. Schuckman, while we were there, and said that he recommended going ahead with the surgery.
Depending on the opportunity available, since they are in the chest too (and remove one rib), they may remove the two tumors in the right lung. This may aid the high dose immunotherapy that will probably start late Jan. or Feb., to have less large tumors to deal with so that it will just be attacking tumor cells and small tumors they couldn't see or didn't have access to.
She, Dr. Schuckman, said that my lung tumors won't give me symptoms unless they grow a lot (I'm always wondering if my cough is related to them and she said "no"). She said that there was no invasion into any bones (which is very good). They will take out some lymph nodes around the kidney just in case since a couple are swollen a bit which could be invasion or infection from being next to a tumor.
I asked about the weight loss and she didn't feel that it was related to the cancer in that it was too slow over too long of a period. She said they are not sure why kidney cancer would cause weight loss but it might be that the growths are inefficient high energy tissue that burns more calories that one might think for their size.
I go into the hospital for some preliminary stuff Monday, 12/21, and 7:30 on Tuesday they start the surgery which may take about 6 hours. I'll be in for 5-7 days with the first 2 being in intensive care. Then it's about a month at home for recovery from this type of surgery.
She also said that between the 12/9 MRI and the 10/22 CAT scan that the visible tumors had not changed in size. This is, naturally, good news.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Tests
The blood sample, MRI and cardiac stress test (treadmill) was a long day along with a bit of LA traffic. It was interesting and nothing was painful. The cardiac test went fine. I won't know the MRI results for some time unless there is something new on it that they need to tell me about.
Now I have a couple more tests on Wednesday. A mag3 scan for kidney function and meeting with the cardiologist about the stress test. The Friday after that, 12/18/09, they've scheduled me for some standard pre-op screening meeting which I assume is probably mostly talk.
Then on 12/22 I have to get to the hospital at 5:30 am and out goes my kidney. 2-4 days in hospital after that and 2-4 weeks recovery before starting the high dose interleukin.
As good as the internet is for general research, the real topper for getting the final answers to sort of verify what the doctors tell us has been a listserv mailing I get daily with about 10-20 emails in one digest letter of people in my situation talking about what their doctors tell them and answering people's questions. It was so reassuring to hear that other people that researched things well would do what we're doing. Back 30 years ago you blindly followed a doctor's advise and just had to have hope or faith. Now you can go in knowing that this rare illness is being treated properly. This must take away so many worries for so many people.
Now I have a couple more tests on Wednesday. A mag3 scan for kidney function and meeting with the cardiologist about the stress test. The Friday after that, 12/18/09, they've scheduled me for some standard pre-op screening meeting which I assume is probably mostly talk.
Then on 12/22 I have to get to the hospital at 5:30 am and out goes my kidney. 2-4 days in hospital after that and 2-4 weeks recovery before starting the high dose interleukin.
As good as the internet is for general research, the real topper for getting the final answers to sort of verify what the doctors tell us has been a listserv mailing I get daily with about 10-20 emails in one digest letter of people in my situation talking about what their doctors tell them and answering people's questions. It was so reassuring to hear that other people that researched things well would do what we're doing. Back 30 years ago you blindly followed a doctor's advise and just had to have hope or faith. Now you can go in knowing that this rare illness is being treated properly. This must take away so many worries for so many people.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Pre-surgery tests
I go in for some pre-surgery tests on 12/9/09. An MRI to take a close detailed look at the problem area, a test to see how the remaining kidney is currently doing and a cardiac stress test (treadmill?). At least none of these hurt but I'll be there all day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
