My grandma was diagnoised with kidney cancer this week. It is in both of her kidneys. I don't know much more since I didn't talk to her. My mother spoke with her. What information can you give me? They can't remove both of them, so what can they do for treatment? SHe is 76 years old. IF she is a 'typical' case, how long can I expect her to live?
Helllo Melody,
I just wanted to say how sorry I am.
I don't know much about Kidney cancer.
I know some-one who reads this will.
Just wanted to say GOD BLESS.
Stay strong ok.
Take care.
Pamela
My mom (72 years old) just had a tumor removed from each kidney this week. One tumor was found to be cancerous and the doctor removed enough of the kidney that he hopes "got it all" I found out through all this that you can actually live with "only a portion" of a kidney as long as it functions (filters). My mom is not expected to have any further problems or treatment for this. Maybe it is not as bleak as you think.
Thank you both for your replies. She e-mail me. This is what she said:
HELLO SWEET MELODY,
HONEY I WENT TO THIS NEW DOCTOR WHO IS A SPECIALIST IN KIDNEY SURGERY AND HE IS NOW CHECKING MY MRI AND CT SCAN WITH THE RADIOLIGST AT THE HOSPITAL TO DOUBLE CHECK ALL THE FILM. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM SO IF I DO NOT HEAR SOMETHING TODAY I WILL CALL HIM TOMORROW. THE NEW INFO IS THAT BOTH MY KIDNEYS ARE 'SUSPICIOUS' WHICH IS SCARY BUT UNTIL THEY GO INSIDE ME THEY WILL NOT REALLY KNOW FOR SURE IF IT IS CANCER. SO MY SWEET ONE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND LOVE. HE DID SAY THAT A MASS IS A TUMOR AND TUMORS ARE USUALLY 90% CANCER , SO THAT IS NOT VERY GOOD ODDS.
Sorry for the caps. She typed it like that.
ANd from my aunt. --
To update you on grandma, we really still don't know that much, even after all this time. A new doctor is reviewing everything right now and will determine what needs to be done. She has a mass on one of her kidneys and some cysts on the other kidney so she really can't have either kidney removed. The doctor says the mass needs to come out but any surgery is complicated at her age. If she leaves it alone, it could spread to other parts of her body. It's a hard decision to make but grandma is researching options and will make the decision that she feels is the right one. Right now, the only thing all of us can do is to pray and pray a lot for a miracle! I'll keep you updated when I know something more.
Ok. Soooooo, the dr doesn't WANT to do surgery. If no surgery, then what? My brother and I both offered to be tested to see if she could take one of our kidneys, but with no surgery, I guess not. What now?
Oh, I know that I said that she DOES have cancer, but it is still uncertain. I was going by what my mom told me. Does it sound like cancer to you?
Wow, it sounds like your grandmother is going through the EXACT same thing as my mom. My mom is doing well after her surgery and may come home today. Her doctor is very optimistic, in fact, seem certain that things will be fine. The one tumor that my mom had removed was as big as a baseball and that one proved to be cancerous. The other tumor he removed on the other kidney was not. Now she is living with a partial kidney on both sides and as I said before, you can live with only a "portion" of a kidney. I am so glad that my mom did not wait. It was actually only suppose to be "exploratory" surgery when she went in on Thursday.
If you need to talk, I am here for you. Remember that God is there for you too! I have a feeling that your grandmother will be fine if she does have the surgery. My mom got through it at 72 and she also has high blood pressure. It was about a 3 hour surgery.
Thank you both for your replies. She e-mail me. This is what she said:
HELLO SWEET MELODY,
HONEY I WENT TO THIS NEW DOCTOR WHO IS A SPECIALIST IN KIDNEY SURGERY AND HE IS NOW CHECKING MY MRI AND CT SCAN WITH THE RADIOLIGST AT THE HOSPITAL TO DOUBLE CHECK ALL THE FILM. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM SO IF I DO NOT HEAR SOMETHING TODAY I WILL CALL HIM TOMORROW. THE NEW INFO IS THAT BOTH MY KIDNEYS ARE 'SUSPICIOUS' WHICH IS SCARY BUT UNTIL THEY GO INSIDE ME THEY WILL NOT REALLY KNOW FOR SURE IF IT IS CANCER. SO MY SWEET ONE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND LOVE. HE DID SAY THAT A MASS IS A TUMOR AND TUMORS ARE USUALLY 90% CANCER , SO THAT IS NOT VERY GOOD ODDS.
Sorry for the caps. She typed it like that.
ANd from my aunt. --
To update you on grandma, we really still don't know that much, even after all this time. A new doctor is reviewing everything right now and will determine what needs to be done. She has a mass on one of her kidneys and some cysts on the other kidney so she really can't have either kidney removed. The doctor says the mass needs to come out but any surgery is complicated at her age. If she leaves it alone, it could spread to other parts of her body. It's a hard decision to make but grandma is researching options and will make the decision that she feels is the right one. Right now, the only thing all of us can do is to pray and pray a lot for a miracle! I'll keep you updated when I know something more.
Ok. Soooooo, the dr doesn't WANT to do surgery. If no surgery, then what? My brother and I both offered to be tested to see if she could take one of our kidneys, but with no surgery, I guess not. What now?
Oh, I know that I said that she DOES have cancer, but it is still uncertain. I was going by what my mom told me. Does it sound like cancer to you?
Melody
Sorry to hear this.
Unfortunatly, yes the kidney with tumor more than likely is cancer, I hate to tell you but you need the truth. Doesnt mean it is, but more often than not it is.
The good news, there is a big differance between a cyst and a tumor.
If they can id the cysts and find nothing but fluid and no cancer, she could have the entire kidney with tumor removed and be fine for a long time
Nooooo!! She has kidney cancer 
