Living with Kidney Cancer

I was diagnosed with Bi-lateral renal cell carcinoma in Oct of ‘05. for those of you who don’t know what bi-lateral is, it’s cancer on both kidneys simultaneously. Fabulous huh? It only happens to less that 25 of those who are newly diagnosed and primarily it happens to men.

I though my life was over! Of course all things run through your head. How could this happen, not to me I’m healthy with no medical problems at all, I’m of thin build, do not smoke or drink, not even soda. I exercise and keep try to keep fit. So how? Then I stopped and said that it does no good to ponder the how or why. I now have to fight this with body and soul. My body I gave to my doctor to cure and my soul I gave to God to please help me in this fight. I’ve always had a love of God, but have drifted away from practicing my religion, but there is nothing like getting cancer to find you begging/pleading with God to help you live. I was fortunate to have family and friends praying for me. I found a strength and determination to live, that gave me the will to fight a good fight.

So in October a couple of days after finding the cancer, I had a partial nephrectomy on my left kidney. The dr had to cut it in half, remove the tumor, sew a patch in place and hold it together with clips and remove my lower rib as well, which caused a parital collapse of my lung. So I now have about 40% of my original left kidney. After healing for 5 weeks, I went in and had a radical nephrectomy on my right. The way the tumor was positioned, there was no saving my right kidney. So here I am, 2 1/2 yrs later and still fighting the fight.

My family is just awesome, without the support of my husband and children, I would not be here today. Their love and prayers have kept me going. They refuse to let me think negatively. But alone in my thoughts, I have this nagging sensation and think, “is this the day it will come back? I try to the best of my ability to remain positive and think I will beat this, but it is hard.
There are no support groups in my area.

I now sound like a cliche when speaking with people-”live every day like you’re dying.” don’t waste time on things/people you can’t change. Everyone has control over their own destiny. Enjoy LIFE!!! afterall what is the alternative??