Living with Kidney Cancer

What a roller coaster ride! 49 years old and healthy as anyone you ever met, then out of the blue I started urinating blood one day in May of 2009. Turns out I had a 10-12 cm tumor on my right kidney! No other symptoms. Urologist scheduled surgery and within 10 days I had a 16″ scar, no right kidney, a missing wedge from my lower right lung to get a 3mm nodule. Also had a thrombis requiring assistance of a vascular surgeon to open up the vena cava and remove.

4 weeks after surgery bone and brain scan showed a 1.2 cm brain tumor, but bones were clear. Stereostatic radiosurgery to the brain at Moores’ Cancer Center at UCSD in early August 2009. New CT scans in late August showed lots of bad lung stuff, plus mediastanum lymph node issue. Started Sutent first of September for two 6-week courses, then we’ll do HD-IL 2 starting around Christmas. I have too much to live for to let this thing get in my way - no regrets for the past whatsoever, just too much to do still! Twin grandbabies due New Year’s day and I can’t wait to retire in a few years and spend lots of time with them!!! I’m anxious and excited to get to HD IL 2 so I can be one of those who has a durable response!!!