My Fourth Week of Recovery and Follow Up Appointment

This was my best week still walking only .5 to 1 mile a day but finally made it to two on Saturday.  So far so good I don't feel like I had done a marathon.  The trick is to take my time.  

My follow up appointment took the wind out of mine and Doug's sails.  You see as I have said earlier in this blog I was told 100 percent cured well that all changed with the Pathology report.  I am now sitting with a 60 to 70 percent cure and I will take it.  The pathology report found that I had what they call a Common Clear Cell Cancer, Stage PT3A, Grade 2.  What does all this mean?  The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This cancer forms in the cells lining the small tubules in the kidney that filter waste from the blood and make urine.  Stage PT3A, Kidney cancer has 4 stages and I am stage 3.  Kidney cancer is graded from 1 to 4 and I am at a 2, this determines how quickly the cancer grows.  I felt like had had been punched in the stomach with this news.  I am so glad Doug was with me when I was delivered the news.  Even as I think about it now I feel sick to my stomach.  

Well what does all this mean?  It means there is a possibility that it could spread to my lungs or liver.  The possibility of getting kidney cancer in my other kidney is very rare.  What do we do to ensure this does not happen?  Time will tell but I have to believe at this time I am fine and that worrying about what if just can't be part of my thought process.  This way of thinking took few days after hearing all of this information and digesting because I was on an emotional roller coaster but after one really good cry and not a few tearful moments but I mean Niagara Falls crying.   I spoke with a woman who was cleared after five years and eleven years later a tumor was found, it was in fact renal carcinoma and it took all that time for it to manifest itself.  Worrying about what if is not going to help the situation.  So I have decided to do a clinical drug trial that could extend my percentage of not having the cancer return.  I will be having a CAT scan in a month to ensure there are no new tumors at this time.  I will be having regular chest x-rays, CAT scans and blood work to ensure that they keep a close eye on me.  I will also be keeping records and getting all reports so that I too can keep track of my progress.    

One must be very careful when doing any research on the internet and I have discovered a wonderful Website Kidney Cancer Canada.  It is a very good resource and support network for persons with kidney cancer and their families.  At the end of April they are hosting a free conference for patients with kidney cancer and their families which I will be attending. 

On Saturday of this wee