Last week was treatment week again, number 15 now. Prior to that on the Tuesday I actually had a face to face oncology appointment. First time since my diagnosis. This is because they had the results of my latest 3 monthly CT scan.
I admit to being very nervous going there as I was really hoping for more tumour reduction. The news at the last scan that it was just “stable” was what triggered my downward mental spiral in August. Having had some good reduction I saw it as the start of the end. However I think I’ve come a long way since then and know that anything that is not growth is good news.
I was told that again it is stable with no growth and I was happy with this. I was also told that I was going to be discussed this week at the next MDT (multi disciplinary team) meeting with a view to removing my right kidney, known as a radical nephrectomy. They explained that as I had responded so well that it could be a good option.
It would remove a big bunch of cancer cells. They made it clear that I would never be “cancer free” but removing it takes away a likely hotspot. Apparently we can function perfectly fine with one kidney.
I knew this was a possibility after a year of stability but being told I was a step closer made me both nervous and pleased.
I watched a really interesting Q&A session with one of the leading kidney surgeons in the country, who coincidentally would also be the man operating on me.
Go and watch it.
It’s all done with robots, very clever!
I then got a call yesterday that if I’m happy to proceed then they want to do the operation. No brainer, of course. If you’d asked me what I wanted, this was it but having it confirmed makes it a lot more scary.
Most likely it will be in early 2022.
Until then I’m on a diet, still trying to be more active and working towards returning to work full time in the New Year ( I’m still only working half days)
A big improvement from a year ago.
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