Here we go again

Well, my cancer is back.

Quick summary for those who might not know the background:

In June 2007 I literally woke up one morning and by early that afternoon found out that I had a 15.5 cm (flattened softball) size tumor in my right kidney. Within a few days I had a massive surgery to remove the whole kidney with adrenal gland (and gall bladder since it was nearby!), a rib to get to my lung, and a wedge of my right lower lung, where a 1cm metastasis was located. I took Sutent targeted therapy ('chemo') for almost a year following surgery, in the hopes of killing off any possible remaining cancer cells anywhere they might be lurking.

Since 2007, I had been cancer free, until the spring of 2011 when my regularly scheduled follow-up scans showed 5 tiny spots scattered in my lungs (2-3 mm each). I was quite panicked, but follow up scans several times in the last year have shown no significant change in these spots, even still. My doctors are not convinced that these are cancer, or if they are cancer, they think maybe my immune system is keeping them in check. Benign lung spots in the general population are not uncommon, but often go undiscovered.

But my November 2011 scans showed a new nodule, this time in my left, and my only, kidney. I was advised by both my oncologist and my kidney surgeon to watch it for about 3 months to see if it was growing or my body would keep it in check or what exactly it was going to do. Apparently VERY small nodules like this are actually harder to remove than if they are a little bit bigger, but more importantly, since I only have one kidney, we had to be very sure that we HAD to treat it before doing so, since the risk of damage to my only kidney is no small matter.

Fast forward to February 2012. I had repeat scans. The CT of the lung spots was essentially unchanged, although there are slight variations in the measurements which are a little bit unnerving - still they are very small and both my oncologist and surgeon think there is still a good chance they are not cancer.

But the MRI of the abdomen and pelvis showed that the kidney nodule is growing, albeit ever so slowly. Instead of 1.1x1.2x1.0, it is now 1.3x1.5x1.2 cm or so. Still, this is a very small tumor. If this was my first kidney cancer, I would have a very good chance of complete cure. However, since this is most likely a NEW cancer and not a metastasis, the probability is that I just plain make kidney cancer, and when they get this one out, I am likely to make another kidney cancer in the future. I don't have any spare kidney tissue to waste chopping tumors out of there over and over. Living on dialysis is not a happy thought, and I am not a candidate for transplant unless cancer free for at least 5 years.

All types of removal are some risk to that kidney. Surgical removal (partial nephrectomy) either by open or hand scope or D'Vinci robot all have risk of bleeding and kidney damage - but more chance of complete 'cure' of this tumor (no guarantees about me making another tumor later). More conservative approaches such as 'burning' (RFA) or by 'freezing' (cryoablation) have a lesser chance of damaging the rest of the kidney but also a lesser chance of completely killing the cancer.

SO.... my kidney surgeon at Lankenau is working on getting me in asap to see Dr Uzzo at Fox Chase, a reknown expert in partial nephrectomy. We will see what Dr Uzzo says. I am told he has statistics galore and is extremely knowledgeable and skilled in ALL the options.

Please pray with and for me, and my family. We have been through trial after trial after trial in our lives for the last 6 years and we are WEARY....

But, we know that no matter what happens God is always with us and will NEVER leave us. He is apparently not done teaching us to depend on Him and Him alone. Whether this cancer takes my kidney, or eventually my life, or whether I live to a ripe old age, God is still God. This world is not my home, I am just a passin' through, as the old hymn goes. I want to honor God with my life, and although I would rather live a long time doing that, I just don't know what God has planned for me. Please pray that whatever it is, I am content in His love for me and in His perfect will.

Thank you all!
Karen

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~Romans 15:13