Ten Year Survivor

Yesterday I went to MD Anderson for the results of the tests I had last Friday. The Dr said all my scans (which this year were ultrasound) and bloodwork were clear and good. This officially marks 10 years as a kidney cancer survivor. I say officially since I had surgery on 15 September 2011, which was almost 11 years ago. But the follow-up scans, tests, and other appointments crept down the calendar to where my yearly visits are now in the summer.

I found out I had a mass on my left kidney in July 2011. After more tests and several Doctors, I ended up at MD Anderson. Best move I have made in my life. During my visit with my surgeon to get the results of their testing, he went over everything I might face. He was totally up front with me. He said that RCC, or Renal Cell Carcinoma, otherwise known as kidney cancer, has a less than 5-year life expectancy. In other words, if I did nothing, I would not live for another 5 years, probably less. He went on to say that since mine was found early, my chances are good to go way past that if I act now and schedule surgery. He laid out all my options, and Jennifer & I chose option 1, which was to have surgery as soon as possible. I recall so clearly when I responded that I wanted surgery as soon as possible, he stood, patted my knee, and said, “We will take good care of you!” and walked out of the room. Surgery was set for two weeks after that.

Five years later, when I had my yearly scans, I was declared a ‘survivor’ by MD Anderson and was shifted over to the survivorship Doctors. After that doctor's visit, I rang the bell. The waiting room was full of clapping people. That was so cool! Now that I have just passed my official ten-year mark, the chances of the kidney cancer returning are minimal.

I give all Glory to God who gave me the gift of a kidney stone those many years ago. I woke up in tremendous pain one day. In the ER, they performed a CT scan to determine the cause of the pain. When the Dr came into the room where Jennifer and I were waiting, he said, “You have a kidney stone in your right kidney. By the way, there is a mass on your left kidney. You may want to get that checked out.” He walked out of the room. Jennifer and I stared at each other. I asked her what she heard him say, and it was the same as what I heard. I was dumbfounded; I think she was too. You know something? I never had a kidney stone before that and never have since. And I don’t recall passing that one! I understand that when you pass a kidney stone, you know you passed it. That is why I call my only kidney stone that I did not have to pass, a Gift from God.