Well, my worst fears materialized - I had a cancerous tumor in my left kidney (Renal Cell Carcinoma). I had one of the best surgeons in this area, and he did a meticulous job removing the tumor and a "clear margin" of healthy tissue with it. It was later categorized as a non-aggressive cancer, so, with any luck and a lot of prayers, it was contained in the lone tumor without any invasion of the surrounding tissue or other organs. I've been home for 3 and a half weeks and my recovery is on schedule. I have a little pain several times a day from the remainder of the affected kidney, but it's tolerable and it diminishes day by day. I had my post-op exam yesterday and all checked out well. I'll have CT scans and have blood work done every 3 months to keep a close watch for any recurrence. I've been cleared to return to work next Monday, with a little coercing on my part...
So, I say all that to say this... I had no symptoms other than a nagging, subdued burn in my left flank. Kidney cancer is a silent monster that historically goes undetected until it has grown or spread to its higher, more critical stages. It was by the grace of God that I insisted that my Internist look beyond the checks he had performed over a year ago. I urge each and every reader of this post to find a way to have your kidneys scanned. I'm not an expert by any means, but I have recently become aware of the alarming statistics that are pitted against us; 1 in 2 men will be affected by kidney cancer. 1 in 3 women will be affected also. Every day, over 12,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with some type of cancer. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did, and I really hope it's behind me now. I don't want this to be a gloom & doom post. I wanted to THANK ALL OF YOU for your replies, thoughts and prayers and for following up via PM and such.
I's stable for now, and I sincerely hope you guys never experience what I've gone through in the last few weeks.
Godspeed ~ I appreciate y'all!
Dave