I definitely  get that feeling.  ... View more

It always pays to double check your reports and scans.  I had a full body CT scan on October 2021.  Got the thumbs up, no new growth.  Treatment looking good.  In December I broke my right shoulder.  An x-ray picked up a 40mm tumour in my shoulder bone.  A review of the October scan showed it was there back then, smaller, but no-one saw it.  Not the radiologist or my oncologist.  These are all private specialists too.   ... View more

A good resource is Smart Patients.  There are sub forums for all the cancer types.  I’m on the kidney cancer forum.  If you are not a patient or a carer of a patient they flick you pretty quick.  People put their treatment history under their profile and you can easily find someone who has experiences similar to yours.  There is some amazing knowledge which has eased my mind a lot.  Worrying about kidney cancer is worse than having cancer.  If you ask a question you will get a respectful response.  It’s US based and they really do lead the way in kidney cancer research.  Some people have been fighting since the early 2000’s. https://www.smartpatients.com/conversations ... View more

One of the greatest things I have learnt on this kidney cancer journey is waiting.  Waiting in waiting rooms, waiting to have scans, waiting to get results, waiting to get treatment.  And I’m a private patient.   ... View more

I found the opposite.  Since my diagnosis in March 2020 I have been overwhelmed with support.  I have always been open and honest about my cancer, I have never tried to cover it up.  I guess it’s a time when find out who truely are your best friends in life. ... View more

Hey Darren.  Looks like you are the same age as me.  I have RCC too.  Stage IV.  I’m 18 months in.  Trust me, it gets easier to accept.  There’s a forum called Smart Patients, with a sub forum called Kidney Cancer.  I get a lot of comfort from being on there.  Some people have been battling stage IV RCC  for 15+ years with the various different treatments which re available now.   It’s more encouraging than the 5 year prognosis you will see when you hit google.   Never search cancer on google or Facebook.  That will definitely get you depressed. Stay strong my friend.  You will have years ahead of you put the path will be challenging. cheers Paul ... View more

The main thing I’ve noticed is that I have stopped buying things for myself.  I find I’m in a mindset that I don’t really need that.   Work wise, I would like to go one more level up the ladder for the extra money/superannuation for my family should life go south.  But work does not really stress me anymore.  I’m like, I stuffed up, no big deal.   ... View more

Bless you Marg.  I think this is a very important date for you to remember, and I hope one day I can look back and say this is my 10 year anniversary.  My date is not hard to remember, I had my kidney removed on 1 April, April Fools Day.  How ironic. ... View more

Hi Yasmin I had my lung biopsy on Friday morning, and it was an awful experience.  I was awake during the procedure.  I had to lay on my back and they came in through my chest and I started coughing up blood straight away. After they took the samples I got what I learnt is called a pneumothorax and I had to be admitted into hospital.  Basically air leaked from my lung into my chest.  I am home now but my chest is still making a clicking noise when I breath.  I hope all goes well with your procedure. Paul ... View more