DP in hospital found a growth on his kidney

[BG2015]

DP has had trouble with waking up in the night for 2 years or so. He’s been to see his GP and had prostate tests, decided it was an enlarged prostate. PSA levels were fine. He’s 55 next month.

Last week at work his urine was bright red. He went to A & E and was examined, bloods done etc and dr said it’s probably a burst blood vessel in his bladder and booked him in for a CT scan.

Yesterday he woke up to peeing bright red blood again, went to work but then began to feel excruciating pain in his back so his colleague took him to A & E. CT scan shows a small growth on his kidney.

The dr reckons it’s been there for 5 years. They’ve admitted him and are doing further tests today. I saw him briefly last night after dropping him some things off. He looked awful but had been given morphine. He says there’s a possibility they will remove his kidney.

He’s been well in himself. No weight loss, eating well. Tired sometimes but when you wake 2/3 times a might to wee that’s expected.

He’s thinking the worst as the majority of his family have had cancer. His mum died in her fifties, he was only 18.

I’m so worried. We’ve only been together 6 years and I’m planning on another 20 years with him at least.

2020 is just the shittiest year

It isn't the best as I read it recently on Reddit, but someone posted this similar scenario and it turned out to be a cancerous kidney tumour that had ruptured causing the bloody urine. They had the kidney removed and the cancer was removed as it had not spread.

Hopefully this isn't the case with your husband and it is a benign growth. If it is cancerous, I hope it is early stages and can be remedied easily.

Hoping for the best OP

Thank you

He's just text me to say the dr has done the rounds this morning and he will probably have the kidney removed. Further tests to see if it's cancer and if it's spread.

Kidney tumours can often be cured with surgery.
Let us hope this is the case with your DH and that it is a benign tumour

My DH has lost both kidneys to clear cell renal cell carcinoma 2014 & 2017. He ruptured his tumour lifting something heavy and that s how we knew he had cancer. It's a strongly hereditary cancer. ccRCC is the more common kidney cancer. He has dialysis and providing he has no spread will start his work up towards a donated kidney next year. When he got tumours in his second kidney it was unrelated to the first cancer. It tends to spread to the lungs but so far he has been lucky. It can arise anywhere and years later. I know you don't want to hear that but you need to know all the facts to stay vigilant. I hope it is not malignant and it is removable. There are quite a few options for treatment.

I’d prefer honesty - I’m thinking the worst and have just had my own little pity party into my tea!

He has always said he will die young and felt he was doing well to get past 51 as that was the age his mum died.

He’s a gym nut, that’s where we met. He loves the gym and hill walking. Cancer is the worst.

I hope your husband gets his transplant soon

I know someone who had a kidney removed due to a malignant tumour in their 70s. No further treatment needed. Now in their 80s and still full of energy, never stops moving! Best of luck to you and your DP, but on the face of it there’s every reason to hope he’ll be back to a normal life soon and for years to come.

I’ve just FaceTimed him (no visiting because of COVID) and he was in good spirits listening to the cricket. So lovely to see him and talk.

He’s in the best place and I’m trying to be positive

My DP has been called for an MRI today. He still doesn't know what they found with the second CT scan.

MRI looks at specific organs better doesn't it? So hopefully this is good?

OP please don't panic I had a renal cell carcinoma and had to have my kidney removed in 2018 and didn't need further treatment, I now just have scans every year. I found out that I'd had my tumour for at least 10 years as it had showed up on an ultrasound scan (when I was discovered to have chronic kidney disease) and for some reason it hadn't been followed up.

Just wanted to acknowledge how hard it must be to be going through this without being able to be there and listen to what he’s being told, obviously it’s hard for him but waiting to hear things is so difficult. I hope it goes well and that you get an update as soon as possible.

It is so hard as he doesn't think to ask things. I also think he's a bit shell shocked by it all.

Just wish I could go with him to the hospital but totally understand why.

@rosinavera

OP please don't panic I had a renal cell carcinoma and had to have my kidney removed in 2018 and didn't need further treatment, I now just have scans every year. I found out that I'd had my tumour for at least 10 years as it had showed up on an ultrasound scan (when I was discovered to have chronic kidney disease) and for some reason it hadn't been followed up.

What were your symptoms? He has just had blood in his urine. No other symptoms (horrendous back pain when he was producing clotted blood) bit he's well in himself , eating well, trying to remain positive.

To look at him you wouldn't know there was anything wrong.

I didn't eat for five days when I was first told about DH's kidney tumour that he ruptured. The shock is immense because it's a hidden disease. We are still here though almost six years on. He has lost the other one too but it was not spread but heredity that caused this. Hopefully this time next year he will have a donated in kidney. Try and be strong. It is hell let me tell you but there is lots that can be done.

My Auntie had a kidney removed due to cancer when she was in her 40s. It was big operation, although maybe nowadays they can do keyhole surgery.

She never had any further problems and died last year aged 93.

Chin up! Wishing you and him all the best.

I didn't have any symptoms at all - it was bizarre!! It only got found out because I had to have a blood test every year due to my chronic kidney disease.

I had a benign tumour on my kidney that ruptured causing massive bleeding. The pain was excruciating. I had to have the kidney removed as they were unable to stop the bleeding. I’m fine now with one kidney. This was over 29 years ago. I hope your DH’s tumour is benign. Mine was called an AML - angiomyoloma (I think).

I had keyhole surgery for my nephrectomy. I was 54 at the time and I recovered really quickly.

Yes they have told him it would be keyhole surgery.

Of course we're thinking the worst but reading all of your comments it sounds like a lot of people have had this and come out the other side

DH has just had a very similar diagnosis.

I'm taking comfort from the fact that my grandad had a kidney removed in 1961, when he would have been a out 45yo and lived to be an old man, so they've been doing this op successfully for a very long time.

DP has been for his MRI this afternoon. He actually asked what they were specifically looking at and the woman said they were concentrating on his liver and spleen.

Who knows what that means? Is the cancer there or are they ruling it out?

What a worrying thing to happen and for it to happen during Covid so that you can't visit him is especially hard. I hope there's a great outcome.

He’s home, he was only in hospital for 2 nights. He was called for an MRI as an outpatient appointment.

My DH had a kidney tumour last year. No symptoms and found early, totally by accident. He had a kidney cat scan to confirm what the ultrasound had shown. Then another to check liver/ spleen chest ( thankfully no spread) then a biopsy.

He had a robotic assisted partial nephrectomy ( keyhole) at the Guys cancer centre. Fab surgeon ( who pioneered the technique I believe) was very confident he would be cured and got it all away with clear margins. He was in hospital for two nights and had minimal pain once home ( only paracetamol needed) was pretty much back to normal in 3 weeks.

Subsequent scans have been clear and he seems fine. They will continue to monitor but the surgeon seems sure he is in the clear.

It's a scary time- we found it much easier to deal with once we had the diagnosis and a treatment plan was in place. Good luck.

Brigit that's wonderful news for your DH!

My DP had a phone call this morning to double check he'd been for his MRI (it was a very quick appointment) she confirmed an operation to remove the kidney was definitely on the cards, he asked what the timescale was and she said within the month (Covid allowing)

So hoping that this is the case

My DP is having surgery next Monday to have his kidney removed!