Kidney Cancer

April 6, 2007

I had a CT about 6 months ago and they found a cyst/mass on my right kidney. I

followed up with my urologist and he said that he couldn't be certain that it

wasn't cancer but that we would just follow it for another 3 months. I just had

the 3 month CT done and he said that it is a complex cyst/mass and that he can't

really tell if it is cancer or not. He said that needle biopsy is really not

reliable in kidney cancer. He also said that MRI is also not always conclusive.

He explained that the aggressive plan would be to have that part of my kidney

removed but that he thought that we could watch it for another 3 months. I then

reminded him that I am on Imuran and Remicade and I reminded him that I will

have to have a liver tranplant at some point in my future. He then changed

gears and said that we would do the MRI on the off change that it might show

that it is nothing but a fluid filled cyst but that if that wasn't certain then

I would need to see a surgeon. I spoke with my Gastroenterologist and he said

get rid of the mass and be safe. The radiologist doesn't believe that it is

cancer but he can't be sure either. He doesn't believe that a surgeon would

agree to remove it at this point. Of course then when you explain the

medications, etc, then the radiologist also changes his mind and isn't sure. If

it were not for the medications that suppress my immune system and the fact of

transplant in the future, then there wouldn't even be a discussion. We would do

nothing but watch it.

I wanted to see if any of you had any thoughts on this. The doctors that I have

seen so far are physicians that I have worked with for a number of years, so I

trust their judgement. I am just worried because the doctors know so little

about PSC.

Also, during my last Remicade treatment, I had a reaction and my doc took me off

of it and is putting me on Humira. Does anybody have any experience with

Humira? I believe the reaction was to the IV contrast that I had earlier that

day but the doc won't take the chance. The Remicade worked wonders for me and I

hate it that I'm not going to be able to take it anymore.

Thanks.

(PSC '01)

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April 6, 2007

, I personally haven't had this problem but several years ago

they found a cyst/mass on one of my dad's kidney's. However, he is

extremely (and that's putting it mildly) stubborn and wouldn't have a

biopsy like the docs wanted him to. Within about a year (maybe a

little more), he ended up having to go on dialysis three days a

week. So, please what ever you do, get it taken care of as quickly

as possible so this hopefully won't happen to you.

Nikki

TX 12/25/2004

>

> I had a CT about 6 months ago and they found a cyst/mass on my

right kidney. I followed up with my urologist and he said that he

couldn't be certain that it wasn't cancer but that we would just

follow it for another 3 months. I just had the 3 month CT done and

he said that it is a complex cyst/mass and that he can't really tell

if it is cancer or not. He said that needle biopsy is really not

reliable in kidney cancer. He also said that MRI is also not always

conclusive. He explained that the aggressive plan would be to have

that part of my kidney removed but that he thought that we could

watch it for another 3 months. I then reminded him that I am on

Imuran and Remicade and I reminded him that I will have to have a

liver tranplant at some point in my future. He then changed gears

and said that we would do the MRI on the off change that it might

show that it is nothing but a fluid filled cyst but that if that

wasn't certain then I would need to see a surgeon. I spoke with my

Gastroenterologist and he said get rid of the mass and be safe. The

radiologist doesn't believe that it is cancer but he can't be sure

either. He doesn't believe that a surgeon would agree to remove it

at this point. Of course then when you explain the medications, etc,

then the radiologist also changes his mind and isn't sure. If it

were not for the medications that suppress my immune system and the

fact of transplant in the future, then there wouldn't even be a

discussion. We would do nothing but watch it.

> I wanted to see if any of you had any thoughts on this. The

doctors that I have seen so far are physicians that I have worked

with for a number of years, so I trust their judgement. I am just

worried because the doctors know so little about PSC.

> Also, during my last Remicade treatment, I had a reaction and my

doc took me off of it and is putting me on Humira. Does anybody have

any experience with Humira? I believe the reaction was to the IV

contrast that I had earlier that day but the doc won't take the

chance. The Remicade worked wonders for me and I hate it that I'm

not going to be able to take it anymore.

> Thanks.

> (PSC '01)

>

> ===========================================================

> This message is confidential, intended only

> for the named recipient(s) and may contain

> information that is privileged or exempt from

> disclosure under applicable law. If you are

> not the intended recipient(s), you are notified

> that the dissemination, distribution or copying

> of this message is strictly prohibited. If you

> received this message in error, or are not the

> named recipient(s), please notify the sender

> and delete this e-mail from your computer.

>

> ETMC has implemented secure messaging for

> certain types of messages. For more information

> about our secure messaging system, go to:

>

> http://www.etmc.org/mail/

>

> Thank you.

> ===========================================================

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>

April 6, 2007

Nikki:

I want to take care of it and I don't want to wait too long. I'm just confused

as to what to do. The urologist that I'm going to see next is a surgeon, so

maybe he will be able to better tell what is going on. At this point, I think I

would be just as happy to have it taken out so that I don't have to worry about

it. Thanks for responding.

>>> " ravenbird28904 " 4/6/2007 10:23 AM >>>