Tag Archives: renal cell carcinoma

Perioperative Systemic Therapy for Kidney Cancer: Current Data and Ongoing Trials

Posted on by MaryO

Kidney Cancer

 

Chicago, IL (UroToday.com) Dr. Uzzo gave the third and final talk in this excellent session highlighting systemic therapy in the management of kidney cancer. Focusing specifically on the role of perioperative systemic therapy (neoadjuvant [NAC] and adjuvant [AC]), he adeptly covered the prior literature and the future directions of this important intersection between surgery and systemic therapy. While his talk was extensive, below we will review the major highlights and key points.

Ultimately, in Dr. Uzzo’s eyes, we are all managers of health care risk. We seek to “understand, predict and prevent future health care events.” As such, from the time of diagnosis, the key steps in managing a patient are: identify risk (screening, etc), utilize risk tools to risk stratify, communicate this risk to the patient, and finally, mitigate risk with intervention.

Looking at biomarkers in the kidney cancer space, he highlights the key point that biomarkers have been few and far between for RCC. At the end of the day, commonly used biomarkers such as stage, grade, and histology still remain the standards for risk stratification. While numerous biomarkers (genetic, epigenetic, etc) have been evaluated, none have been demonstrated to be superior to stage, grade and histology. As biomarkers have failed to improve upon these factors, we also looked to different models to help stratify patients. In the localized RCC disease space, these include the UISS, MSKCC, SSIGN, and Mayo clinical models (among others) to predict recurrence, but the C-index for these tests ranged between 0.76-0.89. However, all the models shared common features that are easily identified clinically – stage, grade, tumor size, performance status, presentation, age, gender, and coagulative necrosis. Models for metastatic RCC are even less capable of predicting cancer-specific mortality (C-indices ~0.6). At this point, biomarkers and models give way to common patient and pathologic characterizations for risk stratification.

Neoadjuvant Therapy (NAT)
Dr. Uzzo provided a very nice comparison of the “Halstedian” model and “Fisheresque” model of cancer progression. Dr. Halsted, a legend in oncologic surgery, believed in stepwise progression of disease from stage 1 -> stage 2 -> stage 3 -> stage 4, which supported utilization of adjuvant therapy rather than NAT. However, Dr. Fisher was a strong proponent of the idea that a subset of patients were likely metastatic at inception, which better supported the need for NAC.

When looking at NAT, there are some key questions:

1) Does it work? (does it shrink the tumor? Can it work as a “litmus test” prior to cytoreduction? Can it control distant disease?)
2) Is it safe?
3) Are there translational signals?

In terms of tumor shrinkage, based on retrospective series and phase II trials, it results in approximately 25% tumor volume reduction, with an objective response rate (ORR) in 30-40% of patients. So, if patients are referred for that indication, that is what a medical oncologist can cite to a surgeon. However, the implications of this are heavily surgeon dependent, and as Dr. Uzzo states, it is a “function of judgment and experience” – if they feel that this will allow for partial resection vs. radical nephrectomy, or make a non-operative patient operative, then it may be worthwhile to proceed. This is difficult to quantify in clinical studies, and selection bias is an unavoidable issue. In his review of NAT to facilitate partial nephrectomy (PNx), there were <200 cases amongst 7 series.1 Similarly, there have primarily only been case reports/series demonstrating tumor thrombus reduction (25-40%), but rarely does it change the level of thrombus without a concomitant risk of toxicity.

In terms of efficacy, he reviewed a few clinical trials of neoadjuvant targeted therapies, including pazopanib.2 While many of these had some tumor size reduction, they often had high rates of patients not making it to surgery due to adverse events. Importantly though, a significant portion did not make it to surgery due to progression of extrarenal disease. As such, he emphasizes that NAT may be utilized as a litmus test for patient response. Patients progressing on NAT likely wouldn’t have benefited from surgery anyway.

No biomarkers have correlated with ORR in NAT trials.

In summary, NAT is not in the guidelines, high quality guidelines are limited, and there is no long-term data. While newer therapies (cabozantinib, immune checkpoint blockage) may change management, clinical trials are the recommendation for now.

Three clinical trials in NAT space:
CARMENA – activated in 2009, still accruing but having difficulty. Testing the importance of surgery – comparing surgery + adjuvant sunitinib vs. sunitinib alone.
SURTIME – testing sequencing (sunitinib -> surgery vs. surgery -> sunitinib). While initially expecting 440 patients, they have modified study to accrue 98 patients (study closed). In data analysis phase now.
ADAPT – SUO CTC joint effort, they have accrued 713/1133 patients in 3 years. Tests sequencing, including the use of autologous dendritic cell immunotherapy and sunitinib.

Adjuvant Therapy (AT)
Recent publications on adjuvant trials have increased interest in this treatment option. However, there are still no approved ATs for RCC. Dr. Uzzo breaks down the history of AT in RCC into three time periods: the “dark ages”, the “middle ages” and “the future.”

In the “dark ages” of AT, numerous trials were done but it combined “ineffective surgery with completely ineffective systemic therapy.” None of them showed significant benefit, though many had significant flaws.3

More recently, we have come into the “middle ages”, where we utilize “ineffective surgery with more effective systemic therapy.” As is well known, S-TRAC4 and ASSURE5, presented conflicting results regarding disease-free survival outcomes in the adjuvant setting. Dr. Uzzo did highlight the key differences in the studies (only cT3-4 disease in S-TRAC, primarily clear-cell histology in S-TRAC) that may have contributed to the discrepancy. However, even when the clear-cell subset of the ASSURE cohort was analyzed, there was no DFS benefit. Two ongoing trials for whom results are pending are PROTECT (pazopanib) and SORCE (sorafenib). The PROTECT trial investigators should be presenting their results later in the meeting.

He very nicely looked at the role of adjuvant therapy in other malignancies (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma and GIST) and found DFS benefit to be 4-11% (modest), often times with significant monthly cost. As such, he makes a good point, that adjuvant therapy touted as standard of care in other malignancies doesn’t have as much of a benefit as we often put faith in.

Adjuvant therapy is only marginally effect because of
1) Poor timing and patient selection
2) Bad biology
3) Ineffective therapies

In RCC, based on prior literature regarding growth kinetics, tumor doubling time, and presentation of metastatic disease, micrometastases typically present as visible disease between 6-11 years later. Perhaps we are not giving systemic therapy at the right time?

So, while it has not been shown to be highly effective in RCC yet, he recommends:
1) Improving timing (using CTCs and biomarkers)
2) Attacking tumor stem cells (yet to be identified)
3) Attack less promiscuous upstream targets (balance toxicity for specificity)

The future is promising. The “New” Age hopes to combine “incompletely effective surgery with potentially more effective systemic therapy.” He cites two trials, the ECOG PROSPER trial (nivolumab) and the SUO-CTC INmotion trial (atezolizumab), as upcoming studies with novel therapies that may provide new standards.

Overall, in terms of perioperative systemic therapy for RCC, there are no approved options. However, clinical trials with more effective therapies and better patient selection represent the future.

Presented By: Robert G. Uzzo, MD, FACS, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Written By: Thenappan Chandrasekar, MD, Clinical Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Twitter: @tchandra_uromd

at the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting – June 2 – 6, 2017 – Chicago, Illinois, USA

From https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/asco-2017/asco-2017-renal-cancer/96168-asco-2017-perioperative-systemic-therapy-for-kidney-cancer-current-data-and-ongoing-trials.html?utm_source=newsletter_4518&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=asco-2017-day-2-highlights

Current Therapeutics of Kidney Cancer: Landmark Trials

Posted on by MaryO

 

Chicago, IL (UroToday.com) Dr. Vaishampayan provided an excellent walk down memory lane, highlighting the landmark trials in kidney cancer over the last 20 years at this morning’s ASCO 2017 annual meeting session “Evolving Treatment Paradigm in Renal Cell Carcinoma.”

 

Dr. Vaishampayan started by highlighting SEER data that suggests that although the incidence of kidney cancer has increased over the past 40 years, the mortality rates have essentially stayed the same over this time period. IL-2 has been approved for treatment of advanced RCC since 1992 and results of 255 patients who received high-dose IL-2 therapy demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 14%, complete response (CR) rate of 5%, partial response (PR) rate of 9% [1]. Data from the PROCLAIMSM trial of 352 patients receiving targeted therapy prior to or following high dose IL-2 demonstrated 4% CR, 13% PR, 39% stable disease (SD), and 43% progressive disease (PD) with IL-2, demonstrating a clinical benefit for patients who progressed on targeted therapy [2]. Conclusions from these IL-2 studies include the fact that certain patients treated with IL-2 will have a CR+PR (~15%), however the majority of these patients are intermediate and not high risk. Furthermore, despite the toxicities of IL-2, they are predictable and manageable, and it is a remarkably time and cost effective therapy. Dr. Vaishampayan then highlighted that based on a meta-analysis of phase III trials of cytoreductive nephrectomy in the interferon era, patients derive a statistically significant survival benefit [3]. However, as Dr. Vaishampayan notes, based on recent SEER data, only 1/3 of patients receive cytoreductive nephrectomy.

The early to mid-2000’s saw the development of TKI therapy. In 2007, Escudier et al. demonstrated that sorafenib compared to placebo prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced RCC [4]. Additional trials that year also demonstrated improved PFS for sunitinib compared to interferon-alfa [5], as well as temsirolimus compared to interferon alfa, particularly in patients with poor prognosis [6]. In 2013, we saw the COMPARZ trial of pazopanib vs sunitinib in the 1st line for mRCC, demonstrating comparable efficacy between the two agents (median OS: sunitinib 29.3 months vs pazopanib 28.4 months), although with improved tolerability with pazopanib [7].

There is currently a plethora of phase III trials for second line therapy for patients with mRCC that have reported in the past few years. In 2015, the METEOR trial (cabozantinib vs everolimus) reported that PFS was longer in the cabozantinib arm compared to everolimus (HR for death 0.67, 95%CI 0.51-0.89) [8]. A recent updated analysis of this data demonstrated improved OS, delayed disease progression, and improved ORR for cabozantinib [9]. Finally, Motzer and colleagues assessed lenvatinib + everolimus and lenvatinib alone and found that PFS for patients treated with combination therapy (HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.24-0.68) and lenvatinib alone (HR 0.61, 95%CI 0.38-0.98) was improved compared to everolimus alone [10].

In conclusion, there are many novel immune therapy trials on-going, but the landmark trials have established efficacy of multiple therapies in advanced RCC. As Dr. Vaishampayan notes, with multiple therapies available, a discussion of risk/reward ratio should occur with each patient. Certainly, we have hopes that single biomarker driven therapy may eventually be possible, however this is not currently available to ultimately guide precise treatment management.

Presented By: Ulka N. Vaishampayan, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA

Written By: Zachary Klaassen, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Twitter: @zklaassen_md

References:

1. Fyfe G, Fisher RI, Rosenberg SA, et al. Results of treatment of 255 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received high-dose recombinant interleukin-2 therapy. J Clin Oncol 1995 Mar;13(3):688-696.
2. Clark JI, Wong MK, Kaufman HL, et al. Impact of sequencing targeted therapies with high-dose Interleukin-2 Immunotherapy: An Analysis of Outcome and Survival of Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma from an Ongoing Observational IL-2 Clinical Trial: PROCLAIMSM. Clin Genitourin Cancer 2017 Feb;15(1):31-41.
3. Flanigan RC, Mickisch G, Sylvester R, et al. Cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cancer: a combined analysis. J Urol 2004 Mar;171(3):1071-1076.
4. Escudier B, Eisen T, Stadler WM, et al. Sorafenib in advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med 2007 Jan 11;356(2):125-134.
5. Motzer RJ, Hutson TE, Tomczak P, et al. Sunitinib versus interferon alfa in metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med 2007 Jan 11;356(2):115-124.
6. Hudes G, Carducci M, Tomczak P, et al. Temsirolimus, interferon alfa, or both for advanced renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med2007 May 31;356(22):2271-2281.
7. Motzer RJ, Hutson TE, Cella D, et al. Pazopanib versus sunitinib in metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med 2013 Aug 22;369(8):722-731.
8. Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, et al. Cabozantinib versus Everolimus in Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma. N Engl J Med 2015 Nov 5;373(19):1814-1825.
9. Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, et al. Cabozantinib versus Everolimus in advanced renal cell carcinoma (METEOR): final results form a randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2016 Jul;17(7):917-927.
10. Motzer RJ, Hutson TE, Glen H, et al. Lenvatinib, everolimus, and the combination in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a randomized, phase 2, open-label, multicenter trial. Lancet Oncol 2015 Nov;16(15):1473-1482.

at the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting – June 2 – 6, 2017 – Chicago, Illinois, USA

From https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/asco-2017/asco-2017-renal-cancer/96167-asco-2017-current-therapeutics-of-kidney-cancer-landmark-trials.html?utm_source=newsletter_4518&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=asco-2017-day-2-highlights

Go for new cancer treatments

Posted on by MaryO

WHEN it comes to cancer, many healthcare professionals advocate early detection to increase the chances of successful treatment. In reality, this is hardly the case. Although there are no Malaysian-centric statistics, research has shown that almost 50% of cancer patients in Britain are diagnosed late, making treatment less likely to succeed and reducing their chances of survival.

What this means is we need to ensure that patients with late diagnosis are able to access treatment without compromising their quality of life.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or kidney cancer is often diagnosed late. This is because the symptoms for RCC are similar to those of other diseases and may only surface in the late stages. In fact, 49% of patients in Malaysia are diagnosed with RCC when the cancer is in the final stage (Stage IV). A study showed that the five-year survival rate of patients with Stage IV RCC was only 13%.

Kidney cancer is among the top 10 cancers in Western communities. According to the 2007 Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report, RCC accounts for 43.8% of new kidney cancers. However, these statistics are quite dated as it has been nine years since the data was collected.

Advances in medical research have led to new treatment modules. A revised healthcare policy should ideally be aligned with innovation in cancer treatments. Despite new targeted therapies being approved for use in the US and Europe, these therapies are still limited in most parts of South-East Asia, including Malaysia. And even if they are available in the market, patients have to purchase the drugs from private medical facilities, excluding the majority of Malaysians (75%) who seek treatment at government hospitals.

In the treatment for RCC, there is only one drug approved in the government formulary. More options are needed because a single drug may not be right for every patient. For those who are not able to respond to this particular treatment, access to an alternative drug is often a lengthy and uncertain process. For some patients, the options available to them are so dismal, there is almost a case of no option at all.

In developed countries, drug choices are fully funded by the government, leading to patients having equal access to various drugs of treatment that best suit them. In Malaysia, drug choices are limited. Patients may have to pay out-of-pocket to access these treatments, putting them in a financial dilemma of cost versus survival.

In fact, a recent study by Universiti Malaya showed that 5% of cancer patients and their families were pushed into poverty, and that cancer resulted in “financial catastrophe” for almost half of the patients who suffered from economic hardship.

The policy of approving new drugs is based on an analysis of the quality of life years patients gain versus the cost of the drug. Unfortunately, drug affordability is determined by pharmaceutical companies based on the affordability of developed countries. This leads to a mismatch in drug affordability in a country like Malaysia, where Malaysians have a diverse range of economic situations. Furthermore, no matter how clinically effective a drug is touted to be, no drug has been approved in the government formulary in recent years.

Cancer is set to be a major burden of disease worldwide and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is imperative for policy makers to review and update the targeted cancer therapy treatments currently available in the national formulary so that efficacious medicines are accessible to the majority of the population in public hospitals.

We hope increased funding will be made available to assist patients in their treatment, allowing them to live longer with a better quality of life and without putting them at risk of financial catastrophe.

While Malaysia’s public healthcare system continues to evolve to meet the needs of a growing and aging population as well as alarming rate of non-communicable diseases (NCD), let us be aware of the imperative need for this country to also keep abreast of breakthrough therapies available for patients and to champion for these therapies to be accessible at our public hospitals.

Cancer does not discriminate. Every patient, regardless of their economic status or cancer stage, deserves access to treatment.

DATUK DR MOHD IBRAHIM ABDUL WAHID

Medical Director, Beacon International Medical Centre

Vice President of College of Radiology (COR) Malaysia

Is blood in your urine cause for concern?

Posted on by MaryO

blood_urine

Oh, yes!  This was my very first indication that I had kidney cancer.  Here’s part of my story…

From https://cushingsbios.com/2016/05/09/maryo-10-years-cancer-free/

April 28 2006 I picked up my husband for a biopsy and took him to an outpatient surgical center. While I was there waiting for the biopsy to be completed, I started noticing blood in my urine and major abdominal cramps. I left messages for several of my doctors on what I should do. I finally decided to see my PCP after I got my husband home.
When Tom was done with his testing, his doctor took one look at me and asked if I wanted an ambulance. I said no, that I thought I could make it to the emergency room ok – Tom couldn’t drive because of the anesthesia they had given him. I barely made it to the ER and left the car with Tom to park. Tom’s doctor followed us to the ER and became my new doctor.

 

The News Item that inspired this post:

The sight of blood in your urine is enough to make anyone panic. It doesn’t always indicate a serious problem, but it’s important you get it checked out with your doctor.

Blood in the urine is known as hematuria. There are two forms of hematuria:

Gross hematuria – This is when you can see blood in the urine. The urine may look pink, red, or cola-colored due to the presence of red blood cells (RBCs). Most of the time, other than the change in appearance in urine, most people do not have other symptoms.

Microscopic hematuria – This is when you cannot see blood in the urine but it can be detected when examined under a microscope. Most people with microscopic hematuria have no symptoms.

Causes of blood in the urine:
When a person has hematuria, the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract allow blood cells to leak into the urine. Anyone, including children, can be at risk for blood in the urine, and it can occur as a result of many common conditions. Some of those include:

Menstruation
Vigorous or strenuous exercise
Sexual activity
Urinary tract infection
Kidney infection
Kidney or bladder stones
Injury
Family history of kidney disease

More serious problems that could be causing blood in your urine might be:

Kidney or bladder cancer
Polycystic kidney disease
Irritation or swelling in the kidney, prostate in men, or another part of the urinary tract
Blood clots
Sickle cell disease
Enlarged prostate
Medications – the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and penicillin can cause urinary bleeding.

Diagnosing hematuria
Hematuria is diagnosed with a urine sample called a urinalysis. The urine sample is collected in a special container at a doctor’s office and usually tested in a lab for analysis. The lab technician places a strip of chemically treated paper called a dipstick in the urine. If RBCs are present, patches on the dipstick change color. When RBCs are noted, then the urine is further examined under a microscope to make the diagnosis of hematuria.

Depending on the circumstances, the doctor may order further testing such as a urinalysis, blood test, biopsy, cystoscopy, or a kidney imaging test.

Treating hematuria
Hematuria is treated by addressing its underlying cause. If no serious health problem is detected, no treatment may be necessary. If your hematuria is caused by a urinary tract infection, it will be treated with antibiotics. A urinalysis should be repeated within 6 weeks after antibiotic treatment ends to be sure the infection is gone.
Dr. Samadi is a board-certified urologic oncologist trained in open and traditional and laparoscopic surgery and is an expert in robotic prostate surgery. He is chairman of urology, chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and professor of urology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He is a medical correspondent for the Fox News Channel’s Medical A-Team and the chief medical correspondent for am970 in New York City. Learn more at roboticoncology.com. Visit Dr. Samadi’s blog at SamadiMD.com. Follow Dr. Samadi on Twitter and Facebook.

Read more at http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/06/23/is-blood-in-your-urine-cause-for-concern.html

 

Are there any advantages to human growth hormone?

Posted on by MaryO

Harvard Men’s Health Watch

Ask the doctor

Q. I’ve heard about the benefits of human growth hormone (HGH) for older individuals. Is this something I should try?

A. The benefits of HGH supplementation for older adults are unproven, and perhaps most telling is that these products have a negligible effect on HGH levels. In addition, there are concerns about potential side effects.

HGH comes in two forms: injections and pills. Since HGH injections are difficult to administer, pills are often preferred. Yet, these supplements do not actually contain HGH like injections do, because the hormone would quickly break down in the digestive tract. Instead, they contain amino acids that are absorbed by the body, which raises HGH levels. (They are also more expensive and can cost $100-plus for a month’s supply.)

HGH levels naturally decline as people age, which makes sense since our bodies stop growing during the late teenage years. So why would you need higher HGH levels later in life? The hype around HGH comes from a few studies that showed HGH injections can increase lean body mass and shrink body fat, which led to claims of HGH as an “anti-aging” hormone. However, the effects on strength and body weight are quite minimal. In addition, HGH can increase the amount of soft tissues in the body, which can lead to swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and breast tenderness in men.

There is also a concern that HGH might promote cancer growth. (MaryO’Note:  I always mentioned this to doctors when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer.  Even though I couldn’t take HGH for the first 5 years after diagnosis, none of my doctors would confirm a connection between HGH and my cancer)

If you want to improve your strength, forget about HGH and increase your exercise. Some studies suggest this alone may be more effective than HGH supplementation for raising growth hormone levels in the body.

—William Kormos, MD
Editor in Chief, Harvard Men’s Health Watch

Originally published: July 2016

Adapted from http://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/are-there-any-advantages-to-human-growth-hormone

Exelixis’ Kidney Cancer Drug Cabometyx Positive in Phase II

Posted on by MaryO

Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL – Analyst Report) announced positive top-line data from the phase II trial, CABOSUN, on Cabometyx in patients suffering from previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Results showed that Cabometyx led to significant improvement in progression-free survival in patients with previously untreated advanced RCC, compared with sunitinib. Consequently, the trial met its primary endpoint.

Safety data from the Cabometyx arm of the study were consistent with those observed in previous studies in patients with advanced RCC.

Final results of the trial will be presented at a medical conference shortly.

We remind investors that Cabometyx (the tablet formulation of cabozantinib) was approved by the FDA in Apr 2016 for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC, who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.

Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for Cabometyx for review in the same indication. Upon a potential approval, the drug would be marketed in the EU by Exelixis’ partner, Ipsen. The MAA has been granted accelerated assessment by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), which translates a review period of 150 days instead of the standard 210 days.

Exelixis also plans to submit results of the CABOSUN trial to regulatory authorities in order to discuss further development of Cabometyx and submission strategy for the treatment of first-line advanced RCC.

As per the American Cancer Society, kidney cancer is one of the top 10 most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer in both men and women in the U.S. Hence, approval of Cabometyx in first-line advanced RCC will boost its growth prospects significantly.

Exelixis currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the healthcare sector include Abbott Laboratories (ABT – Analyst Report) , Johnson & Johnson (JNJ – Analyst Report) and Sanofi (SNY – Analyst Report) . All three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

From https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/218403/exelixis-kidney-cancer-drug-cabometyx-positive-in-phase-ii

MaryO – 10 Years Cancer-Free!

Posted on by MaryO

WOOHOO

 

Amazing! It’s Been 10 Years, Already.

Today is the Tenth Anniversary of my kidney cancer surgery.  These ten years have been bonus years for me.  For my cancer stage, the 5-year survival rate was 81% and I’ve made it twice that long – so far.
What were the odds I’d get kidney cancer? According to my “risk factors”, I “should” have had colon cancer because both parents and an aunt had it twice each.  Of course, there’s no guarantee that I won’t get that, too.

And the risk factors for kidney cancer aka renal cell carcinoma? The majority of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas. Risk factors for renal cell carcinoma include:

  • Age. Your risk of renal cell carcinoma increases as you age. Renal cell carcinoma occurs most commonly in people 60 and older.

I was younger than this.

  • Sex. Men are more likely to develop renal cell carcinoma than women are.

I am female

  • Smoking. Smokers have a greater risk of renal cell carcinoma than nonsmokers do. The risk increases the longer you smoke and decreases after you quit.

Not me!

  • Obesity. People who are obese have a higher risk of renal cell carcinoma than do people who are considered average weight.

A Cushing’s gift

  • High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases your risk of renal cell carcinoma, but it isn’t clear why. Some research in animals has linked high blood pressure medications to an increased risk of kidney cancer, but studies in people have had conflicting results.

Never had this until the kidney cancer.  It went away immediately post-op but it’s back now.work

  • Chemicals in your workplace. Workers who are exposed to certain chemicals on the job may have a higher risk of renal cell carcinoma. People who work with chemicals such as asbestos, cadmium and trichloroethylene may have an increased risk of kidney cancer.

What?  Me work?  

  • Treatment for kidney failure. People who receive long-term dialysis to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing kidney cancer. People who have a kidney transplant and receive immunosuppressant drugs also are more likely to develop kidney cancer.

Nope.  Some sites also list polycystic  kidney disease.  I don’t have that but half my husband’s family does.  Hmmm – wonder if that’s contagious

  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease. People with this inherited disorder are likely to develop several kinds of tumors, including, in some cases, renal cell carcinoma.

I’ve wondered about this but, you know, it’s too “rare”.

  • Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. Having this inherited condition makes it more likely you’ll develop one or more renal cell carcinomas.

Not that I know of. 

I am so thankful for all my doctors but today I am thankful for Dr. Amir Al-Juburi who saved my life by removing my kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma).
April 28 2006 I picked up my husband for a biopsy and took him to an outpatient surgical center. While I was there waiting for the biopsy to be completed, I started noticing blood in my urine and major abdominal cramps. I left messages for several of my doctors on what I should do. I finally decided to see my PCP after I got my husband home.
When Tom was done with his testing, his doctor took one look at me and asked if I wanted an ambulance. I said no, that I thought I could make it to the emergency room ok – Tom couldn’t drive because of the anesthesia they had given him. I barely made it to the ER and left the car with Tom to park. Tom’s doctor followed us to the ER and became my new doctor.
When I was diagnosed in the ER with kidney cancer, Tom’s doctor said that he could do the surgery but that he would recommend someone even more experienced, Dr. Amir Al-Juburi.
Dr. Amir Al-Juburi has been so kind to me, almost like a kindly grandfather might be, and he got rid of all 10 pounds of my kidney and cancer.
I owe him, the original doctor, and my Cushing’s doctors, my life.
The following are extracted from posts that were made during my kidney cancer diagnosis and surgery in 2006:
From Alice April 29, 2006
This is Mary’s friend, Alice (Dearest of Power Surge).
I’m not going to go into every detail at this time. I will fill you in on more details as I receive them from Mary and Tom. I’m sure Mary posted on the boards that she recently went back to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore to be retested because the tests that had been done the past year were incorrect and she was getting the wrong dose of hGh for the past year. In any event, she was tested again on Thursday and then returned home. The above is just a preface to create a time frame of events. It isn’t the reason I’ve come here to ask for prayers for Mary.
This is: Mary mentioned to me last week that she had noticed some blood in her urine. She was going to get it checked. As it were, when she returned from Johns Hopkins, she drove her husband, Tom, to get his regular biopsy for his history of prostate cancer.
[MaryO’Note:  Alice got the following paragraph wrong.  Fact -The biopsy was at an outpatient surgical center. I drove to the ER and left the car with Tom to park.] While in the emergency room, Mary started having cramps in her stomach and when she went to the rest room, discovered a great deal more blood in her urine. Fortunately, she was at the hospital with her husband when this occurred. The cramps were becoming more severe. The doctors checked her out and they found a tumor in one of her kidneys – the tumor is actually the size of the kidney.
At this point and time, the doctors are recommending removal of the kidney and one of her adrenal glands. One surgeon recommended immediate removal of the kidney. Mary and Tom wanted to first talk with her other doctors and will decide on what surgeon performs the surgery. She never left the hospital where she simply went to take Tom for his test. Instead, she was admitted. She had a great deal of pain last night, but it was helped with pain killers. I will provide hospital details later.
She’s scheduled for an MRI later this morning or early afternoon.
I don’t want to go into much more detail except to say that whatever the condition of the tumor, the prognosis is pretty good.
I know how much all of you love her (as I do), how much she’s done with this site, how hard she’s worked to provide you with so much wonderful information about Cushing’s — plus what a good friend she’s been to so many of you. I also know that those of you who talk to her may want to call her. She needs time to go through all the preliminaries before being inundated with calls.
I will do my best to keep you apprised of Mary’s situation as I receive information. When she gives me the go ahead for giving out the hospital and is ready to take calls, I’ll pass the information along.
Please take a moment to send prayers for {{{{{MaryO}}}}} (she’s “our” MaryO on Power Surge, too) that everything will turn out all right and she will get through this crisis with flying colors.
Dearest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice April 30, 2006
* Addendum: 9:30 AM – made some corrections to the 5 something AM post.
What a beautiful show of love and support.
I spoke to Mary last night. She had the MRI as scheduled. She spoke with her own doctor and they decided on a surgeon, but it means going to another hospital. She said she’d probably be coming home for a day before going in for the surgery.
I hesitated to mention in my first post that the doctors said they * think the kidney tumor is malignant due to it’s size – 5 cm. I’m sure many of you surmised that, or why would the emergency room doctors recommend immediate surgery. However, as I said earlier, Mary and Tom wanted to consult with her own doctor first. She was told that if, in fact, it is kidney cancer and is detected and treated early and confined to the kidney, the chances for a full recovery are good.
Considering what she’s going through, Mary sounded good. Lord knows, she’s been through so much already. God willing, this may resolve some of the other health issues she’s been experiencing.
Knowing Mary, when she returns home for a day before checking into the other hospital for surgery, if she’s up to it, she’ll post here herself and provide you with additional details.
For now, I’ve told you just about all I know.
Keep up those prayers!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice April 30, 2006
11 AM Update:
Mary had a brain scan this morning. She was supposed to have a bone scan today as well, but they’re doing it tomorrow instead, so they told her she could GO HOME TODAY (until she checks into the other hospital for the surgery)! She’s thrilled to be going home and I’m sure she’ll be here posting to all of you herself. You know Mary can’t stay away from computers very long. I’d venture a guess that if they looked inside, her arteries and veins would look more like computer cables (ducking).
We love Mary – so keep on praying that everything goes well, that the tests all yield good results and that she’ll be getting better ‘n better until she’s finished with this whole ordeal
(please, God!)
Reminds me of the phrase . . .
Good, better, best
Never let it rest
Til the good is better
And the better, BEST!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice April 30, 2006
Update – 2:15 PM:
Spoke with Mary. She’s home. She’s resting. The brain scan, chest/lung x-ray, abdominal scan all came out clean. The only test remaining that I know of is the bone scan, but it’s excellent that the above tests yielded good results.
She’s going back to the hospital for the bone scan tomorrow and, hopefully, scheduled for surgery ASAP.
Her attitude is very good. She sounds very good and I know, with God watching over her, and everyone showing so much love and caring, she’ll pull through this with flying colors.
It’s easier for me in conveying information to you to do so with an upbeat attitude. I try to avoid thinking of these things as tragedies or things that make me sick. Of course, I’m saddened and sorry that Mary is going through this — and has gone through so much, but such is life. You all certainly know that very well. Nobody hands us a guarantee that life is going to be without problems. And, yes, as the Morton’s salt container says, It never rains, it pours. But my M.O. is to try to keep as positive as possible, especially when in the throes of life’s unanticipated crises.
I believe the expression, “Attitude” is half the battle won.
Mary’s attitude is excellent and I know in my heart she’s going to come through this just fine.
Alice
P.S. An expression I remember my mother using, “The things we fear never happen. It’s the things we never think about that do!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 2, 2006
There wasn’t much to add yesterday. Mary was scheduled for a bone scan, but first had to have the radioactive tracer substance injection (I presume it was injected — she wasn’t sure herself). She was scheduled to have that around 10:30-11 AM, ET, and then had to return five hours later for the bone scan.
I didn’t speak with her last night, but she text messaged me around 6:30 that she was finally home and that the surgery had been scheduled for a week from today, Tuesday, May 9th at 9:30 AM.
I’ll post the hospital information as the time draws near.
That’s about it for now. She’s still sounding pretty good and wants to get the surgery done already!
Let’s keep those prayers going!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Me May 2, 2006
First off, I’d like to thank you all for your good wishes, support and prayers. I could do the Sally Field thing and say “…and I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!” but I won’t 🙂
I plan to print everything out and take it with me to the hospital as a cheery-upper.
Alice has been such a wonderful friend through all this, calling, checking up on me, keeping all of you updated on things as they are known right now. Her support and love has been such a wonderful blessing in my life, especially now.
As it is, I’m currently feeling “normal” whatever that is. If I didn’t know I had a problem, I would think that I was just fine.
I am fortunate that I found this out before the tumor could grow any larger. I am fortunate that I was close to the ER, not driving home from Baltimore, or in Baltimore, Oklahoma or on the cruise.
I know that the tumor has been growing for quite a while – it’s very large. I saw the MRI images and even I can tell that it’s not normal. As far as I know now, all the other scans have been fine. I had an abdomen CT, chest CT, brain MRI, chest/abdomen MRI and a full body bone scan.
When I was in the ER Friday, they assumed that it was a kidney stone and did the first abdominal CT scan looking to see where that was. They came back with the news that yes, I had a kidney stone but that it was the least of my worries at the moment. So, I was admitted to the hospital and had all the other scans except the bone scan. Knowing what I know now, it would have been better and easier for me to have had the bone scan as an inpatient. As soon as I checked out and was out of the system, it was harder to get an “emergency” (not scheduled weeks in advance) bone scan. Oh, well.
My surgery will be next Tuesday, May 9, at 9:30AM at Fairfax Hospital (http://www.inova.org/inovapublic.srt/ifh/index.jsp ). I’m expected to stay there for 3-5 days post op and they don’t anticipate any pesky complications like chemo or radiation at this time.
For now, I’m keeping my normal schedule, avoiding reading horror stories online, eating, sleeping – even napping! – as usual. Sometimes I even forget that I have this little medical appointment next week.
For a non-phone person I’ve talked with so many people these last few days, it’s mind-boggling.
I’m happy to report that all is not lost on the (Cushie) cruise. Someone will replace me – and there will be another cruise later in the year. YEA! My main “concern” on that now is that I’ll lose weight (finally!) post-op and my cruisewear will no longer fit. Yeah, right.
In thinking back, I think it’s a good thing that my arginine test was messed up in Sept of 05. If it hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have redone it on Thursday. I believe that having that stuff in my body was what made my kidneys rebel and act up on Friday. So, without the lab screw-up I might not have known anything for a long time.
So, it’s all good
Thanks to everyone who has called and posted such wonderful things. I cannot begin to imagine what my email looks like…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 9, 2006, 09:10 AM
I’ve been in constant contact with Mary. Spoke to her at 7 this morning. She, Tom and their son, Michael, were on the way to the hospital. Mary sounded very good as she has all week. She’s going in with an excellent attitude.
She’s probably being prepped right now. The surgery is set for for 9:30 (ET). They anticipate the surgery will last 3 1/2 – 4 hours.
Now, all we can do is pray and wait. Tom will call me after the surgery is over. As soon as I hear something, I’ll make it a point to come back and post what I know.
Your support, love and prayers have been remarkable. Thank you on behalf of Mary. Please keep on praying until it’s over.
God? You listening? You’ve got someone very special to watch over this morning. We’re counting on you!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 9, 2006, 12:33 PM
Mary’s husband, Tom, called me at 12:15
He said it’s going to be another 3 hours – around 3:15 PM – before they’re done. Surgery didn’t start as scheduled at 9:30, but more like 11:30. There wasn’t that much he could tell me except that the doctors said, so far everything is going as expected and Tom said, “so far, so good.”
I hesitate to draw any conclusions from that statement because I’m not 100% sure of what the doctors expected, so it’s a matter of waiting until it’s over.
I’ll keep you posted. Keep praying, please!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 9, 2006, 2:00PM
Tom called at 1:15, but we had a bad connection. We finally connected.
The operation is over. Mary was being sewn up. Tom said according to the doctor, “the tumor and the kidney were removed.” The doctor is calling the operation a “complete success.”
I asked if they saw any signs of cancer anywhere else because Mary had told me originally that they’d said they might remove the gallbladder, too, but they didn’t remove the gallbladder – which is a good sign.
It appears as though everything was concentrated in the kidney.
Thank God. It’s over!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 9 2006, 07:39 PM
Someone said: “… I told her that I would wait until she was home and feeling much better before I talked to her again and she agreed that she wasn’t sure she would be up to taking phone calls. Again, thank you so much for keeping us updated… this way we can know how Mary is doing without her having to take so many calls…”
That’s exactly how Tom and I feel. Tom suggests people not call the hospital. I wouldn’t even call his cell phone all day. I waited for him to contact me. I know he’s also exhausted. I figured he’d call when he was up to it. He called about 15 minutes ago.
It’s important that Mary get all the rest she can while recovering. Yes, everything turned out well, but she still had major surgery, is on morphine and needs her sleep. It’s important that we all allow her this time to rest.
It just so happened she was awake when he called and he turned on his cell phone’s speakerphone so Mary and I could talk for a minute. I was so happy to hear her voice. She sounded tired, her mouth was dry, but she sounded good.
Because this is a public message board, I prefer not to post details of the room she’s in. If anyone wants this information for the purpose of sending something to Mary, please E.mail me from the address you registered with on the board, and please include your user name. Thanks.
Another thing is that Mary has allergies, so for those wishing to send something to her, Tom and I (and Mary, as we discussed before she went into the hospital) agree she’s better off without flowers.
Finally, Tom said the doctor was very pleased with how her surgery went – that her body was quite robust, that there was very little bleeding, so no transfusion was needed, and he was generally very pleased with the surgery.
It’s been a very stressful day. I love Mary like a sister. We’ve been good friends for 11 years. I cried so after he initially called and said everything went well. I know all of you love and care about Mary, too.
All I’ve thought all day is, thank you, God, for watching over MaryO. I know all of you have thought the same thing.
That’s about it for now — she even cracked a personal joke when we said goodbye — she’ll be back to her old self again before too long.
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Alice May 13 2006, 08:10 PM
Saturday Update on Mary:
When she’s back on her computer, I know Mary will be thrilled to read all your thoughtful, beautiful and caring messages.
She’s doing well. The worst part is the incision which is quite large because the doctors originally anticipated the possibility of having to remove the adrenal gland above the kidney that was removed and the gall bladder as well. However, as I posted earlier, once they got in there, everything was found to be clean so they just took out the tumor and the kidney (as if that’s not enough). So, when she gets up to go to the bathroom, the incision is quite painful. I imagine an incision of that size will take a while to heal. Other than that she says she feels good!!
Additionally, the doctor was awaiting the results of the lymph node biopsy (just to be sure) and he told her yesterday, “everything looks clean.”
She was originally scheduled to go home tomorrow, Sunday, but . . . she went home TODAY!
Spoke to her after she arrived home (sorry I didn’t post earlier, but also have my Web site to deal with).
She sounded great and was glad to be home especially since a new person checked into her room yesterday and Mary wasn’t able to sleep all night.
That’s all for now – and all very good news, thank God!
Alice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Me: June 17, 2006 post-op:
Thank you all for your prayers, good wishes, cards, phone calls, gifts, general “cheery-uppers”. They all really helped me on my road to recovery.
I do have a ton of thank you cards to send out to lots of people – I’m very slow at that. Under normal circumstances my handwriting is terrible. Now, post-op kidney cancer, I can no longer take my arthritis meds or any NSAIDs and my writing will probably be even worse 😦
I am very nearly better, not much pain anymore, a nasty big scar and my energy levels aren’t so great. Of course, they were awful before. I can no longer take the GH even though I’m deficient. In 5 years (if I survive!) I can take the GH again, supposedly.
I’ve had a lot of time to do a lot of thinking over the last 6 weeks. I know I was extraordinarily lucky to have my tumor discovered before it was too late. The lab reports and my surgeon reported that it would only have been a week or so before the tumor had hemorrhaged and caused major problems. Thank goodness the arginine retest for GH had caused me to bleed – at least I think that’s what set it off. If I hadn’t had all the blood and pain for one day only, I’d have had no clue that I had this cancer and who knows what would have happened in that next week.
I will be getting CT scans every 3 months for awhile to be sure that there is no cancer hiding out.
During my time of thinking, I have also been thinking about making changes to the boards based on what I have heard was going on here. I am not yet sure how these changes will manifest themselves but I do know that bashing others will not be tolerated. More on this later, in another area.
Again, thank you for all your support!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Me July 6, 2006
Since I recently had surgery for kidney cancer, I’ve been looking around for another board to read and talk about this with other survivors (hopefully!) I haven’t found anyplace I’d like to visit or feel comfortable with yet, so I decided to make a new area here.
I know – or I think I know – that no one else here has had kidney cancer, although I know at least 1 other person has had a kidney removed and several others have reported kidney stones and other possible kidney diseases.
I’m sure that my recovery will be much the same as for any other major abdominal surgery, although I’d like it to be faster.
Before my surgery, I didn’t have time really to consider that I had cancer, and what it meant for my life. There was no going from doctor to doctor, running a different test each week, suspecting that maybe… Just boom, there it is. Cancer.
Now that I’m about 8 weeks post-op, I’m thinking more and more about this and how it might affect my future. I know that there are going to be lots of scans, every 3 months, just to be sure that there wasn’t a cell hiding out.
I know I have to be careful with meds – no NSAIDs so my arthritis is worse. No GH – it’s contraindicated for 5 years…assuming I’m cancer free then.
I’m supposed to be eating less protein, more fruits/veggies, drinking more water.
And I’m supposed to avoid playing football and other things that might damage my remaining kidney.
Normally, I know how very lucky I am. I just reread the path reports and know that the tumor was already hemorrhaging around the borders and the cysts contained hemorrhagic fluid. Things could be much worse.
Sometimes, at night when I can’t sleep, I wonder why I was lucky like this. What haven’t I done with my life that I should. Seems to me that I’ve accomplished what I should already.
And, in the night, I worry about the cancer returning, taking my other kidney or worse.
At this time, there’s no standard chemo unless it’s metastasized, although there are some promising clinical trials and radiation doesn’t seem to work for this kind of cancer, so if it returns it’s more surgery.
I suppose I could/should have put all this in my blog, but I put it out here in case anyone else should need this in the future. I hope not!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From me Aug 19 2006, 01:25 AM
Thanks so much for asking!
Unfortunately, I haven’t read the boards much lately – I’m spending most of my online time deleting/banning the InstaChat intruders.
I have been working on the websites, though, and that’s always fun! I’ve even added a new one to the roster and it has some cool stuff on it. New features to be announced in the upcoming newsletter.
I’ve been even more tired than usual now that I’m off GH. I can’t take my arthritis meds, or anything like Excedrin (no NSAIDs) so my joints are nearly always bothering me and I have to wait out any headaches. I’m also just getting over a UTI.
I just had my 3 month post-op CT scans and I hope they come out ok. At first I was grateful that I wouldn’t have to have chemo or radiation come to find out that neither has been discovered yet which works well with kidney cancer. Apparently, it can resurface any time for the rest of my life. I’m hoping that some of the chemo clinical trials show some good results so I can get this thing before it metastasizes somewhere.
I’m having trouble sleeping (1:20 AM here, now) although I’m always tired. My mind plays all kinds of tricks in the night. Those InstaChat people don’t help, either! When I wake up just a little, instead of falling back asleep, I’ll go check to see what they’ve done.
Whine, whine!
On the plus side – I survived the kidney cancer surgery, and it’s almost vacation time!
Even vacation will be bittersweet, though. 2 years ago, Sue went with us on vacation. She had a great time and she had asked if she could go with us again this year. Of course, we had said yes…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From me May 8 2008, 11:07 PM
I am feeling very maudlin, a bit down and depressed. It’s very nearly the anniversary of my kidney cancer surgery. I posted this in my blog a few days ago:

I’ve been feeling weird for about a week now. Last Friday, I went through the whole “Sending Prayers” topic (MKO’Note: this thread) that my good friend Alice started for me.After I read that, I started reliving all the kidney cancer events…again. I know I shouldn’t do this. My counselor says that this is a very stressful thing to do and it’s not good for me, for anyone. But I do it anyway, especially the pituitary and cancer surgery anniversaries. I wish I did this with good stuff, could relive that instead of the scary and painful.
After I finished rereading all that, I went back to my post in the cancer section: I guess I’ve talked about this more than I think! I just wish there was someone I could get answers and support from. I have never met anyone in real life who has shared my particular brand of cancer, haven’t talked to anyone on the phone or emailed anyone.
I even asked at my local cancer support center about support for me – they have all kinds of meetings, mainly for breast and prostate cancer, but other kinds, too. But they said that there weren’t enough kidney cancer people to have a meeting. The one and only book that the library there has on kidney cancer was given to me by the author to donate there.
Lucky me – two rare diseases that no one gets. According to statistics I should be a black man who smokes and works in the iron and steel industry or is exposed to certain chemical and substances, such as asbestos (a mineral fiber that can be used in construction materials for insulation and as fire-retardant) and cadmium (a rare, soft, bluish-white chemical element used in batteries and plastic industry), also increase the risk for renal cell carcinoma. I should have polycystic kidneys and not drink the copious coffee.
So…where did it come from? A mutation of my parents’ and aunt’s colon cancer or do I still have that looming on my horizon?
And the Cushing’s came from nowhere, too. I know that no one knows these answers but I think of them a lot, especially at night.
Although I’m not afraid of death and would like it to be as peaceful and pain-free as possible, I still dream at night that I’m dying or have died. These dreams have been going on since before the cancer and I can’t seem to shake them although I’m taking them more in stride now and can go right back to sleep.
And from last year’s post on this topic, these still concern me:
What if the lung nodules that “aren’t growing” turn out to be something on the next scan? Is the stomach distress I’m currently feeling a cause to ask for my next colonoscopy a bit earlier?
Is the pain on the other side the other kidney causing trouble? Or something new with an ovary?
What if, what if…?
Seems like in my addled brain any new symptom could be cancer, not the simple stomach bug or pulled muscle.
Had they told me in 2006 that I only had a year or two to live, I’d have thought it far too short a time. I guess how long a year is depends on the frame of mind!
I hate going for scans because they could show something but I get nervous when there are no scans because there could be something else! Seems like my mind is setting me up for a lose-lose situation.
I’m sure as I get closer to Friday that other thoughts will come to me. I am so grateful that I’ve had these two “bonus years”. I feel like there is so much still to do with the Cushing’s sites and I will never get them done in my lifetime but I plan to keep trucking along!

And from Wonderful Words of Life…
I’m acquiring the title of an old hymn for this next post.
After I was finished with the long Cushing’s diagnostic process, surgery and several post-op visits to NIH, I was asked to give the scripture reading at my church. The man who did the sermon that week was the survivor of a horrific accident where he and his family were hit by a van while waiting at an airport.
i thought I had written down the verse carefully. I practiced and practiced, I don’t like speaking in front of a crowd but I said I would. When I got to church, the verse was different. Maybe I wrote it down wrong, maybe someone changed it. Whatever.
This verse has come to have so much meaning in my life. When I saw at a book called A Musician’s Book of Psalms each day had a different psalm. On my birthday, there was “my” psalm so I had to buy this book!
Psalm 116 (New International Version)
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, save me!”
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
10 I believed; therefore I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
11 And in my dismay I said,
“All men are liars.”
12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

I carry a print out of this everywhere I go because I find it very soothing. “when I was in great need, he saved me.” This print out is in a plastic page saver. On the other side there is an article I found after my kidney cancer. I first read this in Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul and is posted several places online.

The Best Day Of My Life
by Gregory M Lousignont
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I’m going to celebrate!
Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.
Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.
I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

When I’m feeling down, depressed or low, reading my 2 special pages can help me more than anything else.

Pipeline Series: Renal Cell Carcinoma – Cancer Therapy Advisor

Posted on by MaryO

In the last decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a variety of kinase inhibitors, including sorafenib, temsirolimus, everolimus, sunitinib, pazopanib, and axitinib—all angiogenesis inhibitor— for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Two additional immunotherapeutic agents;  bevacizumab, which is another antiangiogenic agent; and nivolumab are also indicated for advanced RCC.

…

Cabozantinib

Cabozantinib is an oral, small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), like the angiogenesis inhibitors, as well as MET and AXL. An open-label, phase 3 trial comparing the efficacy of cabozantinib to that of everolimus in patients with RCC that had progressed after VEGFR-targeted therapy demonstrated a 42% lower rate of progression or death with cabozantinib.1

“Cabozantinib is very interesting. Data published in The New England Journal of Medicine in September 2015 and an update presented at the 2016 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium showed that the drug beat the second-line standard everolimus in terms of progression-free survival,” said Dr Choueiri, who also serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Kidney & Testicular Cancers Panel and is chairman of the Medical and Scientific Steering Committee of the Kidney Cancer Association…

Source: Pipeline Series: Renal Cell Carcinoma – Cancer Therapy Advisor

World Cancer Day 2016

Posted on by MaryO

Other Stuff, Part 2: Kidney Cancer

Until I saw it on Facebook, I didn’t know that today was World Cancer Day.  Over the years, our family has dealt with several types of cancer and I have friends that have had cancers of their own.  I think that most every family has been touched by cancer in some way.

In my family:

Colon cancer

  • My dad had it twice and died after his second surgery
  • My aunt had it twice and died after her second surgery.  She was lucky – she never had any symptoms except looking like she was pregnant.
  • My mom had it twice and she’s still alive at 93.  Hooray!  It can be beat with the right attitude.

Kidney Cancer

According to my “risk factors”, I “should” have had colon cancer because both parents and an aunt had it twice each.  Of course, there’s no guarantee that I won’t get that, too.

And the risk factors for kidney cancer aka renal cell carcinoma?  The majority of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas.

Risk factors for renal cell carcinoma include:

  • Age. Your risk of renal cell carcinoma increases as you age. Renal cell carcinoma occurs most commonly in people 60 and older.

I was younger than this.

  • Sex. Men are more likely to develop renal cell carcinoma than women are.

I am female

  • Smoking. Smokers have a greater risk of renal cell carcinoma than nonsmokers do. The risk increases the longer you smoke and decreases after you quit.

Not me!

  • Obesity. People who are obese have a higher risk of renal cell carcinoma than do people who are considered average weight.

A Cushing’s gift

  • High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases your risk of renal cell carcinoma, but it isn’t clear why. Some research in animals has linked high blood pressure medications to an increased risk of kidney cancer, but studies in people have had conflicting results.

Never had this until the kidney cancer.  It went away immediately post-op.

  • Chemicals in your workplace. Workers who are exposed to certain chemicals on the job may have a higher risk of renal cell carcinoma. People who work with chemicals such as asbestos, cadmium and trichloroethylene may have an increased risk of kidney cancer.

What?  Me work?.

  • Treatment for kidney failure. People who receive long-term dialysis to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing kidney cancer. People who have a kidney transplant and receive immunosuppressant drugs also are more likely to develop kidney cancer.

Nope.  Some sites also list polycystic  kidney disease.  I don’t have that but half my husband’s family does.  Hmmm – wonder if that’s contagious

  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease. People with this inherited disorder are likely to develop several kinds of tumors, including, in some cases, renal cell carcinoma.

I’ve wondered about this but, you know, it’s too “rare”.

  • Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. Having this inherited condition makes it more likely you’ll develop one or more renal cell carcinomas.

Not that I know of. 

Pretty close to zero on the risk factors. No signs, no symptoms. I was diagnosed in the ER of my local hospital in 2006.

Skin Cancer

  • My husband has had a variety of melanomas and other skin cancers removed

Breast Cancer

  • Sister-in-Law

Among my friends, there have been many cancers – breast cancers, lung cancers (including people who have never smoked), multiple myelomas,  neuroendocrine cancers (this one is supposed to be really rare.  I have 3 friends with this.), probably some I don’t know about yet – and maybe it is unknown to the person.

Some ideas how to protect yourself and others from cancer.  It could save your life!

New drug improves outcome in treatment resistant kidney cancer – ONA

Posted on by MaryO

 

A new drug is proven more effective than standard therapies for advanced kidney cancer in patients with demonstrated drug resistance.A study trial, led by researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, compared the effectiveness of a new drug, cabozantinib, with the accepted second-line treatment, everolimus (Affinitor).

The trial enrolled 658 patients with clear cell renal carcinoma; all participants had advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma and their disease had worsened following first-line therapy.

Initial therapy for these patients had targeted the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). Cabozantinib proved to be more effective than everolimus in slowing the growth of cancer in these patients and there were early indications that it may have improved their overall survival as well (progression-free survival was a median of 7.4 months vs 3.8 for those using everolimus).

Toni K. Choueiri, MD, clinical director of the Genitourinary Cancer Treatment Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and first author of the report, feels that cabozantinib may also have potential as a first-line treatment for kidney cancer.Cabozantinib has received breakthrough therapy designation from the Food and Drug Administration. Report data were published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Source: New drug improves outcome in treatment resistant kidney cancer – ONA