It Is Cancer

Okay, the headline to this post doesn't express good news, but it isn't necessarily all that bad either. The more detailed CT Scan I had done on Monday clearly shows a solid mass with blood flow and characteristics of cancer. The good news is that even though the mass is very large (over 9 cm), the part that looks cancerous is small. The doctor feels that this is a minor cancer and one that is very slow growing. When I asked about the urgency of having the surgery, he said it should be done sometime in the next few months. As for potential reoccurrence, he said reoccurrence is extremely rare. He said I should expect to live a fully normal life on the one remaining kidney.

The only outstanding question now is what approach the surgeon will use for removal of the kidney. My doctor has referred me to another surgeon who specializes in laparoscopic kidney surgery. The advantage of laparoscopic is that it only requires one day in the hospital and recovery can be as short as a week. Traditional surgery can involve up to a week in the hospital, followed by two to three weeks of recovery.

So, how do we pray about this? First, I continue to believe that God will touch this kidney and miraculously heal the cancer. Please agree with me in prayer for this. Second, if surgery is necessary, pray that the laparoscopic option will be available for me. And finally, pray that God will continue to give me and Tammy patience and comfort as we wait for resolution of this issue. As time passes with this issue being unresolved, patience is becoming a growing concern.