Karla, United States

My lymph nodes were swollen under my right armpit. My primary care physician was persistent on getting me an x-ray that day. The hospital didn't want to do it as it was a Saturday. The technician stopped midway of my kidneys. My Dr. called me and said he had good and bad news. The armpit auxiliary was cleared. He then said strangely enough they found a tumor on my left kidney. This all happened from June 08, 2019 to my surgery date July 15, 2019.

I was a surgical cure! I think myself it was more emotional. I was a caregiver for 3 close family members from 2005 through 2015. My Mother, late husband and Father. And they were are treatable not curable. My urologist said to me.. You are curable! I was in disbelief! I had a DaVinci partial left nephrectomy. I never had an oncologist. Only my Urologist! Another confusing thing for me.

I remarried 5 years after my husband passed away. My husband was / is my "Rock!" My son and my brothers too. My best friend lives in Alaska and my husband suggested i go visit her. My Dr. approved me to travel to see her while I was healing.

The day of my surgery was not good once I got to my room. I kept telling my nurse my abdomen hurt. He put more ice packs on me. When the nurse shift changed at 7 pm. My new nurse checked my catheter and found a kink in the catheter lines. I was so relieved when she found the reason for my discomfort other than the normal surgery pain.

Stay positive! Make a list of questions and get copies of every test. Keep a journal of how you are feeling, with the time of symptoms, action taken etc. Keep a medicine journal as well. It helped me when I was a caregiver.