What an Open Liver Resection & Nephrectomy (kidney removal) is like
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.พ. 2022
- Sharing what surgery was like for my stage iv kidney cancer. I had an open liver resection, which included 4 or 5 wedge resections of the liver, ablating ~10 tumors in the liver and a removal of my right kidney.
This isn't a super common surgery for kidney cancer. My type of kidney cancer is extremely rare, I had a metastatic oncocytoma. I also have a bleeding disorder (Von Willebrand's Disease Type 1). My surgery went very well & 6 month later I feel better than ever. I'm extremely grateful for my surgeons & the NCI who took such great care of me.
Feel free to drop any questions in the comments.
Here is link to the wedge pillow I reference in the video that was helpful for recovery at home:
www.amazon.com/Healthy-Spirit...
Hi Katie, I came across your video whilst researching liver resection surgery.. Thank you for taking the time to post it, it was really helpful. I am so sorry that you have had to go through this awful and traumatic experience. You are a very brave young woman. I see that this is over a year old, so god willing you remain and will continue to remain in remission. My thoughts are with you and your family for a bright and prosperous future.
You are the bravest and most open patient I have ever seen…..thank you for sharing such incredible information….I’m sure your journey will be helpful to so many….again you are beautiful and so strong…..God Bless…I am praying for you and your husband and hope to keep up on your journey 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for taking the time and being willing to share your experiences. It is reassuring to know someone's personal experience since, as you know, being hit with a cancer diagnosis is scary and unlike anything one has had to deal with before. Thanks again!
Thank you so very much for your thorough and detailed video. I am just at the beginning of my journey, so lots of questions, concerns, and yes, fear of the unknown. Your videos give me hope. For me it’s a nephrectomy of my left kidney. No observable metastases, but additional scans of chest and bones have been scheduled. I’m in late stage 1, almost 2. I am 68 years old and otherwise in great health. All of this is a bit overwhelming but your videos are helping me cope, plan, and prepare. God
Bless you!
Hi Robert, May I ask how you are doing since you posted this message? I truly hope you are as well as possible. 🦋👼🕯✨️🙏💙
@@bohochic2459 I had surgery to remove my left kidney in early October. The procedure took two and a half hours. Pathology revealed a stage 1 tumor with no metastasis. Yay! Recovery at home: the first few days were understandably rough but I was walking every day and did my breathing exercises with the incentive spirometer. By the 2nd week, I was feeling much better, still had pain but my step count was improving. It was important to me to see daily progress in my step count. By week three I was almost back ti normal and by week four all restrictions were lifted. My post op labs showed creatinine above my normal and lower GFR, but overall I feel great, except for some mild dizziness when I stand up after sitting a while. I had my first post-op chest CT this week and it came back “normal”. Yay! Results of an abdomen MRI are still pending. If both tests are normal, I will see the doctor in 12 months! I go in for lab work today to see how the creatinine and GFR levels look. I have been learning a lot about which foods are kidney friendly so I can give the one I have the best chance of optimal function. My physical activities are pretty much back to normal. I have been hiking near home - yesterday was 6 miles! Last week I rode my bike 12 miles on a paved trail, and two weeks ago I paddled my kayak about 4 miles. I feel like I need to push myself to see where my limitations are. Not knowing if cancer is gone completely or if it will return can be haunting, so all this activity provides a good distraction. Need to keep moving so I can keep moving! The next follow up with my urologist is in 3 weeks at which point we will discuss my recent CT, MRI and lab work. My faith is strong and I give much thanks to God for creating a sense of urgency, aligning me with the medical care I needed, and for the care and support of friends and family, especially those who have shared similar experiences. Thank you for allowing me to share mine! 💕
@@raamosjr Great to hear of your successful surgery and recovery. You've inspired me to do some exercise!
You are amazing!
You’re too kind!
You are so brave, kind, smart, and informative! You touch my heart. ♥
You are so sweet and beautiful. You are a fighter.
Katie, you are so hard on yourself. Your videos are educational and so helpful. You are not rambling at all. One suggestion that may take some pressure off of you when dealing with one specific topic is to do Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (Or more, if needed). Some other people I follow started to do this, and it works well. I just hought this may be helpful because you worry about your videos being too long and there is so much information that you still want to share. Thank you for another great video! 🦋👼🕯✨️🙏💙
I just subscribed ☺️, Will have to tell you about my journey soon. THANK YOU for doing this video.
I would love to hear your journey as well.
This video was very informative, and I know it will help many. Congratulations on your successful surgery. It’s wonderful that you were able to find a doctor willing to do the surgery. Will you require any further treatment, or are you considered cancer free and in remission?
If you are diagnosed with stage 4, you will always be stage 4 even if you are NED, No evidence of disease.
Great information! I am going through just about the same thing you have gone through. I will also have the surgery on my liver in the next 3 weeks and I am terrified. Your story has helped me somewhat get through it all. It's not easy. So are you now cancer free?
Hi Monika - I know you wrote this post 9 months ago. However, I do hope everything went as smoothly as possible with your liver surgery, and that you are on the road to recovery. Sending healing hugs and many blessings. 🦋👼🕯✨️🙏💙
Everyone heals differently. Some heal faster than others.
I have my surgery Feb 2nd and I am thankful for some type of information of what might be expected!!
How did you do ?
So brave and strong 💯
Very helpful!!
Thank you!!
Sending it to my family, too!
Your so brave.
Thank you for explaining everything.
Im having one removed in 3 weeks..
😊😮😊
Thank u so much for the video u made about a kidney biopsy, it really help me , and it didn’t hurt at all … God bless u 👍👮🚔👮♂️🇺🇸
All the best wishes
So glad you were able to have the surgery you fought so hard for!
Do you have to take any post surgery chemo?
I'm so happy to hear you're doing well and almost completely recovered! Has anyone ever told you that you look like a younger version of Tati the beauty TH-camr? So gorgeous! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m so happy to hear of your continued health success. You’re very articulate. And your sharing your story has helped me tremendously. I had a liver resection at the University of Virginia medical center to remove a tumor (11 x 10 x 18cm) attached to it. The surgery was very successful but I was not prepared for this surgery , nor it’s recovery. I’ve looked all over for information, but not in TH-cam. I’m so relieved to hear your story. It’s been 11 weeks now and I have pain. Mostly muscle spasms. I’m wondering if you or anyone have had spasms … and what did you do? Did they eventually stop?
Great info! Interesting to hear you have POTS. That's gonna be what my next science channel. Would be curious to hear if POTS influenced the Docs treatment in anyway, or if your symptoms changed at all before/after surgery.
Perfect timing I actually am uploading a video as we speaking talking about my diagnostic process and touching on that. My symptoms greatly improved after surgery
Thank you for sharing your story. I had a kidney operation (not cancer) a few years ago and was fortunate to get the epidural the first 3 days. I also didn't want pain killers because they make me extremely nauseous. However, it's important to manage pain as part of the recovery process. I'm having issues with my kidney again and was wondering what your labs looked like before you were diagnosed?
Hi Kate, thanks for sharing. I just had liver surgery a few weeks ago to remove some abnormal growth in the upper-rear area of the liver. Won't know what it is until pathology responds with some information. I'm still in recovery at home and it has just passed the 3 week mark. Very tired still.
Week three was one of the most difficult weeks for me. I felt like I made a lot of progress in weeks one and two, then it felt like it slowed down in week three. I started feeling more like myself around week 6 or 7. Sending you the best for a speedy recovery!
@@katiekickscancer_kidney I can agree with that six to seven week mark. I just started the sixth week a couple of days ago and started getting out of the house to visit family, so yes, I'm at an almost normal state. The progress in weeks one and two is what you and doctors want to see. I was out of the hospital on day 8, but could have left on day 5 or 6, but doctors wanted to be sure. Good to hear your better!
I have liver lesions and a rare cancer I am thinking of NIH how did you feel about them and how are you today?..
Thank you for all the information!,
Marie 💜
RiRi Costello - How are you doing, if I may ask? 🦋👼🕯✨️🤭💙
I have to get a liver resection soon!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!! If I can help provide any other tips or feedback from mine, happy to connect!!
As it turned out, the liver resection was taken off the table! My last mri showed the cancer has spread into my lymphnodes, so I don't qualify for resection or transplant! I have no idea what's in store for me! They're going to try immunotherapy!
How are you doing now? Now that you’ve had surgery, are you still taking any kind of systemic treatment?
Thank you for sharing your experience. I wanted to ask if you also experienced a high resting heart rate (100-120 bpm) right after surgery?
I did when I was standing and walking around. Standing and walking until about 2 months after surgery would typically get heart rate to about 135
On earlier video I thought you said you had high platelets
🧡
So with the surgery are you no evidence of cancer or did it cure? I don't know of any stage 4 that has been completely cured. Most of the time it just goes into remission for short times. Sending prayers