How I Found Out I Had Kidney Cancer - Laura | Stage 4 Kidney Cancer | The Patient Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ค. 2024
- Laura experienced cancer symptoms for years before diagnosis, including fatigue, high blood pressure, and an elevated red blood cell count. Her symptoms worsened with severe back pain and swollen legs. An ER visit then revealed stage 4 kidney cancer.
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[Video Chapters]
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Early symptoms
01:32 Being misdiagnosed for two years
03:14 What led to me ending up in the emergency room
04:30 The frustration of being dismissed all those years
07:10 Officially being diagnosed with kidney cancer
09:30 Coming to terms with my diagnosis
10:40 What happened next
12:35 Going to UCLA for my surgery
13:30 My cancer metastasized
14:56 My only options were clinical trials
17:40 Starting the clinical trial
19:34 The side effects
22:37 How I look at life now
24:24 I stopped treatment in 2020 and my scans have been clear
25:17 Encouraging words for others
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The interview has only been edited for clarity. The interview has only been edited for clarity.
How I Found Out I Had Kidney Cancer - Laura | Stage 4 Kidney Cancer | The Patient Story
• How I Found Out I Had ...
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You know what makes me so angry? Waaaaaay too many of these patients stories have one major thing in common: the doctors DONT LISTEN! What is the point of having doctors if they are not giving proper care? It’s unbelievably sad & frustrating! I thank God I had a dr that reacted super quickly. So much so that it was alarming to me. I thought she was over reacting. turns out I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Uterine (carcinosarcoma) cancer. If she had blown me off i could have very well died before I saw another dr.
I don't know how half of them qualify.
I've always felt like most doctors I go to "over-react." All I have to do is cough and I'm sent for tests lol. I have a drawer full of expired orders for xrays, antibiotics pills, etc. And I've never had one say "no" to a test I requested (even if they expressed that they thought it unnecessary).
@@Anne_Onymous Always take all antibiotics as prescribed - stopping early is how we end up with antibiotic-resistant bugs. It's the responsible thing to do not just for yourself but for society.
@@youtube_username_ Not if ya never start them. But thanks doc.
The interest is that they make a lot of money!
Ugh, patient blaming - lose weight, reduce stress. Yet she had abnormal bloodwork and hypertension. 😡
Yes, she was dismissed and part of it was fat phobia.
As a medical doctor with now stage IV kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), I can tell you this type of cancer is difficult to diagnose. If it were easy, I would have diagnosed myself. No symptoms until my tumor was 10 cm in diameter and stage 3b; at the time I was also a competitive triathlete so a little bit of muscular and back pain wasn't terribly unusual. When patients present with back discomfort, 99% of the time, the problem is NOT cancer of any kind. I'm 9 years nearly to the day into my diagnosis and still being productive, but have had several surgeries and now have a new area of concern in the lung. I've had two courses of therapy; I'm going to assume it has slowed progression, but I can't be 100% sure. I've run 4 marathons since my original diagnosis and plan to run another one in Belgium next month. I hope all who have this disease have the best possible outcome.
God bless you! Hope your spot of concern is nothing major or can be easily dealt with! Cancer is hard to diagnose, especially in younger people. Like you said it’s almost always something else
Oh, I will keep you in my prayers, Sam. You sound like a real trooper, but that doesn't mean that you aren't worried or afraid! It just means that you are better than some of us at keeping yourself SO busy that there's not much time to get into your head and dwell on things. Isn't it strange that people tend to forget that doctors DO get sick, also?! Sometimes they forget that you are just like the rest of us mere mortals and, in fact, YOU are exposed to more illnesses than we are. Well, I am starting to yack & yack so I will go...just know that a 67-year-old lady in Des Moines, Iowa (smack in the heartland!) is praying for you! May God richly bless you and those who love you... 😊❤🧸
Sam, you are not doing your body a favour by doing all this extreme sport. Being such an ambitious athlete at this high, competitive level is surpressing your immune system and probably contributed to the cancer in the first place. Look it up. Remember the good old aphorism "that too much and too little ruin everything". That is true. Buddha also talked about finding the middle road. Try to find a healthy, sound balance when doing sport - and remember to rest often.
@@azalea1404 Yes, I find solace at my local Buddhist Wat here in Tampa, it creates a feeling of deep peace. Exercise boosts immunity though. I think my cancer reflects my chemistry major in college and working with highly reactive organophosphate chemicals at a time when safety measures we have today weren't in place.
Yes but as a doctor please acknowledge men are not dismissed as easily as women. Women are much more likley to have their gender, their weight or their mental health blamed and have any real diagnosis put off. You had a better chance of getting help sooner than her, even if it wasn't as soon as you wished.
Your primary who missed your diagnosis for 2 years should not be just let off the hook. They should be held accountable! How many other patients have they mis-treated?
The doctors didn’t listen to my mom for two years. My beautiful, sweet mom died of kidney cancer that was diagnosed too late.
@@hawks12thfan9
I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom. 😢
From another Hawks fan in Seattle ❤
If you can afford a medical malpractice attorney, you can sue for delay in diagnosis and treatment, shortening life (or actual death), etc. There may be a limitation as to how long you can wait to report it. It's hard to add this on in the middle of an illness, but may be worth it too long to initiate. The money could support any children left behind or for them later. I'm sure each state has different rules and methods, but the way it's done in my state is different from all other states. I could have done this when my mother unexpectedly died from MRSA after an outpatient surgery. I didn't know I could and regret it now. My job of the past several years relates to this. I had to address three medical issues in 18 months. I made sure I had good doctors. (Dropped one out of six.) But the young woman who did this video was in need of the best doctors and I think she did great in her choices! Sometimes medicine is a bit of a crap shoot.
They are called practitioners for a reason. They practise and if they haven’t experienced a previous patient with the exact same scenario they start playing darts 🎯
My husband's urologist told him that kidney cancer is still very hard to diagnose because of how the kidneys are situated, so normally it isn't found until the patient feels a lump or has blood in their urine, and by then it's late.
Don't go blaming the drs all the time; I am sure they would order CT scans and MRIs, but you know how insurance companies frown on docs "wasting money" on that!
My late husband had Kidney cancer, but, because he'd had a splenectomy( his spleen was removed) he found it himself, he went to the PCP, sent him for a CT scan. Results came in; it was a tumor, so his kidney was removed by the best urologist in the area. The doctor told him he was lucky because he found it in time. And it was completely encapsulated and hadn't spread. The doctor said kidney cancer usually is difficult to diagnose, and it usually isn't found until stage 3. He lived another 28 years.
How did he find it himself?
Nice! What were his symptoms? How did he find it himself? Thank you.
He was laying on his side, and thought the sheet was wrinkled, so he straightened out the sheet, but when he laid back down, he still felt it, so that was when he felt the spot on his body, and felt a lump. He waited a couple days, had me feel it, and I got him to the doctor within a week. They removed his kidney and the tumor less than a month later. He lived another19 years!
I made a mistake with my math in the original post. It 19 years, not 28
My doctor told me I was just overweight even though I explained to him there was something wrong, turned out my kidneys were failing from a rare condition. These "doctors" should be liable
My 45 yr old husband was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer 23 years ago. There were no treatments at the time. It was a huge tumor. He had a backache but just thought it was our mattress or some other trivial reason. He was gone in 4 months. Tragic. It’s good to know there are treatments now. This story makes me so angry that doctors just dismiss what patients are telling them!
Oh my, so sorry dear! My granddaughter had stage 4 with one kidney removed - wish he could have been helped.
As a doctor, I was taught it is not rare if it’s in your chair! Great advice!! I’m happy you responded well to your treatments.
omg! 13 cm is huge! 1 inch = 2.54 cm, so roughly 5 inches? so so sorry it was missed for so long :( I am 70, it is so frightening to see so much more cancer, different types, in younger and younger people :( You are so strong! 🙏 for you ❤️❤️❤️
There actually isn't more cancer in young people. There's just more awareness due to social media. Young people have always been getting cancer sadly. It was just that in previous generations we never heard about it.
I had a polyp for 27 years until one day I saw blood in my urine. I immediately thought that the polyp was acting out. Went to the urologist, and he said don't worry women don't get bladder cancer. insisted he remove it. The pathology report came back as grade O. That was in 2019, and as of today, I am still battling this disease.
The good thing is that the tumors are high-risk but superficial.
@@pm2886no, there is literally a 80% increase in cancers in young people.
My 30 yr old son was diagnosed with stage two kidney cancer last year. He went to dr for back pain being very tired and had lost weight without trying dr said prob from working out at gym but did blood work it showed blood in urine so dr repeated it three times still same result sent him for x ray it showed a mass on kidney dr told him prob nothing since he’s young he told dr he wanted more test so had an mri found it was a tumor suspicious for cancer dr still said don’t worry it’s usually older people who have kidney cancer had a biopsy it was cancer so he had half of kidney removed after 8 months he’s been having same symptoms asked dr for test to see if came back or in other kidney did blood test found some abnormal cells but said get vitamin b shots and can’t have scan till it’s been over a year I think it’s the insurance won’t pay he’s tried to insist to the dr but he told him to see a therapist to find out why he thinks he still has cancer. The medical system is unbelievable his insurance company is Kaiser
I’m going through something kinda similar I’m also 30 they act we can’t get cancer because we are younger an just totally ignore us it is crazy , I feel like my doctors are trying to kill me they almost did after my first surgery this passed Monday my heart rate was only in the 30s blood pressure was dangerously low was in critical condition they wouldn’t let my mother come back there and lied to her said they were trying to control my pain is why she couldn’t come back there but they were actually trying to keep me alive , I was pouring blood like a faucet was turned on for 3 days after my surgery like soak through my heavy flow period panties and run down my legs and pour on the floor then passed a blood clot the size of your fist and about 2 inches thick literally felt and looked like an organ all the while I am having horrible chest pain hard to breathe and having heart palpitations even days after my surgery went back to the emergency room 3 times because my discharge papers said if I had any symptoms like that to get immediate medical attention and my doctor told me to go all for them to tell me it was normal oh and I had not had a bowel movement in over a week but that is normal too , I just can’t believe how I have been treated through all this .
@@Godfirst1177That’s such terrible treatment. It’s such a shame how we have to be our own dr/advocate for the care we need. I really wish drs would listen to their patients. Nobody knows their own body better, even drs.
The US healthcare system is a disaster. If people can’t be treated humanely no use being the most wealthy country in the world.
I have an identical story. Scary part my back pain was sooooo bad I couldn’t even get dressed. It was the ER who finally made me feel like someone was listening and helping me. March was 3 years since surgery and year 2 in treatment since it was advanced and went to my lungs. I’m a huge advocate for CCRCC.
I wish you lots of love and luck, Laura. My daughter was treated by our GP for a spastic colon for 2 years. I finally got her an appointment with a specialist and she was dx with stage 3 kidney cancer. When she had her kidney removed, the tumour was still encapsulated in the kidney. It weighed 1kg (2.2lɓs). She died 6 months later aged just 18. My husband died of kidney cancer 1 week later, along with several neighbours. It turned out to be an area cancer (radon gas in the soil).
Holy cow! I’m so sorry for your loss and everyone else’s in that area.
So sorry
That is so crazy and heartbreaking I’m so sorry for your loss may the Lord Jesus be with you!
*So sorry this happened to you and your loved ones. I pray you have love and support. Please inform us what area this is happening and any additional things you think we should know so we can do to protect ourselves and loved ones. Thank you and ❤
No words will ever help with the pain you have endured - big hugs to you - thoughts and prayers are with you
They did that to my friend who at 57 knew some thing was wrong. The DR's kept putting her off for two years. Finally an intern pushed for a MIR. The results were stage 4 ovarian cancer. Three day later she under went an 11.5 hour surgery with chemo and radiology following. Four years later more surgery and more parts taken out. If anything is suspected go and pay for your own MIR. Don't wait for the DR's finally decided there "might be a problem".
Sadly, not evercan afford a $1,000 or more MRI.
Such a travesty. 😢 The intern was the only responsible one to push for more testing.
You are a beautiful person...inside and out. Thank-you so much for sharing your story and this crucial information. May God bless and keep you always.
Congratulations on the succesful treatment of your cancer. Stay well and take care.
I know what you mean. If I hadn't pushed to find out why I kept getting UTIs the specialist wouldn't have found bladder cancer.
I think I might have cancer also and have been sounding the alarm for 8 months... No one takes it seriously. Now that I've had gross he material that actually included clots... And took pictures I got a little more leway. Nevertheless I've waited 3 weeks for my urologist referral phone call. I'm bout to call my nephrologist and ask about it. If I have cancer, they're gonna let me die. I try to be understanding and put myself in the doctors shoes but I'm starting to feel that they're just negligent
@brendamagallanes7621
It's really scary that we have to be afraid of dying from cancer because our Doctors won't take things seriously.
I was seeing a physician's assistant and I liked her but I was going in all the time with UTI symptoms and never actually having one. I asked her, should I go see a urologist?? She wouldn't refer me! She said at this point she could treat me, no need for a specialist! How does she know?? She didn't even bother to order any type of scans.
I changed providers and he immediately sent me to the urologist.
I just had a cystoscopy last week and everything is fine with my bladder.
He diagnosed me with interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome.
I still have this pain in my kidney area though that's bothering me. I had a CT and my kidneys looked good. So I don't know! I'm so sorry you are dealing with the frustration of not being heard! I hope you don't have cancer. 😢
I am in awe of this beautiful woman…the strength and bravery, the patience and determination. I’m not sure I would react the same. She has incredible dedication and devotion in protecting her family from their emotional pain. She is truly a warrior against a disease that we will conquer soon.
My heart and prayers go out to her and her family 🙏🏻❤️
I wish you all the best. You have a wonderful attitude. I am a kidney cancer survivor too. My tumours were picked up last year by a routine scan checking out my prostate ( which was fine). Within 48 hours and a CT scan later, I was in the surgeon's rooms being told i had cancer and that he would remove one kidney. I had the robotic surgery one week later. I was out of hospital in 48 hours and home to recover. I was stage 2 with no symptoms. Told i have a " good prognosis" so ill go with that. This was 8 months ago and i feel fine now.
🙏 for you. I was diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2020. Mr first symptom was my left led was swollen. My pc had me go for ultra sound thinking blood clot (my thought also) . That was clear no blood clot. I had her do more xrays of my lower back cos my back pain was getting worse. That's when the kidney cancer was diagnosed. They removed my left kidney in August 2020 . Then my urologist told me there were lesions on my bladder. Before he could do bladder surgery my cancer metastasized to my brain. I had those lesions removed .Now i have plates and 13 screws in my brain.I ended up going to Dana Farber where they did radiation on my brain and then the medical oncologist i had at that time put me on Cabometyx plus Opdivo infusion. I started my immunotherapy 2 yrs ago and within the 1st year i was NED. It's 2024 and im not sure how long i will be on it. And yes the side effects are ABSOLUTELY horrible. But im aluve and i thank God for that.
Agree 100 percent! I was 58 and very sick for one year. After developing 8-9 lumps all around my neck I was diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma in 2021. Disgusting! 🇨🇦
Sorry to hear. 💛
🫶🏽🤍
I pray for you 🙏❤️🙏❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦..
What a brave woman you are and how beautifully you told your story. Thank you so much, friend!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. There is so much valuable information in this video. If only doctors would err on the side of caution instead of writing symptoms off as anxiety, weight and all in your head. I am so happy you are doing well. ❤
Im 9 years into being ill with some mystery illness..granted it hasnt killed me..yet . but its misery and has changed me drastically. I msy mot have cancer thats been detected but i know how difficult it is when no one listens and they do the bare minimum testing and you keep suffering. Thank God you finally got a diagnosis . 🙏💜
My father just passed from stage 4 kidney cancer. The first urologist ignored a cyst he had for years, the second urologist he went to for a second opinion once he had blood in his urine went in to break up a kidney stone and found the tumor ( a.k.a cyst). He was 90 and lived a great life, but he died shortly after they found it. Be your own advocate, refuse to be discounted if you are concerned.
This channel is absolutely incredible Stephanie ❤- you’re doing a remarkable job. 💯 … I’m not quite sure why I’m addicted to all of the stories but this story in particular really struck me as my husband just had a blood test he has had excruciating back pain - but trying to get a guy who is a workaholic to a doctor for tests has been a struggle .,, he just went last week - but this story here - I mean this woman is a walking miracle and you immediately fall in love ❤ with her - that’s just the way I’m feeling about her and all she has been through. Her insight is incredible. Just wanted you to know we’re out here - in Toronto - and we’re avid listeners! Thank you both so very much! ❤❤
I had stage 4 kidney cancer in 2009. Left kidney out
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It will help others I’m sure. I’m having a scan tomorrow after telling my doctors and any other medical staff that I have had enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomen and a change in bowel habits. After two years finally I have a scan booked. Let’s hope it’s not something that has been missed .I wish you the very best for your future health.
Wishing you the best best for tomorrow ❤
Hope it turns out good for you 💕
❤️
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Please, update us! 🫶🏽🤍
Thank you for sharing! I live 2 hours away from the closet Kidney Clinic! I have been dealing with Kidney stones & Blood in my Urine & constant pain for a couple of years now! All they told me when I seen them last year was that there is nothing they can do for me unless a Stone gets stuck & I come down with Sepsis! Now I am in constant pain & I am constantly short of Breath! I seriously don't know what to do! I feel like the doctors think I am Crazy!
You have seen a urologist?
@@sotired9790 Yes, that is what they told Me. I feel so Defeted by these rural Doctors! I have so many other Medical issues on top of having my Thyroid removed at age 15 due to Thyroid Cancer & I had to have 2 Rounds of Radiation at age 15 &16! Now I am 39 & just had my Gallbladder removed due to an overactive Gallbladder! I mean it's not like I am being Dramatic the proof is in the pudding! I have had so many other Surgies not because I wanted them but because I needed them! I am so Greatful to be Cancer Free for over 20 years now but now I am dealing with so many other Health Problems & I feel like I am never being heard! It's like I have to choose my Battles, which problems can I live with & which ones are worth fighting for!!! Uugghhh it's a never ending issue! I just hope I can make it til my Daughter graduates as well! I am glad that I can see people talk about there stories because it gives me hope not to give up on myself! I can't give up, I have to keep fighting for my health! I want to see my Daughter Graduate & I want to have Grandbabies someday! Thank you for all of you who have the courage to get on Utube and talk about your Medical Issues 💯
Go see a nephrologist--a kidney specialist. The difficulty breathing may be due to kidney disease, causing fluid to build up in your lungs.(?)
If you’re dealing with kidney stones you can try mixing apple cider vinegar in your water! That helps dissolve the stones and helps with pain! Corn silk tea will help clear the stones out too... ever since I passed my stone that was stuck last year I’ve been drinking both of those daily to avoid another stone... good luck! 🙏💕
@Eleisha, have you had a colonoscopy? If not, if you can afford it, do it! Blood in the urine could be colon cancer. A friend of mine was in his 40, like 42 or so. The Dr thought he might have hemorrhoids, but even though he was way young to have colon cancer, he decided to send him to have a colonoscopy just in case. My friend ended up having Colon Cancer (Stage 3). He had surgery & I believe 6 months of chemotherapy and thank God he is just fine, cancer free for at least 5 yrs so far.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story.
I've been listening to alot of patients/cancer, ALOT, are not listened to.
Shame on your primary care doctor
Same thing happened to my husband after pet scans ct scans he was diagnosed with stage 4 by an ER doctor
I hear alot of stories lately of ER docs being the ones finding cancer!
I'm sorry about your hubby 😢
My father in law had blood in his urine. He went to a doctor who scoped his bladder. (This was in the late 90’s). He saw nothing and told him he was fine, and to go home. My father in law continued to have blood in his urine a few times a month. He thought it was ok, because he was told he was ok. He had this go on for months. He was looking for another doctor, but found another one and the same Urology office. He also found out that the first doctor was as not a Board Certified Urolgist, but the second one was. He went in to his appointment and the second doctor ordered a scan on his kidneys. Huge tumor inside one of them. He was already stage 4. This first non certified doctor dropped the ball completely. My beloved father in law chose to forgo chemo. He was 79, and wanted to enjoy the life he had left. 9 months later he passed away. I believe this first Dr. was incompetent- my father in law didn’t want to sue, he felt he couldn’t go thru that. 😢
I am sorry this happened to you. Sadness is understated when it comes to young or less than middle age people.
This happens to patients of all ages. I lost a friend last year to cancer that was diagnosed too late, but my friend was going to his doctor and asked what was wrong many times and was told not to worry. I know someone older who had back aches on
Y to fall down due to sudden paralysis and find out he had cancer in his back, that came from his lungs. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer months after he went to the doctor about his back and was given weeks, not months to live.
Too many people are not diagnosed early enough these days. Doctors need to listen and do their due diligence.
This is scary. Good luck to you!
My cousin was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. At this point, that's really all we know. I hope he has as good of care as you eventually got.
I'm glad you went back and spoke with your PCP. It's sad that they don't always take their patients seriously.
You are a very beautiful lady,thank you for sharing your traumatic journey.I’m so happy you’re on your way and advocating for others,on the same journey.Blessings♥️🇨🇦
I suspect all of these lack of proper diagnoses has to do with medical plans ordering doctors not to go crazy with tests. Hope all of those that have been gaslighted can have a good outcome in your illnesses.
THIS!!! Many people think you can just go to the doctor and they will get whatever tests they need. That isn’t the case.. Many doctors can order test but if the insurance companies think it’s not needed. You can try and fight it all you want. I had three doctors in different fields ordering the same treatment. Took my insurance company 8 months of fighting to approve it!!!! Paying out of pocket is impossible for moats
What blood level was off that you talked about in the beginning of the video?
You are absolutely correct!
Please don’t forget, many of these doctors are at the mercy of the facilities. These facilities are at the mercy of the INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!! So, yes doctors don’t order extra tests until the very last. They can’t order things that the insurance company will deny. Trust me they will deny tests they don’t think are necessary. No matter how many doctors prefer it. You have to fight insurance companies to get “unnecessary test”. That’s why they do only regular blood test and basic tests.
That’s a cop out a cop out for the lack of concern. These doctors have if they have suspicion they can definitely document, and they definitely have the CPT codes to get the billing through. I had to fight. I am dying of cancer myself, but was denied by a doctor, and yes I thought but that doctor has been dismissed as of two years ago and is still paying for my care because of his negligence he used excuses about the hospital too. They have to document they have to want to help you and they have to not be pre-judging a client because of the way they look their skin toner any other reason I am blind and in a wheelchair and he didn’t think it was important. He did not know that I am a guitar teacher at a PhD student. He judged me from my disability and did not treat me as he would’ve anybody. Normally, it’s truly sad this whole damn country, and all their excuses. Excuses for confidence are simply that we can blame and pass the buck all day long. Who’s going to take responsibility Are we just going to keep saying it was an act that they died? It was an accident that we didn’t notice. I’m sorry it’s not an accident it’s just an excuse and I’m living proof of those excuses as I lay in my Virginia residence now fighting for my life believe me I know the difference between want to And to the doctors don’t care it is a sign of everything else that’s going on in our society 13:15 13:15 13:15 13:15
Sorry, but if they believe that the patient might have cancer they should be able to get the testing orders to go through. And if not, there SHOULD be someone in the billing department of your PC who is good at fighting like hell in the patient's favor! I raised two kids (well, I can't get my 43-year-old son to understand it's time to go...but he had a brain injury in 2012, so I admit I am probably easy on him!), and I DARE any insurance company to deny a test, on one of my kids, that is to see if there is cancer in their body! I get a very nasty, ugly, case of "mama bear" syndrome, that usually ends with me on top!
I have every symptom. High red blood cell count x 4 years, high blood pressure, severe back pain, fatigue and right leg swelling down to my foot. I have brought everything up with my PCP and I am blown off. It started with fatigue and high red blood cells, then high blood pressure, and leg swelling. It's amazing that I have brought everything to several providers and it's dismissed.
Omg! Please go to the ER and tell them! No one should ever underestimate the ER. You get answers way quicker. It’s sad but it’s true. I believe that’s one of many reasons ER doctors make so much more than doctors outside the ER. If you don’t believe it, check it for yourselves.
Wow, it was kismet that you went to the ER and had that specific ER doctor. Thank you for sharing your story. You tell it so well, you are beautiful inside and out! I wish you the best and a long and beautiful life.
GOD bless you!❤
hi from Southwest Louisiana, you are so courageous! take care ❤. love your fleur de lis!
A very inspirational young lady 🥲
My father passed away two months from kidney cancer. He was first told that he had a cyst. Later on, they found out it was a small tumor. The doctors told him that it was growing very slowly, and did not recommend surgery at the time. However, suddenly, the tumor began to grow very rapidly, and became quite large, 8cm. He had a nephrectomy, the cancer was localized, and he was doing well, but, a few days later, he developed pneumonia. He was first placed on a ventilator, then had a tracheotomy, and unfortunately, passed away. I was very close to my father, and miss him so much.
So sorry for your loss
Wishing you continued good health ❤
What an inspiration your story is .. thank you for sharing with us ❤
So grateful your treatments worked so well. You are a beautiful and brave person.
Glad you are having good test results now. Also sorry you had to go through so much to get to this point. I dealt with a low grade bladder cancer last year after having symptoms for a couple of years. I took antibiotics during this period and it helped but to make a long story short finally got hooked up with a good urologist that put me through BCG Immunotherapy and it has cleared up my problem as of now. Like you I will have lots of follow ups over the next several years so keeping my fingers crossed for myself and you.
Thank you Heavenly Father for healing this beautiful young lady🙏🏼Thank you for sharing your story and for listening to your own body🙌🏼🩷
Ah the old "lose weight" BS!!! How ridiculous!!!!! 😨 Don't even get me started on the medical gaslighting that was used against this beautiful girl!!
Time is a gift ❤
🙏 ❤️ 🙏
For You & All
I think it's interesting that you put off seeking follow up because Mom was in town and you didn't want to freak her out. And then secondly, your empathy for the doc who may have mishandled your health status. I mean, sure this doc was concerned for you, but the tears were likely a mix of fear for self and for you. Look out for you. I thank you for posting and wish you the best.
Both of my parents were “zebras” with different rare diseases. It makes me wonder how many diagnoses are completely missed (meaning they might be more common than it appears).
The BEST dr's and vets ALWAYS rule out the most SERIOUS possible scenario FIRST and work backwards from there.. They are in control of people's lives , and they have a responsibility to do the best thing by the patient...not fart ass around taking months or years to get a diagnosis. My mother is alive 16 years after 3 serious cancers because here DR jumped on any new symptom and ruled cancer out...or found out it was and then started treatment.
I'm so sorry...they failed you.
My nephew is a paediatrician, he says he always starts with the worst possible cause of the symptoms and works backwards. Just makes sense to me.
@@vivhalaska72 Time is of the essence...
You needed to do that to her. Don't feel guilty. There's always tests can be done and the fact symptoms were so persistent.
Like, you couldn't walk -"oh don't worry about that!" That's BS.
Your doctor SHOULD have felt horrible.
Prob crocodile tears as she was worried she was going to get sued!
Blessings of peace & HOPE, Amen ty for sharing your story.
More Dr's making mistakes, this tees me off it's Always best to seek another opinion.I hope you get the help
you need 🦋
And a good doctor will never object to a second opinion.
Sound is a bit muffled but my heart goes out to her x
Finally! THANK GOD! This is the first patient to say she went to a different doctor. While watching these stories today. All I keep thinking is why aren’t these woman going to see a different doctor. Thank Goodness she did chose to go to the ER and didn’t wait any longer!
amazing story of survival yay~~! I heard going to the ER in the US is terribly expensive…how above ct scans also very expensive?
Very...
Laura, you are so precious. The medical community let you down big time, you needed answers, being so young, they weren't alarmed w/your symptoms and didn't dig. Love U.
My sister was diagnosed in 2023 at age 64. Surgery cured her so far....one kidney removed.
Yeah, my mom is 83 this year and about 5 years ago.They diagnosed her with kidney cancer and they had to remove her kidney because of a tumor on it.And she had been suffering with pain for a long time.And she finally decided to go to the Doctor and that Is when they diagnosed her with the cancer and they had her scheduled pretty quickly to get her kidney removed and she has been doing pretty will up until now, and she's just not been feeling good at all, and they said her kidney. The one remaining kidney is doing fine and it's just her age. I think it's catching up with her.
Uh oh. I have had an issue with some numbers that are off and I have been told the same thing. You only felt like a hypochondriac because they dismissed your concerns. The biggest reason is they think we should "look sick"
A lot of people think that lol it’s crazy
Hi, my name is Adam and I just want to know I support you and your walk. I have rental cell carcinoma stage three and I have had that now for three years and I am 49 so you’re definitely young but my mother died at 61 from renal cell carcinoma, I was adopted and just found her recently and when I found her she had the same cancer I do a little scary, I truly wish you all the best God be with you it took me 19 visits to the emergency room before they finally did a CT scan. My back pain was so intense and to tell you the truth what’s funny as they kept giving me excuses for the pain in my urethra they just kept giving me excuses and telling me how healthy I was. I was so convinced I was dying. I lost 80 pounds finally they did a CT scan and found the tumor. I had my surgery three weeks later And I am still fighting what they didn’t get. Unfortunately, my tumor wasn’t quite as big as yours but still 9 cm but I don’t know why they just didn’t take the whole damn kidney because now I’m fighting it because it spread they just didn’t do their job and it’s gonna cost me my life. There’s no doubt about that because it eventually kills. God bless you and good luck. I hope your answers turn out better than mine but stage three purging stage four I am certain That eventually if the cancer doesn’t kill me, the treatment will God bless you 6:00
I hope you fired your primary care Dr. She sounds completely incompetent. I think at your age, Drs assume it’s nothing. They need to be retrained to be more vigilant about symptoms.
I hate when physicians gaslight patients . Sending them to psychiatrists and writing them off as having anxiety. In med school you are taught , if a patient tells you that something is totally out of character for them , listen and check it out . If it takes 800 tests to find out the problem than you do the 800 tests . As physicians you are trained to instinctively recognize a serious a problem and to go with the worse case scenario and work your way to the lesser disease . Laura's Doctor messed her up big time . She is not the first woman who was been ignored by their G.P. Men too , get the " oh it's stress " which is not a differential diagnosis for patients with real symptoms . I think every Doctor in training should be sent to a third world country for a semester . You really have to have sharp clinical skills in that setting, because they will tell your medical school how sharp you are and it could mean repeating a semester . Your taught diagnostic skills in med school, science and how to apply it in medicine, then in clinicals you are exposed to all sorts of patients and that's where the rubber meets the road . When Doctors take their oath , to do no harm , it's an oath before their maker . Laura was harmed by a Doctor that was too.lazy or stupid to recognize that the patient had suspicious symptoms that should have alarm bells go off in her head . Laura and other patients that suffer at the hands of physicians that don't do their jobs should be held accountable in court . In the US you pay to see a Doctor and it's buyer be ware . If you feel sick and their are changes to your body and not taken seriously , go to another Doctor. Laura thank God they found a drug that worked for you . God bless and take care 🙏❤️👍
It’s insane how doctors continually ignore anomalies in this day and age. These days we need to look for zebras first.
What level was off? During bloodwork...first one you mentioned
These stories could be more helpful if the patient's mentioned the financial decisions that went with the medical treatments. Many of these options that are taken, for example UCLA, seem cost prohibitive.
Every case of young hypertension needs ultrasound kidneys as early as possible to rule out renal artery stenosis or pheochromocytoma.
There are def more zebras out there than they think and they're not found exactly because of being taught not to look for them😢
I've been the zebra too.
Bless you for sharing your story.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🩷
Women desperately need to be taken seriously!! We KNOW our bodies!! If somethings wrong we know it!!
Inexcusable
amongst everything else, did you do anything to change your diet? what did you eat more of or less of?
What was the blood work item that was a bit high? When the red blood cells were high, were they still within normal levels? I am hoping they find new medicines to help you.
From now on I’m going to say “prove to me it’s not cancer and I’ll be ok.”
Right! I’m at that point myself!
14 yrs ago transional cell carcinoma kidney and ureter. After surgery no chemo. I just go for my check ups. The only reason i found out i had CA was my gynaecologist found blood in my urine. No infections. No backache, no weight loss. Just had general tiredness. It was stage 4 partially encapsulated. Praise God im 14 yrs still OK. Cancer sucks.
I currently have light chain myeloma of the kidney and multiple myeloma of the bone marrow.
I pray that Lord Jesus touch you and heal you hold you close during this time for he is the great physician by his stripes we are healed in Jesus mighty name I pray amen
My partner kept being told to go home and use hot compresses on his face. If I had not kept pushing he would not have gotten a biopsy. He has maxillary sinus cancer.
If your GP keeps telling you the same thing go to an internest
GPs can be internists, too.
But how do you get there? It’s like you’re telling your doctor how to do their job. I get it but people seem to think doctors know it all and they clearly do not.
My Primary over-reacts and tests too much, thank God.
I hope you changed your entire team that didnt catch your illnesses
FYI you dont feel high blood pressure....so it's high do something about it dont let the Doctors push it away
❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏
i think these general practitioners or 'housedoctors' as we call them in holland, ánd their assistentes are the most useless ppl in society éver for the civilian. Not for bringing in money for their colleagues by exploiting you by doing total unnecessary exams for years before you explode and that also dont help always.. i think they are put there for that reason. To make you feel you nag and are a hypochondric person.. they dont heal at all.. 99 percent of my times, they were wrong.😮 Wishing you good, macho thing to share this.
Shame on all doctors and extreme lack of communication between them. It's quanity now...not quality.
Doctors who cannot listen & understand Patients should be barred from practising. They are a disgrace to others who do a marvellous job, hope they don’t become a minority. The US healthcare system with skewed incentives is also to blame.
The US healthcare system is a disgrace. All this treatment is free without needing insurance here in Australia. You all deserve better
@@ninawhittaker5331 the US healthcare system fails very badly on the primary-care side, notwithstanding “noble” attempts to resuscitate a half dead person with the latest greatest technology & pharma. I wonder if it is byproduct of the crass-capitalistic mentality of eliminating the weakest from existence. This may seem like extreme criticism but if it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, Occam’s razor would want you to think it is a duck of a healthcare system.
Shirley here, its kind of nice to be 73 and never had cancer even now i am doing pretty good. It must be the life style young people live today.
Except that plenty of young people died of cancer in the 50s, too. Your anecdotal testimony doesn’t mean a thing in the grand scheme 🙄
You're an a s s to even say that
That woman doctor was a clown.
You've got to make a stink!
I'm sick of doctors. Do they not know what they're doing? I swear they're always wrong about everything and it scares me
sorry but a dr. that tells you that your red blood cells are ok when they mark low or high is due to investigate why and not let you be. These doctors are bad! I would look through my lab work and research and find me another doctor if necessary and I have done that .
Doctors don’t anss as luxe. They seem to follow a template.
Care
Oh a woman patient. You're stressed, you're fine, don't worry.