I realized that I haven’t written here about my diagnosis. The mass on my left kidney was Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma. It was at the top of my kidney and abutted my left adrenal gland. So I had laparoscopic and robotic surgery on January 26, 2024. They removed the mass and the surrounding part of my left kidney, and they also removed the left adrenal gland. That was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I’m still recovering. The “chromophobe” part is a sub-type of RCC that’s typically associated with a better outcome.

Diagnosis

1) LYMPH NODE, LEFT RENAL HILAR, EXCISIONAL BIOPSY: – One lymph node, negative for carcinoma (0/1)

2) KIDNEY, DEEP MARGIN, BIOPSY: – Renal medulla, negative for carcinoma

3) KIDNEY AND ADRENAL GLAND, LEFT, PARTIAL EN BLOCK NEPHRECTOMY: – Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma

Copied from the surgical pathology report

It is still strange to wrap my head around the fact that I had kidney cancer. And the doctor assures me that “had” is the correct terminology. He feels certain that it had not spread. The margins and lymph nodes were clear. So I will not need chemo or radiation, for which I am grateful.