What's life expec having renal cell carcinoma stage 3-1 yr after having kidney removed & shoulder replaced?

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My 54yo dad has renal cell carcinoma. He's had his kidney removed (cancerous mass over 50% in 5/06 at stage 3) and his right shoulder replaced in 11/06 (from where cancer spread & broke bone) still has very minimal use of arm. Now the cancer has spread in his lung, around his liver & spleen and either effecting his pancreas or gall bladder. What quality of life will he have (he manages a goodyear store) and what is the typical life expectancy (only good know-but there is an average out there). Please only serious answers or similar experiences. Any referral sites out there would be appreciated.
Thanks!
First I want to express how truly sorry I am to hear about your dad. I am even more sorry that I don't have better news sto share with you, so I am going to preface it with an emphasis that you enjoy your time with your dad and understand that it does not happen over night. You will see a decline in his health so you will be able to prepare a little as the time comes.

You might want to check out these associations:
www.kidneycancerassociation.org
www.kidneycancer.org

Many hospitals also have support groups for cancer patients and their families. I encourage you to get involved with one just so you can know more of what to expect and how to cope as things progress.

OK, he is really in stage 4 now because it has spread to distant organs. The 5 year survival rate for sttage 4 renal cell carcinoma is about 14%. Those aren't good odds, but at the same time, someone has to be in that 14% in order for it to exist.

Traditional chemo & radiation don't work on rcc because the kidney's job is to filter out toxins - which is what those treatments are: toxic. There is immuno-therapy such as interferon and interleukin-2, but they are usually used when the metastasis isn't so far spread. Clinical trials are another option he could discuss with his doctor. Unfortunately, there really are no cut and dry treatments for rcc.

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma in January 1997 and fought it until July 1999 when she was 53, so you see she was a typical case. Her kidney was the size of a football when it wass removed and she had a spot the size of a quarter on her lungs.

What to expect:
As it progresses, their body becomes weaker and they can feel the tumors growing in their body. My mom would have pillows all around her to counteract the pressure from the tumors. It's sno uncommon for calcium levels to increase, which shows itself in confusion and becoming unsteady or losing balance. It's important to watch for this. It's easily managed through a process similar to donaitng blood, although it's not being donated. Watch for this.

With my mom, her head was too heavy in the last 6 months, so she shaved her head and would frequently put it down on the table or wherever she was to rest. She became unsteady in the last couple months. In the last couple weeks, she became dehydrated and constipated, which were uncomfortable. She knew the time was coming and she called my brothers and me home two days before she passed away.

I'm not trying to paint a grim picture, but rather help you realistically know what path you have ahead. It's a gradual decline usually over 6 months, once they become more weakened or in pain. There are some things that can be done to help with comfort, but it is usually not entirely taken care of.

I don't know if you are a teen or young adult, but it is important either way to have support from others and that your fmily knows what is coming. He should have a durable power of attorney and a will and he should talk to his doctor about hospice care. Does he want to die at home or in the hospital? This is a hard question, for you, I'm sure, but it's an important one.

I'm sure he is trying to keep his life as ordinary and normal as he can. If there are things you want to say and do with him, now is the time. Don't wait until he isn't up to it.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I wish no one had to go through it.  (+ info)

Do you think my 15 year old white female cat is suffering or in pain from squamous cell carcinoma of her ear?

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She is bothered by the continuous scab, twitching her ear frequently, and sometimes scratches the scab off (raw). Is there any home-style (non-vet.) remedies besides putting her 'down'.
Animals are tough and rarely show any evidence of pain unless something is really bothering them. Of course the SCC on your cat's ear is hurting her. Why don't you at least have your vet prescribe some pain killers for your cat? Maybe your vet can give you some type numbing agent for your cat? If she is in constant pain then you need to spend some money and have a vet evaluate your pet and then do whatever the vet suggests.  (+ info)

What are the side effects of surgical excision of basal cell carcinoma?

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Well, it would hurt and leave a scar. If you want better answers, you should probably give more detail.  (+ info)

What is Renal Transitional Carcinoma and what is the standard method of treatment?

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cell carcinoma: About 5% to 10% of all kidney tumors are transitional cell carcinomas, also known as urothelial carcinomas. Transitional cell carcinomas begin in the renal pelvis (the junction of ureter and kidney). Under the microscope, they look like bladder cancer cells and act very much like bladder cancer. Studies have shown that, like bladder cancer, these cancers are linked to cigarette smoking and occupational exposures to certain cancer-causing chemicals.

If you have transitional cell carcinoma, you may have the same signs and symptoms as patients with renal cell cancer – blood in the urine and, sometimes, back pain.

These cancers are usually treated by surgically removing the whole kidney and the ureter, as well as that portion of the bladder where the ureter attaches. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used in addition to surgery, depending on how much cancer is found. If you have early transitional cell carcinoma, you have several treatment options available. There are different ways to surgically treat early disease. Newer surgical techniques are also being studied. You should talk with your surgeon and be aware of your options and the benefits and risks of those options.

About 90% of transitional cell carcinomas of the kidney are curable if they are found early enough. The chances for cure drop dramatically if the tumor has grown into the ureter wall or kidney or if it has a more aggressive (high-grade) appearance when viewed under the microscope.

After surgery, follow-up visits to your doctor for monitoring with x-rays and cystoscopies (looking into the bladder) are extremely important because transitional cell carcinoma can come back in the bladder, as well as other places in the body.

http://www.cancer.org  (+ info)

Information on Squamous cell carcinoma, Basal cell carcinoma, and Melanoma?

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I need information on those three types of cancer and these are the questions I need answered about each one:

What skin layers are affected? (such as epidermis and dermis)

How is it treated? (any pills, special surgery?)

Thanks for everyones help!
All of the malignancies you have mentioned are known as skin cancers. Basal Cell carcinoma usually involves the superficial layers (epidermis) of the skin and, if caught early, the treatment is removal of the lesion at the doctor's office under local anesthesia and follow up visits to see if any other suspicious lesions show up.If subsequent lesions are found a series of radiotherapy treatments is performed. Squamous cell carcinoma also arises on the epidermis but from the squamous cells. Since these cells are located deeper it can spread to the dermis and if left untreated it can eventually erode into the fat, muscle and bone; it literally "eats" away those tissues leaving the bone exposed {that's why it's also called "rodent ulcer"}. Early treatment is the same as Basal cell {surgical excision}, or the use of a topical cream {Aldara}. Once it reaches fat and muscle, treatment consists of radiotherapy followed by intravenous chemotherapeutic medications. Melanoma is by far the deadliest of skin cancers; it arises from the melanocytes which are the pigment-producing cells. This type of skin cancer tends to quite quickly metastasize to the bones, lymphatic system and eventually to distant organs like the lungs and brain. As soon as diagnosed, the lesion{s} are excised, aggressive radio and chemotherapy is started in an effort to prevent or halt further metastases. Although the main cause of all skin cancers is exposure to UV rays from sunlight or tanning booths, they can sometimes turn up in the most unlikely of places, In March of 2007 I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma in my vulva {I don't do nude sunbathing nor use tanning booths}. The lesion was excised after six months of my Gyno having misdiagnosed it as a genital wart and treating it as such, which only worsened the situation. In this case a medical malpractice suit is under way.  (+ info)

Is there a way to easily detect basal cell carcinoma early?

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Basal cell carcinoma is non-life threatening, but can be disfiguring if not treated in a timely way. I was wondering if there are ways to detect basal cell carcinoma early enough so that surgery can be minimally invasive.
the best way for early detection of any skin cancer is routine visits to your dermatologist. by routine i mean if youre at risk you should go in shorter time frames, if at low risk go at farther times. the doc will examine your skin at every visit and make notes of the location size and shape of exhisting moles and monitor them and the rest of you for any chenges.  (+ info)

I had surgery for cystic basal cell carcinoma and now have a lump above incision, why?

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surgery went well...but above incision I have a long, noticable lump that bothers me, of course.
Of course that's a question for your health care provider but I'll give my opinion.

I think it's scar tissue. It could be inflammation since the body is in the process of healing.

It may go away in time, but still, consult your health care provider who can examine it and give you an informed answer.  (+ info)

Mum has just been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma?

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I know a little bit about it, I'm a student nurse but it's all different when it affects someone who is close to you. The area biopsied is on her chest area but her GP said there are a few suspicious looking areas on her back. She has been referred to a plasitc surgeon to remove it. Any personal experiences? Would like to hear your experiences or knowledge on it. Thanks!
basal cell is no big deal, the site is surgically removed and that's all she wrote. It doesn't spread, it won't get into the blood stream, it's simply a superficial skin cancer and once removed is no longer an issue.  (+ info)

Is Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma enough to cause death?

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unfortunately yes  (+ info)

Anyone being treated for papillary renal cell carcinoma or renal cell or know someone who has been treated?

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I lost my 23 year old daughter, 13 months ago to this disease and there are things people should know about this disease that the doctors do not tell you especially your options. I am doing some research and need to know other peoples ups and downs with this disease.
First of all, please let me offer my condolences to you on the loss of your daughter. That must have been a difficult ordeal, and you are still grieving her passing. I'm not sure what doctors don't tell patients about renal cell carcinoma, but we try to tell the patient as much as he or she wants to know. The cause of renal cell carcinoma is unknown. The tumors may grow for a long time before they are detected. The usual way one is detected is as a result of blood in the urine on repeated urinalyses. Sometimes there may be tumor cells in the urine. When the cause of blood in the urine is sought, an ultrasound examination or a CT scan usually shows the presence of the tumor. These tumors spread by growing through the capsule of the kidney and invading adjacent tissues and organs, and they tend to grow into the renal vein and up the vena cava toward the heart. I have several patients who have had renal cell carcinoma, and I believe most of them are doing well. One unfortunate patient of mine had a nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma, and several years later, developed a second renal cell carcinoma in the opposite kidney. He was treated with a partial nephrectomy on the second side, and has lately been doing well with no evidence of further tumor involvement. So whatever causes a renal cell carcinoma on one side may also affect the other side. Another name for these tumors is hypernephroma. There is extensive information about kidney tumors in medical textbooks. A rare type of renal tumor that affects children is a Wilm's tumor, and these can actually be cured with early detection and proper treatment. Wilm's tumors and renal cell carcinomas are different and should not be confused. I hope I have given you some of the information you need. If you have further questions, you are welcome to contact me.  (+ info)

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