Just Thought You Guys Should Know...i Have Cancer.

[ArmyofOne]

It was found that I had a tumor on my left kindey in late august/early sept. You can read about it here

I thought I would inform and update the club. I went for a lab workup last friday. The lab came back (i was just informed today) with Medium amounts of blood, and high amounts of protein in my urine. My white blood cell count was extremely elevated as well. So the diagnosis thus far is Cancer. The tumor has grown 2.5mm in the last 30days (it was initially thought to be softball sized, but the second CT scan revealed it was much smaller, approx 5.5mm. It grew over the course of the next month to 7.5mm). More needs to be known about the mass to make a definitive diagnoses as to what type of cancer. I have scheduled a sonogram and another CT scan for 20 november. An MRI is also in between now and then. I go on monday (the 17th of november) for a second lab workup to confirm the first lab.

Now for the good news out of all of this: Im going to be fine. The tumor is on the top of my left kidney, 7.5mm in diameter (and growing). The Cancer specialist I saw today said according to the CT scan that discovered it, the tumor does not appear to be attached to the kidney very well yet. The cancer is NOT life-threatening, career-threatening, or even Kidney-threatening yet. It can even be removed from the kidney without removing the kidney itself.

There are 2 treatment options so far...Chemo/Radiation, and Surgery. Thus far im thinking im going to opt for the surgery. Only drawback here is that if they miss even 1 cancer cell, the cancer will return. The Chemotherapy comes with downsides too, like being constantly sick, not able to work or really do anything for 6-8 months.

I will not be discharged from the Army at any time for this illness unless I want to be. Perogative of being a cancer patient...If i elect to "get out", they will do so without a fuss, because then Tricare doesn't have to foot the bill for the care (which could end up costing...ALOT). That said, only a fool would get out of the Army in a case like this, because getting health insurance while you have cancer would be next to impossible, and one would have to foot the bill for copays, etc. I have none of that with tricare. The care provider bills tricare directly, no money ever exchanges from me to the care provider, unless its for the care of a dependant (spouse or child).

So, while I am not dying...DO expect me to be extremely sick over the course of the next few months, minimum.

[Alexander the o.k.]

Our prayers are with you Army. Cancer is never trifling, no matter how early caught, or 'benign'. Just be thankful it was caught early. Watch out for those Army 'scapel jockeys' tho.

Never have heard much good about 'em. Put pressure on him in a subtle way, let him know people are watching, and will eval his performance and make a stink, if need be. Otherwise you're just another operation.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

God Speed.

[bartkat]

I had the upper pole of my right kidney removed in 1974 and I'm still ticking.

Hang in there dude.

[Steve]

wishing you good luck

[dcfish]

Best of luck to you Army, Speedy recovery is in order, SIR !!!

[eatingupblacktop]

The prognosis looks good and you sound optimistic. Attitude has a lot to do with success. Best of luck Army.

[jcrome04]

Good luck. just keep that positive attitude!

[denslexusgx470]

I wish you the best Josh.. Hope things turn out for the better in the near future. Hang in there bud!

[nc211]

Josh, man am I sorry to hear this news! :(

But thankfully the cancer is addressable and correctable with minimal impact on you and your system. Life sure does know how to throw some pretty nasty curveballs sometimes. Two weeks ago, a family friend died of a stroke, at the age of 39. Last week, my wife's cousin had a stroke and nearly died, at the age of 38, and now you've got a battle of your own. Man, this is just unreal.

I'm confident though amigo that you'll pull through this a-ok. Who knows, maybe they'll give you a bionic bladder and kidney and you'll be able to drink kegs of beer at a time! ;)

[SW03ES]

I'm sorry to hear that Josh. It sounds like for a cancer diagnosis its about the best you could hope for...

Keep us posted!

[ArmyofOne]

Ahh, my friends, no news is good news in this situation, and i have heard no news just yet. I have blood in my urine (as is evidenced from the labwork...twice) and I just had a sonogram this morning. The radiologist has to look at it and get back to me. (this is sure trifiling, how can you take so much time when dealing with cancer)

and to top it all off, at 149,010 miles, the alternator is out on my cavalier. I'm just having loads of luck LOL.

Thanks for the best wishes. I find it helps most to just be normal and not even think about it from day to day...

[ArmyofOne]

OK... good news y'all. Its official... that .1% chance, well i got it. It is a benign tumor. Comfirmation labs were negative for high white cell count as well as other things. The sonogram and other tests will tell for sure, but its 99.999% certian that it is benign. My misdiagnosis was a result of a false positive of:

A) being "sick" with an upper respiratory infection-hence elvated white cell count.

B) I conducted a heavy workout a day prior to the labs the first time. This released excess amounts of protein from muscle damage into my bloodstream, which also ended up as waste in my urine.

So, the cancer specialist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center called me and after reviewing my labwork and my previous CT scan and MRI, he told me the tumor is benign.:woot:

[SW03ES]

Thats great!

Apparently kidney tumors are really hard to diagnose as cancerous or benign. I have a cousin who had his kidney removed several years ago only to find out afterwards the tumor was benign...