Take care of yourselves, see a doctor regularly.

[oldgeek]

I was served some very bad news from my doctor Tuesday. I had a CT scan done to look at a hernia for eventual repair in October - November. They made an incidental finding, I have a mass that covers my left kidney. They are sure it is cancer. I am having another scan done on Monday, but the doctor said he didn't need another scan to know the kidney has to come out. The scan on this coming Monday is to determine if there is anything that needs to be addressed elsewhere. Doctor feels there is nothing else in the hernia scan (abdomen and pelvis) to worry about, the scan Monday will check chest and the rest closer.

He hoped to schedule surgery in 3-4 weeks, but the surgical scheduler said she got lucky and got me a spot on the 26th of this month due to a cancellation. Otherwise it would have been the end of July before there was another opening. So I feel fortunate about that.

I feel like COVID was a big reason this went undetected for so long. A year before COVID broke I got insurance and had been going to see the interns at the hospital to catch up on some neglect of my health. I have several other conditions that I am being treated for and made some good progress in their treatment. However COVID came along and brought everything to a halt. No more visits to the Dr, no more tests. When the pandemic ended things got back to a slow start for them and me. The luck of the draw had me back with a couple interns that were not very good. Six months ago I got a new intern that is IMO, remarkable. He had many tests run for my other conditions and made appointments for me with specialists and a surgeon to look at my minor hernia. The surgeon ordered the CT scan and you already know the rest of the story.

So the scan this coming Monday will be the one to tell the tale.

Be careful who you trust your health to.

[aeroxbud]

That's terrible news. The good thing is you will be fine with one kidney.
My wife had her kidney out about 30 years ago. Has a massive scar from the operation. A few months later they brought in key hole surgery as routine.
She has had poor health since the other kidney just failed. The remaining one isn't very good.
Covid has a lot to answer for. We still have a big backlog of many healthcare departments.
My stepdaughter was diagnosed with mouth cancer two weeks ago. The government guidelines are two weeks for a diagnosis from first contact. She waited six weeks for the diagnosis.

Fingers crossed for you. It's good that they can operate so quickly.

[milly]

Sorry to hear about your health Oldgeek and your families Paul pray all goes well for everyone concerned.

[FrankenMech]

Covid took a bite out of everything. I too have a multitude of health issues and they all interact to make treatment difficult. Good luck with the kidney. Nice that they found it. I hope the rest of the scans are clear and the other kidney functions properly. My Kidneys are in bad shape with CKD. My father had cancer in the ureter but they saved the kidney. As we get older things keep hacking at us until something finally brings us down for that final dirt nap or furnace as the case may be. It is not always a health issue that gets us. Our time is just running short.

[oldgeek]

They had to postpone my scan yesterday because insurance did not approve it yet due to the "holiday" Juneteenth, whatever.

[90GTVert]

Insurance companies send us all sorts of info about healthy living and encourage us to be stress free and bla bla bla... Then when you really need something they hold up the process and make it difficult and stressful.

Keep us updated as much as you're comfortable with Scott. You're in our thoughts.

[jbjhillbilly]

Oldgeek - so sorry to hear about your kidney, but glad they at least caught it before it did even more damage.

[oldgeek]

Well the holiday is over and insurance got back to work.... Now they want their doctor to have a peer-to-peer meeting with my doctor before approving the new scan. They scheduled doctors to meet sometime tomorrow (Wednesday).

I went to the hospital today for my pre surgery exam and orientation. The surgery is supposed to be Monday, but they told me the date and time is yet to be determined so I kind of feel like insurance has not approved that yet either. No surprise.

For what it's worth I feel fine ATM. I know I am sick and may actually be very sick, but I am good for now.

[FrankenMech]

I hate to say this but you may need to contact a lawyer to help deal with the insurance company about delaying treatment which is never good with cancer... Those little cancer cells are dividing every day and if they bust out somewhere they can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and go walkabout. Then again second opinions are always a good idea.

When dealing with doctors, lawyers, or insurance, remember BOHICA.

I am not a doctor or lawyer and this is not medical or legal advice.

[oldgeek]

Insurance doctor misread my medical chart and immediately approved new scan after talking to my doctor. Luckily they found a place for me to get it done tomorrow (Thursday)

Surgery should be good to go for Monday.

[FrankenMech]

Did the insurance doctor apologize?

I am keeping my fingers crossed for the scan and operation.

Good luck

[pinkscoot]

I'm sorry to hear this. But glad you caught it. Keeping you in my thoughts.

[milly]

Get well soon Old Geek. In my thoughts and prayers.

[oldgeek]

Heading to the hospital Monday at 10:00am for surgery. Still no info about my latest scan, maybe tomorrow they will tell me something.

[190mech]

Prayers for you,quick recovery!!