This story is about my 49 year old husband who has had kidney disease for 20 years. In December we went for his yearly check up with his urologist Dr. B. She thought is was time that Steve had a biopsy to try and find out what kind of kidney disease he has. On December 11th he was scheduled for the procedure. The procedure was started with a ct scan, when he was slid into the machine to take pictures of his kidney's so the radiologist would know where to stick the needle for the biopsy a large mass was found on his left kidney. Further test were stopped for the biopsy. He was given an ultra-sound instead. People with kidney disease can not do ct scans or mri's with the contrast(dye), due to the dye causing kidney failure.

The ultra-sound results showed a large solid mass on the left kidney. Solid mass usually indicates cancer. He was then set up for a MRI with out contrast on the following Saturday Dec. 13th. The following Monday Dr. L (the surgeon) called and said lets get that kidney out on Wednesday Dec. 17. On the morning of 12/12/08 Steve had his left kidney removed. Dr. L came to the waiting room to tell me what he had found. He removed the kidney which is surrounded by fat and he did not see any of the cancer through the fat. The fat kidney and tumors (there were multiples) measured 13 inches and was sent to the Mayo clinic. The report came back that the cancer was encapslated (contained) and his type of cancer was papillary. Not the fastest and not the slowest growing of the 3 types of kidney cancer. It is number 2 of the 3. The kidney disease was IGA which Dr. B had suspected.

Steve's creatinine before surgery was 2.8 after surgery was 5.7. This was not surprising due to the right kidney taking over all function. For those of you who don't know what creatinine is, it is how the kidneys are processing waste. The higher the creatinine the less the kidney function.

Steve was released from the hospital on Dec. 22nd. He came home doing pretty well his midline incesion healing although, looking like an intersate on a road map. We were set up with an onocoligist Dr. A. He explained to us that there was not a specific treament for kidney cancer but wanted to recommend Steve for a cancer study with chemo by pill. We started down this path but all came to a halt as Steve was denied for the study due to he can not do CT Scan or MRI's with constrast. Dr. A still had us due total body scans of the head, chest, abdomen and a bone scan. When these were done they really took a close look at the right kidney. Dr. A believed that there was a small something on the right kidney. He wanted to do a biopsy right away. We were scheduled for a biopsy 4 days later. We called the Dr. B the urologist to let her know what Dr. A wanted to do and she begged us not to do the biopsy until we had talked with her.

The next afternoon we were in Dr. B's office. We have our total faith and trust in this woman. She asked us to please not do the biopsy because she had seen before a patient that had had this done, and cancer reoccurred where the needle was pulled back through the track. We thought this makes sense but what do we do now? She had the radiologist that she has worked with for 20 years read the scan. He did not feel that there was enough information indicating cancer to just go in and take the right kidney which would have left him on dialysis. So after talking with both doctors and the radiologist the decision was made to wait 3 months repeat the scan again to see if what they saw had changed at all.

In the meantime we visited the dialysis center to get educated because Steve's right kidney is only functioning about 17% and at some point when the kidney fails or it is determined cancer the kidney will be coming out. We also had a friend ask us about seeing his doctor at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. We kept ourselves very busy over the last 8 weeks with Christmas, several birthdays, our daughters basketball games (go Bluejays top ten ranked in 1A), friends and family. This is the kind of thing you can't get off your mind. Are you doing the right thing, are you seeing the right doctors, are we making the right choices.

One Saturday morning I picked up the phone and called Charlie O. (home town friend), I talked to his wife because he was not home. She gave me the number of the urologist at KU. I didn't think I would probably be able to get Steve an appointment although I am pretty persistant. So I asked Dr. B if she would refer him. She had no problem what so ever and made us the appointment. We saw Dr. H at KU Medical center on February, Friday the 13th. We had not had a lot of great news in the last 8 weeks. I am not superstitious but wondered would this day be more bad news.

The weather this day was awful, sleet, rain and snow. A perfect Friday the 13th. We made it to our appointment and liked Dr. H very much. He read all of Steve's reports and looked at the scan from he cd we had taken and said this. He would like for him to do an ultra-sound today of the right kidney. If it showed a solid mass, probably cancer, it it was a water filled cyst, just watch it. I was able to watch the ultra-sound and the tech told me if it is water filled it usually shows up black. It looked very black to me. Dr. H said he would call next week with the results. Also asked us if anyone had talked to us about a transplant? We said yes but was under the impression we would have to wait a least 2 to 5 years of Steve being cancer free before they would consider a transplant. Dr. H said "well that has kind of changed." He is setting us up with the transplant people and they will be getting in touch with us.

Dr. H called this morning with great news. The ultra sound showed a water filled cyst. We are waiting for the transplant people to get in touch with us. Steve is still doing blood work every Monday to check creatinine and potassium to make sure they are not too high. The potassium is still good but the creatinine is still climbing last Monday it was 5.8, highest it has been since surgery.

We want to thank everyone who has called, sent cards, prayed, stopped by, etc... I will do my best to keep you updated.

With all our love Steve, Christy and family.