renal cell carcinoma

River with wooden docks in a grassy marshland, surrounded by palm trees and greenery, under a clear blue sky.

one KIDNEY CLUB

Pawleys Island, SC

Man sitting in a medical examination room, wearing casual clothes and flip flops, with medical equipment and framed pictures on the wall.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

On April 9th, Matthew was very suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with kidney cancer. Intense pain sent him to the ED where a routine CT scan showed not only two kidney stones but also a large mass indicated to be a renal cell carcinoma. Within 5 days the diagnosis was confirmed by both a local urologist as well as the top urological oncologist in the state. After a series of scans it is determined to be Stage 3 Kidney cancer and a radical nephrectomy (full kidney removal) will be performed as soon as possible. While this isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, it also isn’t the worst and for that we are eternally grateful.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults but quite rare at Matthew’s age with only about 9% of cases diagnosed in patients under 46. Awesome.

blog posts

prayer requests

Containment

Pray that the tumor does not invade the surrounding tissue, specifically beyond the perirenal fascia.

Faithfulness

Pray that Matthew is able to stay positive and focused on his body’s magnificent ability for full and complete healing.

Pain Management

Pray the stone are successfully and painlessly removed during the procedure on Tuesday on 4/22 and that Matthew tolerates the anesthesia and recovers quickly.

Normalcy

Pray that Wells and Tagg are able to maintain a sense of normalcy and continuity in their daily life. With a steadfast knowledge that this, too, shall pass.

Scheduling

Pray the surgery can be scheduled and officially placed on the calendar quickly so we can prepare for the road ahead on a set timeline.

Peace

Pray that God overwhelms Matthew with peace in his mind to overcome the immense anxiety and fear that has taken over.

  • 'Cause all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

    Goodness of God by CeCe Winans

  • The sun comes up It's a new day dawning It's time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass And whatever lies before me Let me be singing When the evening comes

    10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman and Steve Angrisano

  • You have led me through the fire. In darkest night You are close like no other. I've known You as a Father. I've known You as a Friend. And I have lived in the goodness of God

    Goodness of God by CeCe Winans

  • Way Maker Miracle worker Promise keeper Light in the darkness My God That is who you are

    Way Maker by Sinach

Man sitting in a medical setting with blood pressure cuff on arm and legs crossed.

4/19 Latest Scan Results: Stage 3 Kidney Cancer

Stage 3 renal cell carcinoma. The tumor has grown into the fat surrounding the kidney but has not yet invaded into surrounding tissue. This isn’t great news but it’s also not the worst possibility. Because the tumor has already begun to invade outside of the kidney a full radical nephrectomy will be performed.

  • 5.4 cm right upper pole renal neoplasm with extension into the perirenal fat without perirenal fascial invasion. Right renal vein is patent.

  • No evidence of metastasis or suspicious lymphadenopathy in the abdomen or pelvis. 

  • No evidence of metastatic disease within the thorax.

This description indicates a kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) that has extended into the surrounding fat (perirenal fat) but not into the deeper layers of the kidney (perirenal fascia). The renal vein is open, and there's no evidence of metastasis or abnormal lymph nodes.

This would likely be staged as T3a according to the AJCC TNM staging system for renal cell carcinoma. A T3a stage in the AJCC TNM staging system for renal cell carcinoma indicates the tumor has invaded the renal vein or its segmental branches, the pelvicalyceal system, or the perirenal and/or renal sinus fat, but not beyond Gerota's fascia. This means the cancer has spread beyond the kidney itself but has not invaded the adrenal gland or the tissue surrounding the kidney.


Genetic Testing Results:
NEGATIVE

I am happy to report that they did NOT find a hereditary pathogenic mutation in Matthew’s genetics.

The best way I can understand / explain this for now is with an egg analogy.  Picture a hard boiled egg.  The yellow yolk is the tumor and it has started growing into the egg white which isn’t good but it hasn’t yet broken through the egg shell to make a mess everywhere. This is good. Very very good.

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