New member

[june]

Since my husband's diagnosis of kidney cancer in May this year I've spent ages researching it and found this site invaluable.

I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to him with an inoperable tumour attached to the aorta. He had an operation to remove kidney+tumour 2 weeks ago, which was when the surgeon discovered the aorta problem. So he's now recovering from unsuccessful surgery and waiting to hear from the oncology team. There seems to be some doubt whether they will offer him anything at all, but if not, we'll ask for a referral to the Christie with the intention of trying Sutent if possible.

Any information anyone has about tumours attached to the aorta, or about who to see at the Christie, would be gratefully received.

All the best to everyone.

June

[Rose Woodward]

Hello June,

I don't know whether I can offer you more than my advice but I wonder if you have asked for a 2nd opinion .... is the Hospital where you had the unsuccessful operation a recognised regional cancer centre.... we know that some Surgeons are more "agressive" with their surgery than others and it could be that you would get either a confirmation or a different opinion. At least that way you will know you have followed this up and covered every possibility - we have some members on the Board who have had pretty extensive surgery involving cardiac surgery to remove primary tumours that have invaded the vena cava but but I'm not sure what the difference is if the tumour is in the Aorta? I would go for a expert 2nd opinion from the best centre possible... if you were nearer to London I would recommend the Royal Marsden; a surgeon by the name of Mr Christmas. I know Maria had her big operation done in Glasgow so there are very good surgeons out there who can advise

Ceretainly I would think that even if surgery was too dangerous then Sutent woudl be used to try and prevent growth and to extend life. Again I think you need to be seeing a very good leading Kidney Cancer Clinician. Where is you husband being treated at the minute ?

The leading renal Oncologist at the Christie in Manchester, is Professor Robert Hawkins and his secretary is Rita Dowse; they are both very very helpful .

Good luck June, let us know how things go please and know you have our best thoughts with you both.

Rose W

[june]

Hi Rose

Thanks very much for replying, and we have got a referral letter from our GP to Professor Hawkins should we need it. But for the time being Clive wants to stick with St James's in Leeds. He has a follow up appointment with the surgeon (Adrian Joyce, urologist) this week and then will see the oncology team on 19 August. Do you know anything about the provison at St James's ? We're hoping Clive will be prescribed Sutent, but I suppose that depends on the result of the biopsy. We don't know that yet, but would hope to find out from Mr Joyce on Wednesday. We seem to be doing a lot of waiting about for things to happen - I'm sure that's the same for everyone though.

If you do know anything about the Leeds hospitals it would be very helpful to know.

And thanks again for replying.

June