Claudia Tatum is a retired oncology nurse from Tulsa, Oklahoma, which afforded her a sophisticated eye when she went through her cancer journey.  It began with a chronic cough, pelvic heaviness, and back pain. 

 

Because of the cough, Claudia requested a CT scan of her chest.  Her patient portal revealed a large, left renal mass “consistent with RCC,” meaning renal cell carcinoma, a mass measuring close to 10cm.  That is when she said her life changed.

 

Shocked from this diagnosis, she met with her primary care physician, who said Claudia needed to see a urologist.  The urologist pulled up the CT scan, said the mass was “really big,” that it had to come out and so did her kidney.  It would be a couple weeks before she could go in for the surgery and said that waiting was very difficult. 

 

As a nurse, Claudia knew that most kidney cancers are found incidentally.  In her case, a CT scan of her chest led to her kidney cancer diagnosis, so she is very grateful for the brilliant radiologists for their ability to see the mass. 

 

The surgeon performed a procedure called a hand assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.  That entailed a small, five-inch incision above her navel.  The care team used a laparoscope, “disconnect everything and goes in there with their little, tiny hand and pulls out the mass.”  The mass turned out to be 12cm, not 10cm, and there was an additional 4cm mass that was malignant that was pressing against Claudia’s pancreas.  After the procedure, Claudia was pleased to learn she had clear margins. 

 

Claudia Tatum’s type of kidney cancer is rare type of kidney cancer in that hers is a chromophobe, which comprises only about five percent of kidney cancers.  It is less aggressive, slow-growing and less likely to metastasize.  Because of her clean margins, Claudia is now on active surveillance.  She still finds it a challenge to think that she has only one kidney.  Claudia feels fine, but if her remaining kidney runs into problems, she would have to go on dialysis three times a week. 

 

Claudia Tatum monitors her blood pressure and her sodium intake and avoid soft drinks and processed foods.  She says after her nephrectomy, her GI symptoms got better and back pain got better.  Claudia says she is not going to die from kidney cancer, but knows she has to keep one kidney healthy.

 

By way of advice, Claudia urges one diagnosed with cancer to do the necessary research, get a second opinion, and reach a point in which they feel comfortable with their care team.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Support Group:

 

Kidney Cancer Association: https://www.kidneycancerassociation.org