Some say if you have three strikes you’re out. I say having cancer my third time is a charm. First cervical
(30 yrs. ago), then left breast w/mastectomy and chemo (11 yrs.ago) Now I am recovering from kidney cancer surgery just 8 weeks ago.

I just happened to be out collecting black walnuts by a creek bed and while walking up a small hill I slipped on some black walnuts and landed flat on my back. The only thing that hurt were my knees and my pride. I felt better the next day and didn’t give it much thought after that. The following week I told my Fiance that I thought I had a kidney infection because I had a dull constant ache on the right side of my back. I went to my Doctor the next day and there was a small amount of blood in my urine, but no infection. The following day I had a CT scan and thought I might have a problem when they kept calling my Doctor to do different tests. I agreed to the testing but only if they would tell me why. The Doctor stood above me and said..you have a mass in your right kidney. All I could think was…Here I go again.

I went to two different Urologists and was given two different approaches to dealing with this mass. The first Doctor wanted me on cipro for a month for he wasn’t sure what the mass was. The second Doctor came right out and told us…Janice, you have renal cell carcinoma. You need surgery as soon as possible. All I could think was Thank God I fell and now what am I going to do. Then I had two different family Doctors with two different opinions. One said try the antibiotics and his wife said have the surgery now. While waiting for a third opionion I thought about what my Mother told me many years ago. (She worked for 3 surgeons for 28 years) If it doesn’t belong inside of you, GET IT OUT!!
So I called the second Urologist and said, I want the surgery now.
I had many tests done before surgery. I didn’t have time to donate my own blood for surgery so the blook bank was ready to donate.

During many Doctors appts, tests and trying to finish up Christmas shopping my mind was just so busy. So busy I didn’t take any time to really focus on the cancer itself.

Dec 11 I went into the hospital. Had surgery at 1:30 pm, in recovery at 6 pm, and moaning in pain by 7 pm. The Doctor came in and said it certainly was cancer and he got it all. He didn’t have to remove the entire kidney and didn’t have to remove or cut a rib to get to it. I do have a real pretty 10 1/2 inch scar that saved my life.
Cancer changes your life forever. For some it is a battle that takes away their life and for others it is a battle that may take away the cancer, but emotionally it challenges you with every lump, illness and fear of recurrence. I’m very blessed to be alive.

So today is a great day. Recovery has been longer than I expected. I asked the Doctor how I would feel after the
surgery and he asked….have you ever been hit by a truck?? When I woke up I told him…you didn’t say a mac truck and the next day I said…you didn’t say anything about a freight train. Yep…it hurt. I was in the hospital 6 1/2 days. The second day after surgery I told a nurse something is wrong, I just don’t feel right. My Surgeon ordered x-rays of my chest and stomach area. Surprise, I was bleeding internally. Not what I had in mind. So that evening I recieved a blood transfusion. My Surgeon said if the bleeding didn’t stop he was going to have to operate again. I prayed so hard. I was so exhausted and in pain as it was and couldn’t imagine going through another surgery again. Thank
God the bleeding stopped.

So now I have slowed right down. When my body says…hey, I’m tired…I listen. I take life a lot easier and savor each day like it is my last.

Will I get cancer again? I might, but it will just be a major inconvienence and slow me down once again. Will cancer take my life? It might but only my God knows when he wants an angel to come home. A friend asked me before surgery, aren’t you afraid this could take your life? I replied, driving down the highway or falling in the shower could take my life, so I’ll just put the thoughts of cancer somewhere in the back of my mind and deal with them if death from cancer may become my reality. So stay as healthy as you can. Remain possitive and remember that there is always someone else that is worse off than us. So three times for me is a charm and three is my lucky number.
Take care and God bless.