Twin

[Muttnotjeff]

Twin,  61, died 2/12-renal cell carcinoma that despite multiple health concerns and paraplegia, went unfelt and un-medically noticed until he suffered a cough induced rib fracture. He died
in 2 weeks! Me? multiple medical problems. e.g.,18 Spontaneous  Pneumothoraces in both lungs/Ehlers Danlos-Syndrome Type 4. I've
had kidney stones since I was 16. Some obstructing, many more not. Only occasionally noticed visible blood re: obstructing. For a long time-months, maybe longer, I've suffered cramping/dull ache in left kidney area. I've hurt here so long I'm having occasions of hematuria & occult blood. I know this because-despite my asking with each stone, if my kidney's could be damaged from them (and, one, more concerned I was 'drug shopping' than my pain-passed the stone next a.m.). To them, the question must seem Hypochondriacal since I still don't know after 20 years, but my concern is, This debilitating, intense  discomfort is more of a concern re: the sneaky Renal Cell Carcinoma 'appeared' and  there's blood more often , for longer periods, and no stones! I've finally began stick testing my urine. Used to be,most often,hematuria, (but more and more often, occult).
My urine exhibits cloudiness and, in a urinal lays thick after settling. My twin's sudden diagnosis and sudden death have made me a bit concerned;
Question: Should I push harder for an answer...and, should I be more...patient?

[Muttnotjeff]

Minus 40lb since 2012 (top was  170) but I do only eat once a day. I'm still not done with this latest stone and I know because I always know when they drop into bladder by the momentary pain it causes. Nevertheless, I'm still having hematuria. I'm scheduled for triple hernia repairs on 9 May. Those would be hiatal (esophageal spasms and long term reflux) and right and left Inguinal. I've also developed an incredible loss of motor control over my hands.
Since I suffered (TRULY!) Ischemic Colitis last Fall and had quite a lot of test done then I would say that I don't need them. But, it hasn't escaped me, that my twin lived only 14 days after diagnosis even though he was in hospital often each year  with no apparent notice from Drs. of poor kidney function, et al.  I did read in one of his medical records, from  a previous stay in Hospital prior to his last, of a 'Hemorrhagic cyst'. Medical concerns have been part and parcel to mine and my brother's lives and truly know how unserious have been most of our problems with, perhaps, excepting 20 Spontaneous Pneumos, both lungs, me and his 9 months on a double vent. But the sneakiness of Renal Cell Carcinoma and 14 days from diagnosis to death, wakes a person up.  Oh, and Bless you for your work.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
What other symptoms are present? I understand your concern regarding this. The exact cause of renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, is unknown. However, the following may increase your risk of kidney cancer: dialysis treatment, family history of the disease, high blood pressure. horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney disease, smoking and von Hippel-Lindau disease. It is best that you discuss this with your attending physician and have additional diagnostic tests done such as abdominal CT scan, ultrasound, renal arteriography and blood tests. Take care and do keep us posted.