I need help understanding Dr.'s report

[Kellie141]

Any help in understanding the medical information given in my father's report would be greatly welcomed. It reads as follows, Kidney Diagnosis - Right Renal Mass - Described as an Exophytic - size 3.3 x 3 x 3 cm. Transverse, AP and Craniocaudal dimensions within the inferior pole of the right kidney were seen as well. Anything with the word cancer attached is frightening, but just knowing more about the report will help me, help my Father and ensure excellent medical care for him. The Doctors have been keeping my Mother and I in the dark and will not answer our questions. They are constantly pushing a treatment that my Mother and I feel very uncomfortable about. Any help is welcome.

Thank you and Best Wishes to all,
Kell

[Stephen Liroff, MD]

A spontaneous bleed into or around a kidney is not common. Does he have a malignant or non-malignant tumor? Is he being observed to see if the bleeding stops? Do they have any idea why he bled? What criteria will they use to  make any further decisions?
Just a few questions that may help you in your conversations with his caregivers.
S.A.Liroff, M.D,

[Kellie141]

It was a secondary finding by Morgantown's Ruby Univer. it's the V.A. in Clarkesburg that wants to wait and see how large it will get.

[Stephen Liroff, MD]

I do not quite follow what the report is stating or what study was done. Is this a CT scan? Ultrasound? MRI? IVP? Was there any contrast (dye) given? Not all masses are cancers, but the type of study would greatly help in interpreting it. You need to be cared for by physicians whom your father and you understand and trust. If this is not your situation, then consider a change, but do not fail to deal with the kidney mass. If it is a solid mass, it and possibly the whole kidney, need to be removed. Needle biopsy is unreliable and may spread a cancer. Watching to see if it is changing may allow it to spread while you are waiting. Usually testing with the studies above can determine pretty well what the characteristics of the mass are.
Good luck!
S. A.Liroff, M.D.

[Kellie141]

Thank you very much, and I'll make sure the questions are asked and answered at his next appointment.

Thank you and best wishes,
Kellie

[Kellie141]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. The way the Doctors have dismissed our questions is alarming, and extremely stressful. My Father had a CT done and yes Sir it is a solid mass. The doctors said, they want to wait and see how large the mass will get, and in that time he has grown very tired and weak and has constant pain along with horrible moments where he can't even move or eat for days. His blood pressure has, at times, become so low that I can't tell if he's exhausted from the pain or it's his blood pressure. They discovered the growth when he was admitted to C.I.C.U for 5 days at Ruby Univer., in Morgantown, West Va. He lost half of his blood and needed transfusions while they were trying to stop the bleeding and control his pain. Now, he's on nothing for pain and is left to deal with it. He has his kidney funcation test on the 15th. You have already done more for us than the doctors, that means so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Kellie