Written By: Joy Korce
My name is Joy Korce and I am married to Dennis Korce – who absolutely refuses to touch a computer. What can I say he’s a farmer at heart and a Kidney Cancer Survivor. This is his story.
In August 2006, he started having what he described as feeling tiny little pin pricks along where his appendectomy scar (an old scar from when he was kid). He went to our GP. She thought it might be an adhesion; however, a week or so went by and the prickly feeling was still there. She ordered an ultra sound and then a CT scan. She called our home on the Wednesday after Labor Day and reported there was a growth of some sort. We live in upstate rural New York. She immediately ordered him to report to the emergency room at Albany Medical Center with his scans. After many hours with the on-duty urologist reviewing his scans, we were informed he had kidney cancer. An appointment was immediately set up for 5 days later to meet with a Urologic Group in Albany. After many pre-op tests (bone scan, etc.), surgery was scheduled for one week later. Seven hours after surgery started, he was cancer free. Pathology: no mets, however, he was Stage IIIb due to Vena Cava involvement below his diaphragm.
He enrolled in the Wilex Rencarex Phase III clinical trial. This involved a trip to Albany every week for 6 months for an infusion. It was a blind study so we do not know to this day if he had the real drug. He also had monthly blood work with scans every 3 months. This was his schedule until December 2008. At that time his scans dropped to every 6 months. His next scan was June 2009 (six months after his previous scan). At this scan, he was diagnosed with a small tumor in his adrenal gland. Surgery for removal of the adrenal gland was July 1st. Pre-op testing included scans of his bones, brain, etc. He also had to meet with an endocrinologist. He would no longer have adrenal glands and would have to go on hormones. (That’s what adrenals do – which I never knew). He came through the surgery with flying colors. Again, cancer free.
He takes several hormone pills in the morning and a small pill at night. He has had no problems taking these hormones. Since his surgery last year, he has had to have an oncologist on board. This was scary for me, but I have to remind myself he is there to keep Dennis healthy. He was scanned 3 months after his surgery, again in January 2010, and then four months later on May 10, 2010. His Doctor feels confident in letting Dennis get scans every 6 months; however, if for whatever reason, Dennis would like to get scanned sooner, he can. He also meets with his urologist and his GP. Since his surgery, the doctor does not want IV contrast to help protect his kidney. His urologist also agrees. They both feel should there be something there it would show up and at that time further tests would be performed. He’s had frequent blood work, urinalysis and a chest X-ray - all with great results. He has great blood pressure and no other health problems.
We are truly blessed that after both surgeries Dennis was No Evidence of Disease and continues to be NED. I know so many of our fellow kidney cancer warriors have not been NED and have been through so much. I do try to remember you all in my prayers. Good bless each and everyone on you, your families and caregivers.
Joy Korce
New York
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