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jml · 06-08-2009, 06:16 AM

Hi Everyone~
Thanks for your responses & input. It is pretty confusing, especially since the Onc & the Urologist have a complete difference in opinion of the etiology of all this kidney stuff. I am going to rely on my Onc's guidance, as she has a much better perspective of the Big Picture for me. And I have to remember that the Urologist is really only focused on his speciality- when I start asking too many questions, he just kind of shrugs his shoulders & says "What does your Onc say?". Oh well - Thank God I have a great Onc team that I trust implicitly.
The two types of BC chemos that can be "nephrotoxic" are carboplatin & cisplatin. I think the carbo is slightly more toxic that cis. I had a short course of carbo back in early 2005, so I doubt that is the cause. Also, there is a condition called Retroperitoneal Fribrosis (unrelated to BC) that my Surg Onc suggested may be the cause, but we don't know for sure. All we can do is manage the symptoms & hope that my kidney function improves again.
Brenda-thanks for the reminder about the Scan contrast. I learned about that during the intial episode in October & had to wait for a few weeks after I got out of the hospital to have scans to see what was going on down there. In fact, now that I think of it, I wonder if it was the contrast from the scans in April that stressed my kidneys out again & started me down this path of the decreased function? I think I'll ask my Onc what they think...
Thanks again everyone for your guidance & encouragement.

Keep the Faith~
Jessica

06-08-2009, 06:16 AM	#7
jml Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 415	Thanks for your responses... Hi Everyone~ Thanks for your responses & input. It is pretty confusing, especially since the Onc & the Urologist have a complete difference in opinion of the etiology of all this kidney stuff. I am going to rely on my Onc's guidance, as she has a much better perspective of the Big Picture for me. And I have to remember that the Urologist is really only focused on his speciality- when I start asking too many questions, he just kind of shrugs his shoulders & says "What does your Onc say?". Oh well - Thank God I have a great Onc team that I trust implicitly. The two types of BC chemos that can be "nephrotoxic" are carboplatin & cisplatin. I think the carbo is slightly more toxic that cis. I had a short course of carbo back in early 2005, so I doubt that is the cause. Also, there is a condition called Retroperitoneal Fribrosis (unrelated to BC) that my Surg Onc suggested may be the cause, but we don't know for sure. All we can do is manage the symptoms & hope that my kidney function improves again. Brenda-thanks for the reminder about the Scan contrast. I learned about that during the intial episode in October & had to wait for a few weeks after I got out of the hospital to have scans to see what was going on down there. In fact, now that I think of it, I wonder if it was the contrast from the scans in April that stressed my kidneys out again & started me down this path of the decreased function? I think I'll ask my Onc what they think... Thanks again everyone for your guidance & encouragement. Keep the Faith~ Jessica