We are at that time of year again where “scary” stories are appropriate as Halloween is approaching. So, I have one for you! 
Several months ago, I had another kidney stone episode. As usual it was horrible, and I ended up in the emergency room due to the pain. As it turned out, this stone (I have had many) was huge and would not come out the natural way so we ended up having to do surgery. The good news is that they got the stone with surgery and blasted another even larger stone that was up in the kidney so it would not be a problem.
Here is the “scary” news. As they were doing the CT scan on the stone, they noticed a small shadow on the other kidney and informed me to do a follow-up MRI just to make sure it was nothing. After fighting with the health insurance for a month or two to get approval for the MRI, I had it done.
Here is the “even scarier” news. The MRI came back stating that it might be a cancerous growth. So I did what any normal person would do, I met with my kidney doctor to discuss. Basically, the doctor stated that the odds of it being cancer was 75%, but that it is extremely small and not life threatening in any way. His suggestion was to do nothing and wait six months to let it grow bigger and keep an eye on it…it was less than 1 centimeter total, and I was informed that normally they do not touch anything unless it is at least 3 to 5 centimeters.
I asked my doctor if I wanted it surgically removed, how would it be done. He stated it needed to be done “robotically” and that his colleague would be the one to do it. So, I requested a second consultation with the head surgeon to get his opinion. At that second consultation, the surgeon repeated what my kidney doctor stated…. odds are it is cancer but that it is nothing to be concerned about and he would recommend watching it overtime.
After two experts stated it was “more likely than not” cancer, I went against their advice and said I want surgery to have it taken out! I recently had the “robotic” surgery, and it was extremely successful. In fact, the surgeon told my wife after the procedure that he did not think it was even a cancerous growth!
About a week after surgery, I received a call from the surgeon with the good news. He stated that all was well and that the “margins” were great and there is nothing else for me to do at this time. Before we got off the telephone call together, I asked the doctor whether it was a cancer or not cancer growth. To my surprise, he stated it was cancer!! Additionally, he stated that I did the right thing and moved forward with the surgery to take it out…against his recommendation.
The point of this story? Sometimes you should go with your “gut” and not your doctors advice on something. Additionally, thank goodness for those so called “incidental findings” …
As always, be safe and live well!