Annie Turpin

Annie hasn’t been treated for her kidney tumor yet. She is pursuing active surveillance. For small renal masses (under 4 cms or ~1.5 inches) most people don’t benefit from treatment in the ensuing 5 years. Small renal masses are becoming increasingly more common. Patients get a scan for other reasons, abdominal pain for an appendix and incidentally find a kidney tumor, or a car accident and get a scan and find a kidney tumor.

Annie had her small tumor found on a scan. She has no symptoms, so she is pursuing active surveillance. Her follow up will include periodic CT scans, occasional MRI’s and Ultrasounds. When you start watching a small renal mass, most patients 5 years later are still watching with no spread or significant growth of the tumor, and about 45% somewhere along the way end up getting treated because the tumor grows. But survival remains really high. It is believed that about 70-80% of patients with masses under 4 cms can safely watch their tumors.

After the age of 75, the average patient doesn’t benefit from treating a small renal mass, but Annie isn’t your average patient over 75. She still is vibrant and active.

Interestingly, she also has a small adrenal tumor which is also being watched. Most adrenal masses are not concerning for cancer.

Read about the climb of Observation Hill.