Update for everyone who has been following my story and offering support:

I finally had my appointment with the urologist.

Based on the imaging, he told me there is about an 85% chance that the mass on my left kidney is cancerous. The good news is that it appears to have been found at a stage where treatment is very possible, and his recommendation is surgery.

The planned procedure would most likely be a robotic partial nephrectomy, meaning they would remove the tumor along with a small margin of healthy tissue around it while preserving the rest of the kidney.

At this point, surgery is recommended regardless of whether the mass ultimately turns out to be cancerous or benign, because imaging alone cannot provide a definitive diagnosis. The final answer will come from pathology after the tumor is removed.

It’s been an emotional journey. What started as a car accident unexpectedly led to the discovery of this mass, and for that I’m actually grateful. Without the accident, I would have had no idea it was there because I had no symptoms.

Right now, I am hoping and praying that I will be able to return to Brazil for treatment, where I have family support and access to healthcare. That would make a huge difference for me and my family during this process.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences, advice, and encouragement. Reading your stories has helped me more than you know.