Kidney cancer surgery options

FightingIt · New User Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

Hi, I'm a new poster. I'm a 62 y.o. female who was recently diagnosed with a tumor on my right kidney, 50% chance that it's cancer. I've been debating between laparoscopic surgery vs. "open" surgery; the laparoscopic will have a smaller incision & faster recovery time, but the tumor is in a tricky position & the kidney will have to be manipulated by the surgeon's hand in order to reach it. Also, there's the possibility that I may need to have a rib removed. The other option, "open" or flank surgery, would have a larger incision & longer recovery time. My surgeon & I are leaning towards the former. Has anyone had any experience with either of these surgeries?

brainman · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Kidney cancer surgery options

Hi FightingIt,
I have not faced the choice before you so I can only give you my opinion. You can always go with the laparoscopic method and tell your doctor that if during the procedure s/he feels like the only way to access the tumor is to go on and do the “open” surgery, that s/he can go on.

When I had my first brain biopsy, I told the doctor to use his own judgment as to whether he should go on and take the whole thing out at the same time. I trusted my medical team. I believe they made the correct choice.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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