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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / April 2004Laparoscopy vs open colon cancer surgery
Hey guys, I went to Sloan-Kettering yesterday with mom yesterday and met the surgeon who will be performing the operation. He did a Sigmoidoscopy to tattoo the tumor which was the size of a lemon. He estimated a stage 2 or 3 but won't really know till he removes the tumor. He is very proficient at both Laparoscopic and open surgery and has done hundreds of them according to him. He is also listed in the book TOP Doctors- the kindest cut. He is in the top of the 100 minimally evasive surgeons listed in this book, so it looks like I got a good one. I've been doing my research and I'm leaning toward Laparoscopic due to reduced postoperative pain and medication levels, promote faster return of bowel function. Also 1/3 less blood loss and maintaining immune function due to less trauma lowers infection rates and contributes to lower tumor recurrence rates. A tumor suppressor protein remains at higher levels after Laparoscopic surgery compared to traditional surgery. My surgeon will not recommend either one, he wants me to pick. This may be due to litigation I believe. I also want to emphasize the level of professionalism and courtesy in these trying times for my family has been soothing by everyone at SLOAN-KETTERING. From the initial phone call from Samantha and her follow ups to the doorman, security guards, receptionists, placement counselors, registration workers, all have been incredibly accommodation and helpful. > Hey guys, > I went to Sloan-Kettering yesterday with mom yesterday and met the surgeon [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > security guards, receptionists, placement counselors, registration workers, > all have been incredibly accommodation and helpful. Hello MAC, Sounds very positive about the surgeon and laparoscopic. I'm glad you are pleased and confident with the centre and their staff. Best wishes to you and your Mom. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes or when it's going to happen. J >Laparoscopic surgery compared to traditional surgery. My surgeon will not >recommend either one, he wants me to pick. Although I was operated on for a small bowel tumor, I too had the choice for surgery type. The laparoscopic would take longer and there was a chance that it might not be feasible, as which time they'd fall back and just slice me open. I asked my surgeon if he was good at building ships in a bottle! So we went the lap route and it was successful. Of the 5 incisions they made, only one required stitches; the others were just "taped" back together. Cut my hospital stay by 50%. Best of luck! -- "Even as a survivor I'm still fighting cancer!" Larry @ www.gotCancer.org The laparoscopic procedure was the way I went for my surgery. They removed a cancerous kidney and taped me together. The incision was abut 4 inches long, and was also taped. My doctor told me that he wasn't always successful with the surgery, and if necessary, would revert to the conventional surgery. While I was cross matched for blood, I required none, therefore no transfusion. I had a brother who last year had bypass surgery, and he also needed no transfusion. From my point of view, the operation lasted "seconds". Of course, it took hours. As I woke up, I had to feel to see if the operation was over. The bandages told me the story. I have been operated on 6 weeks ago, and am considered recuperated, even though I was home in 3 weeks. I live alone, and put myself into a nursing home for 3 weeks. Go for the Laparoscopic surgery. The doctor will do his best, I am sure. >Hey guys, >I went to Sloan-Kettering yesterday with mom yesterday and met the surgeon >who will be performing the operation. He did a Sigmoidoscopy to tattoo the >tumor which was the size of a lemon. He estimated a stage 2 or 3 but won't >really know till he removes the tumor. He is very proficient at both >Laparoscopic and open surgery Grateful to be back. Eddie He is > very proficient at both Laparoscopic and open surgery > and has done hundreds of them according to him. He is also listed in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > to traditional surgery. My surgeon will not recommend either one, he > wants me to pick. This may be due to litigation I believe. Go for the laparoscopy. It's all the things you say plus the option to open up should it become necessary. When I was coming up for surgery in 2001 the surgeon told me that laparoscopy was easy for me and hard for the surgeon. I replied that that's how it should be. It worked great. Frank Thanks to all who replied, I'm really leaning toward Laparoscopic. Don't know if I made the post clear. In case you guy's missed my original posts below this operation is for my 75 year old mother. The surgeon also told me the recovery times for both operations are negligible...3-5 days for LAP, 5-7 days hospital say for open. About 4 weeks for return to normal activities for LAP, about 6 weeks for open. But from all my research LAP is much less traumatic, less pain, less blood loss, less immune system suppression, less medication, better tumor suppression etc... Actually he wrote an article on Laparoscopic colon surgery www.cancernews.com. Going back on April 27 to finalize surgery so I'm going to grill him and ask his opinion. He is waiting on two large scale studies, one by the National Cancer Institute to validate the benefits and long term survival of minimally evasive surgery. > Thanks to all who replied, I'm really leaning toward Laparoscopic. Don't > know if I made the post clear. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > large scale studies, one by the National Cancer Institute to validate the > benefits and long term survival of minimally evasive surgery. Hi MAC, more talking on the 27th? I'm concerned about this "size of a lemon" tumour if more delays occur. She's at risk of blockages and perforations. If you're so happy with this surgeon and the surgical approach what more is there to discuss? <rhetorical> IOW why not get on with it and book the surgery? (see other post about mets) As someone else mentioned, sometimes they have to convert to open surgery. But that's only decided at the time, I think. Best, J > Hi MAC, more talking on the 27th? > I'm concerned about this "size of a lemon" tumour if more delays occur. She's at [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Best, > J He did a Sigmoidoscopy and was able to get the tumor that the first Doctor who did the colonoscopy said was blocked. I watched it on the screen and asked why he got past and the first DOC didn't. He said maybe it was inflammed the first time. He also tattooed the colon with black ink. So he ordered up another colonscopy for Monday 4/19 to check downstream for any other problems before surgery. I did ask him about the the time frame and he said a couple of weeks wouldn't make a difference as far as blockage and mets. The tumor was probably growing for years he explainned. He has office hours at Sloan only on Tuesday's so I assume the rest of the time he does surgery. So on Tuesday April 27 we meet to finalize surgery, Friday 30th she meets a Doc for Pre-op so I assume the surgery will be the first week in May. J do you see any problem with this? My mom said Thursday that she went to the bathroom and her stools were larger in diameter. I have to assume then the Doctor knows best, right? Maybe she's not as blocked as first assumed!??? |
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