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Another health care thread - 6/9/2012 3:43:06 AM

jlf1961

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Recently I was diagnosed with a tumor in one of my kidneys. The local doctor sent me to a specialist in Dallas, who offered me told me there were other options in dealing with the tumor than the complete removal of the affected kidney.

In fact the tumor is so small that the best way to deal with it is an outpatient procedure known as ablation, which I was told is not experimental or that expensive. In fact, since it is being done at a University Medical procedure I will not have a copay, just the travel expense.

Now the reason for this thread.

After a bit of research, I have found that common and accepted treatments such as the one I am going to undergo seem to offered at a limited number of facilities, and usually only at college or university affiliated medical centers.

There are two hospitals in the city I live in, both highly rated in the care they provide. However, the two urologists in town are not trained in the procedure and offer only one option, the complete removal of the kidney.

The question is why.

In other professions, training and certification in new procedures are mandatory, why not require the same for doctors?

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RE: Another health care thread - 6/9/2012 6:09:27 AM

kitkat105

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Renal carcinomas are usually diagnosed much later (when the tumour or cancerous tissue is larger) resulting in the need to have a radical nephrectomy (kidney removal), i.e. not enough salvageable kidney tissue. Renal carcinomas are slow to develop (often years) and usually symptom free for quite some time and are often only discovered through incidental findings.

I don't know about your full medical history but all the patients I have looked after with total nephrectomies have been men, usually aged 35-50, with no pre-existing health problems so they can compensate (and recover) easily with only 1 kidney.

In my experience, all surgeons have personal preferences on how to treat certain problems. It's not that they know less information or are not up to date, it's about what outcome they would prefer for their patient.

ETA: If it were me, I'd personally want a partial nephrectomy at the very least. I would want pathology results showing me clear margins of tumour removal. Ablation cannot gaurentee this.

< Message edited by kitkat105 -- 6/9/2012 6:11:19 AM >

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RE: Another health care thread - 6/9/2012 8:58:43 AM

jlf1961

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As I understand the doctor, they actually burn an area slightly larger than the tumor to make sure they get it all, and he has had a good success rate with the procedure.

He does not like to do a partial nephrectomy on small tumors since the risks for complications is higher.

As for my health history, I am 30 pounds over weight which is a hundred pounds less than I was and I am a smoker. And I already have had one major surgery since the first of the year, another reason why he wants to do the ablation.

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RE: Another health care thread - 6/9/2012 9:33:38 AM

kalikshama

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quote:

In fact, since it is being done at a University Medical procedure I will not have a copay, just the travel expense.

Is this the research study you were hoping to qualify for?

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RE: Another health care thread - 6/9/2012 9:38:44 AM

jlf1961

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No, not a research study, I was informed that due to the fact I am on medicare, I do not have a copay. I dont understand but I am not going to argue

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