I’m really confused now. We went to see one of my wife’s Oncologists last Monday and filled him in on my recent kidney cancer diagnosis. Actually, before I go ahead, I got to give the guy a plug:

www.drsimone.com

He’s a wealth of knowledge and a pioneer in the field of hormone imbalance related cancers, such as breast cancer. He therefore is an avid advocate of the concept that breast cancer is preventable and treatable by living a healthy life-style and eating the right things, however, not by discounting any traditional treatments at all. So if you want to see someone who is genuinely interested in your health, who listens and respects your concerns and decisions and not only treats you cancer but rather follows a holistic approach in order to make you well as a human being – than Dr. Simone is right up your alley.

Okay, he seemed to be very concerned about me, even though we went to see him to give us his opinion on Ann’s PET Scan result – which he clearly confirmed as something absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. He asked me who I had chosen as my surgeon for my upcoming Nephrectomy and I told him. He then strongly advised me to get another opinion at an institution such as Columbia University Hospital that specializes in the treatment of urologic cancers. He said that I need someone doing the procedure, that has a solid background as an Oncology-Surgeon with lots of experience, and not someone who is “only” an Urologist. “You’ve got only this one shot.”, he told me, “That’s it.” Further to that, he doesn’t like the fact that my doctor wants to do it minimally invasively, known as a laparoscopic procedure. According to him, my tumor is to big and since the entire organ has to be removed, he would prefer it to see it done the ordinary way, basically 'cut you open all the way', in my unscientific terms. 

Well, I don’t know about the last point, since the laparoscopy seems to be the state of the art procedure nowadays and as a matter of fact, Columbia University is one of the world leaders in that field. However, admittedly, he does have a point with the fact that a surgeon trained in Oncology might be a better choice.

When we came back home, Ann made an appointment for me at Columbia University Hospital with one of the experts in the field of kidney tumors. The appointment is next Tuesday; they actually got me in there even though they were double-booked already. So that will give me enough time to hear what they will have to say about all that and then I will have to decide as to whether or not I stick with my doctor and my scheduled surgery on the 11th of November, or switch to Columbia University.

I think it makes sense to get a third opinion; however, it screwed me up mentally. I had everything squared out in my head already. Getting my physical next week, blood-test, urine-test, etc., and then just going in for surgery at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. One night there, two at the most, then recuperating at home for a couple of weeks until I’m back on my feet. And now I’m afraid that the schedule might change based on what they’re going to tell me at Columbia University.

Other than that, I’m doing pretty okay. My energy level seems to be a little lower that usual and typically in the afternoons I get a little bit of a discomfort in both of my flanks. The stent doesn’t bother me anymore, I ‘feel’ it whenever I have to pee, but that’s it.

So for now I’m just anxiously waiting for next Tuesday.