Surgery Update
Stephanie's surgery went very well yesterday afternoon. It lasted about 2 hours and we arrived in her room at around 6:30 last night. The biggest struggle for her so far is post operative nausea, which is to be expected.
The doctor was able to do the entire surgery laparoscopically, which is completed without having to make major incisions. Instead, she has 3 smaller incisions: 2 on her stomach and one in her side. As expected, the mass was very small and the doctors were able to remove only a small portion of her kidney with the mass. They placed a "JP Drain" which looks like a little grenade that you squeeze to create suction pressure in the would and it removes blood and fluid around the surgical site.
The doctor confirmed that the mass looks malignant but he will not know with certainty what it is until pathologists disect and analyze the mass. Fortunately, if it is malignant, the treatment/cure for most common kidney cancers is removal. He said that there is a 98% cure rate once removed. (I have learned that 98% in medical speak is a virtual certainty. It would be similar to saying that there is a 98% chance that couches in Lexington will burn in March each year - win or lose.... a virtual certainty.)
We haven't been in the hospital since April 2015 and this has brought back a rush of memories. Both Stephanie and I remembered how much we don't like hospitals (which is expected). We also remembered how much we like University of Louisville hospital compared to other hospitals she has been. The staff is so kind here and it is nice to see so many familiar faces. Whenever someone steps into the room Stephanie seems to have crossed path with them in another hospital stay. Inevitably she will chat them up for a few minutes (under the influence of heavy narcotics) and then try to sell them some real estate.
This morning she is feeling a little better and we will be taking it slowly until the doctors give her the green light to go home. We both appreciate all the love shared by friends and family yesterday. Every little comment, text, call, and message helps.
The doctor was able to do the entire surgery laparoscopically, which is completed without having to make major incisions. Instead, she has 3 smaller incisions: 2 on her stomach and one in her side. As expected, the mass was very small and the doctors were able to remove only a small portion of her kidney with the mass. They placed a "JP Drain" which looks like a little grenade that you squeeze to create suction pressure in the would and it removes blood and fluid around the surgical site.
The doctor confirmed that the mass looks malignant but he will not know with certainty what it is until pathologists disect and analyze the mass. Fortunately, if it is malignant, the treatment/cure for most common kidney cancers is removal. He said that there is a 98% cure rate once removed. (I have learned that 98% in medical speak is a virtual certainty. It would be similar to saying that there is a 98% chance that couches in Lexington will burn in March each year - win or lose.... a virtual certainty.)
We haven't been in the hospital since April 2015 and this has brought back a rush of memories. Both Stephanie and I remembered how much we don't like hospitals (which is expected). We also remembered how much we like University of Louisville hospital compared to other hospitals she has been. The staff is so kind here and it is nice to see so many familiar faces. Whenever someone steps into the room Stephanie seems to have crossed path with them in another hospital stay. Inevitably she will chat them up for a few minutes (under the influence of heavy narcotics) and then try to sell them some real estate.
This morning she is feeling a little better and we will be taking it slowly until the doctors give her the green light to go home. We both appreciate all the love shared by friends and family yesterday. Every little comment, text, call, and message helps.
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| Really great view from the room! |
Hospitals are definitely not a nice place to be but having courteous staff makes the experience tolerable. I hope the mass is malignant and Stephanie recovers completely.
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ReplyDeleteStephanie's surgery was very important for relative and friends and all fro praying for successful surgery. Today, Stephanie https://familymedicine.residencypersonalstatements.net/best-family-medicine-residency-programs is all right and living a healthy life after a big struggle in medical field.
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