Surgical Removal
Until recently, the standard treatment for cancer that was confined to the kidney was surgical removal of the entire kidney (radical nephrectomy). In a radical nephrectomy, surgeons remove the kidney along with the adrenal gland that sits atop the kidney, a border of normal tissue and adjacent lymph nodes. In some cases, removing just the tumor (nephron-sparing surgery), rather than the whole kidney, results in survival rates similar to those of more radical procedures. In addition, people who have nephron-sparing surgery appear less likely to develop chronic kidney failure and are more likely to enjoy a better quality of life than do those who have the whole kidney removed.
Sometimes surgeons may choose to remove the entire kidney because of the extent and the location of the tumor. In that case, laparoscopic nephrectomy may offer advantages over traditional open surgery because it typically results in less postoperative pain, faster recovery time and less scarring. In a laparoscopic procedure, a tiny camera is inserted into your body through a small incision. The camera transmits video images that allow your surgeon to see the kidney in great detail. The surgeon inserts surgical instruments through two or three additional small incisions and performs the operation. The recovery time and side effects of any type of kidney surgery will vary, but it’s likely you’ll feel tired and weak for a time, even with laparoscopic nephrectomy.
My Take
Whether laparoscopy or an open approach is warranted, you should fully understand why the choice is being made. I will always evaluate the possibility of less-invasive options first. Although a less-invasive approach may be desirable, don’t lose sight of the fact that the point of the operation is to cure your cancer; and when a larger incision needs to be made to achieve this goal, that is what I will recommend.