Hi:
You know sometimes I'm skeptical about the fact that the majority
of thoracic surgeons do push the standard procedures of doing an
IV operation while shying away from the laproscopic method.The
question in my mind is ; are they doing this because they
don't have the proper training & experience in laproscopic or are
the current standard methods truly superior? They claim that
they have a better chance of removing all of the cancer with the
standard methods than they do through the laproscopic method.
What can they see when they open someone up that they can't
see through a pet scan? Additionally, if a pet scan can not detect
a cancerous spot that is smaller than a dime, what is the surgeon
likely to see with his/her human eyesight? I can see the necessity
of the standard procedure if the scans detect a metastic situation
to other organs but suppose it's only a one or a few lymph nodes?
Why cant this be done on a minimally invasive basis?
This whole approach by the medical community in general when
it does come down to esophageal surgery does provide a need
to have some additional clarification & insight for patients.
Are we being denied certain options because of the lack of
skill and training on the part of the doctors? I inquired about
having laproscopic surgery done by a certain doctor on a 3cm
--1 lymph node situation--his response was----"naahh! I want to get
in there and see what's going on".What the hell is that supposed
to mean? I'm supposed to accept that? These people aren't gods.
They make many errors-particularly when it comes to prognosis.
I'm reading more & more about docs who are performing
sucessful lapro surgeries for esophageal cancer.Is this all
baloney or is it that it's easier for the docs to do the standard
operational procedure rather than to go out there and get the
additional training?
Any opinions?--------Bob S.