my mother is 83 with moderate cognitive memory loss, 94 lbs no other health issues and we have just found out she has a malignant tumor on her right kidney. All contained on that kidney. She is not in any pain but urinates every 15 minutes. Her urologist wants to remove this kidney and ureter tube laporisopically. He states that she will be in the hospital for about a day and a half. She resides at an assisted living facility near my home. I am certainly prepared to be there with her for about a week all day along with home health nurses to make sure she recovers well. My concern is what kind of quality of life she will have after the surgery and the effect the anesthesia will have on her.
Anyone had a parent that this has happened to? Really struggling with whether or not to leave the kidney and tumor alone. I am going to call her internist tomorrow and ask that she contact the urologist and give me her honest opinion whether she would have her 83 year old Mother go through this surgery.
Her doctor saw something in her blood tests, kept sending her for more and finally to a urologist who told her the exact same thing. Left kidney (not right) 98% sure it would be cancer. It was contained and she needed no chemo or even a pill to take after the surgery. She is now 87, her memory problems more obvious than then. We have to keep reminding her to drink and take care of the one kidney that's left. She had the surgery the old fashion way. Cut her in half nearly, so was in hospital a week and it took a while to feel normal again. If they can do it laparoscopically, I would say do it. Her doctor said it was a miracle that hers was found early before it spread. If your moms may spread, you might save her from cancer treatment later that could make her last days miserable. Right now my mom is in great physical condition, thanks to stents and other measures. I expect her to live several more years. I will hate to see the dementia take over her mind. I saw my grandmother lost in her own world for a few years before she passed away. Mom wouldn't want to live like that, but for now she is in a retirement home that supplies almost everything but monitoring her meds, snacks, soft drinks (which can be purchased from the front desk I think). But I bring her that stuff and anything she asks for. (except a neck lift.). :-)
If your mom doesn't have the surgery laparoscopically, knowing what I know of moms suffering with her surgery, I wouldn't put her through it again. It was FAR worse on her than they told us. Antibiotics and anesthesia make her hallucinate and it's awful each time. There is lots of comments about urinary tract infections on this sight, and the side effects from treatments. God bless. I pray you can decide what is best for your mom, and I'm sure you are asking the right questions. Donna
doctor wanting to do it laprascopically, that should work out much better. She should be fine. Good luck.