Trial Lawyer’s Massive Take a look at? Most cancers in Each Kidneys in His Mid-50s

Not a lot intimidates Anthony Santacroce, however a analysis of kidney most cancers in his mid-50s and the prospect of the primary surgical procedure he’d ever had got here actually shut. The choice to surgical procedure wasn’t very interesting, both.

Santacroce, now 66, credit his main care supplier for investigating the trigger for his fatigue and anemia. A number of rounds of assessments lastly yielded a referral to a urologist who stated Santacroce had most cancers in each kidneys, information that surprised the Burlington trial legal professional. The prognosis with out surgical procedure was grim. Santacroce considered his 12-year-old daughter, an solely youngster.

“I used to be not afraid of dying as a lot as I used to be afraid she wouldn’t have her dad,” he says quietly.

Serendipity and a pal of a pal bought him an appointment with Dr. Steven Shichman, physician-in-chief of the Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute, for a second opinion. Santacroce and his spouse, additionally an legal professional, determined shortly that he would stick with Dr. Shichman for his care.

“He had sufficient confidence to say, ‘I’m going to function and also you’re going to really feel like a brand new man,’” he says. “He’s a really personable and likeable man, along with being an awesome surgeon.”

In August 2010, Dr. Shichman eliminated one kidney at Hartford Hospital. Two months later, Santacroce grew to become one of many first sufferers to bear a partial kidney removing utilizing one of many hospital’s da Vinci surgical robots. By taking simply a part of the kidney, a process solely carried out by just a few surgeons in Connecticut, Santacroce averted dialysis.

“I’m most likely more healthy now than I ever was!” he says.

After his two surgical procedures, Santacroce was referred to a nephrologist for monitoring of the remaining kidney. Within the course of, he made a number of life-style adjustments, together with adopting a vegetarian life-style. Animal-based proteins like meat and fish, he explains, require extra work from the kidney, so he limits his consumption to a chew of turkey on Thanksgiving or a nibble of salmon periodically.

Aside from that, the one actual reminder of his kidney most cancers is an annual ultrasound and MRI, plus visits with Dr. Shichman and the nephrologist to observe his kidney perform.

“I couldn’t have hoped for a greater consequence,” Santacroce says. “After I’m requested about urologists, I all the time advocate Dr. Shichman. So far as I’m involved, he walks on water!”