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It’s 12:44pm–do you know where your appendix is?
I had my one year follow-up at USC/Norris yesterday with Dr. John Stein.
He answered two burning questions for me. One regarding current thought about removing the appendix during an RC, and the other about KLH.
At Norris, they have not routinely removed the appendix since 1993, and nowadays they *never* remove it as a matter of course.
Why? Because if something goes wrong in the future, they can use the appendix as a valuable source of tissue. Plus, he said they almost never had situations where it actually needed to be removed in the first place.
The KLH? I’ll post that answer later.
Zach
“Standing on my Head”––my chemo journal
T3a Grade 4 N+M0
RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John Stein7 Replies-
OH Great…maybe mine will grow back. My mothers tonsils grew back! Pat
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North Carolina seems to be getting a lot of pixels on this site lately. Now, researchers at Duke University have (perhaps) figured out why we have an appendix.
“Standing on my Head”––my chemo journal
T3a Grade 4 N+M0
RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John Stein
[quote author=fearandfight link=topic=1170.msg8065#msg8065 date=1189775121]
As far I read they said it might be used in bladder reconstruction so we already got that part covered with other intestines.[/quote]What they use it for is if there is a problem down the line, not for the reconstruction that we’ve already had. I’d rather have them use my appendix, if necessary, than having them remove more intestine. For those of us over fifty, appendicitis is not common.
“Standing on my Head”––my chemo journal
T3a Grade 4 N+M0
RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John SteinWell i’m sure glad i gave up leaves in my diet! Pat
Now sssssshhhh mine is that little worm like thing at the bottom and he is sleeping now so be very quiet. As far I read they said it might be used in bladder reconstruction so we already got that part covered with other intestines. So it serves no purpose as they say, and the only thing it could do is cause appendicitis and that is a trip into the OR, so as I posted b4 when they did my surgery they just took it out of course I had to sign a consent form. That way I don’t have to worry about the little bugger down the road lol. Damn the inside of the human body is really creepy lol Joe ;)
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Wikipedia:-
Medical literature shows that the appendix is not generally credited with significant function. The appendix is rich in infection-fighting lymphoid cells, suggesting that it might play a role in the immune system.[3] Whether or not the appendix has a function, it is routinely removed without any notable ill effects or side effects.Some experts [4] believe that the appendix was used for digesting leaves as primates. Over time, we have eaten fewer vegetables and have evolved, over millions of years, for this organ to be smaller to make room for our stomach.
There have been cases of people who have been found, usually on laparoscopy or laparotomy, to have a congenital absence of their appendix. There have been no reports of impaired immune or gastrointestinal function in these people.
What does it do anyway? No one has come up with a reason why we have that appendage anyway….Maybe thats the answer..its valuable tissue for use at a later point? Hmmmm something to ponder? Pat
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