| Before we talk about treatment, let's start with a discussion about the human body and about your medical condition.
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Your doctor has recommended that you undergo a Splenectomy - or spleen removal surgery. But what does that actually mean? |
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The spleen is one of the organs in your body that works to clean your blood. |
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The Spleen is located behind the stomach... |
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and to the left of the liver. |
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Specifically, the spleen picks out and destroys red blood cells that are no longer useful. |
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A Splenectomy is the surgical procedure used to permanently remove the spleen from the body. |
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Reasons for removing the spleen vary. Most spleen removal surgery is performed in an emergency situation, during which internal bleeding may be putting a patient's life at risk. |
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This program assumes, however, that you are not currently in an emergency setting. In your case, the reason for removing the Spleen may be to treat a blood disease, blood congestion, Gaucher's disease, white blood cell deficiency, the growth of a tumor, or the growth of cysts. |
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Occasionally the Spleen is removed as part of an action taken to determine the best course of treatment for Hodgkin's disease. |
| So make sure that you ask your doctor to carefully explain the reasons behind this recommendation. |
