Arlene Lepore

Kidney Cancer Patient Stories

Arlene Lepore

With her husband recently retired, Arlene Lepore was ready to explore the world. "I just love to travel - and we were in great health,” explained Arlene. She sold their house in Cherry Hill and moved permanently to the Jersey shore.

Then, in 2006, Arlene began passing blood clots and knew something was terribly wrong.

The Best Treatment Options

After initial testing, Arlene's family physician determined she had kidney cancer. While he was prepared to refer her to an oncologist, Arlene took matters into her own hands. She hopped onto the Internet and began searching for the top kidney surgeon in the country. Turns out, he was right in Philadelphia.

Dr. Robert Uzzo, urologic oncology surgeon at Fox Chase, successfully removed her kidney and the tumor. Surprisingly, he lived in the same town as her son and his family (who knew each other), so there was an added comfort.

"If it were not for Dr. Uzzo's skills as a surgeon, I am not sure I'd be here today."

"On top of that, he was so accommodating, warm and compassionate. He still calls to check on me today," said Arlene. Dr. Uzzo was able to remove the tumor laparoscopically, an option Arlene was not even aware of. This minimally invasive surgical method offered Arlene a shorter, easier recovery period.

Living Each Day to the Fullest

Arlene is considered relatively lucky because her type of kidney cancer was non-aggressive (slow-growing). However, Arlene's was one of the few cases in which the cancer metastasized on her liver and spine.

After additional treatment, Arlene is doing well today. She lives each day to the fullest and continues to travel with her husband, their children and grandchildren.