My best wishes go to Nicholas Owen, who wrote about his recent experience of kidney cancer (The Argus, September 28).

My own brush with this illness started last October, when I went to my GP with a urine infection.

Even though she suspected I was seriously ill, it wasn't until February this year that my local hospital was able to offer me a scan, which confirmed a large tumour in my right kidney.

Then it was another month before I could see a consultant, who told me my kidney would have to be removed another month later by "conventional surgery" - a massive operation, very painful, needing a long period of recovery and leaving a huge scar.

Seven months on waiting lists - I could have died or the cancer spread.

Not content, I looked on the internet and found out about keyhole surgery, located a surgeon, Mr Abhay Rane at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, and wrote to him.

Ten days later, I sat in his office. He had already "pencilled in" an operation for the next week. Another scan was done two days later and, on May 3, my kidney was "whipped out" by keyhole surgery.

Three days after the operation, I left hospital. There was no pain except that caused by a build-up of wind. Two weeks later, I dug the garden.

A few weeks ago, I had my three-month scan, which showed I am clear of cancer.

Waiting times, even in serious cases, are still far too long within the NHS. In meeting other surviving patients, I note that most of them had private health insurance - what happened to the NHS patients? I shudder to think.

Many patients are not informed about the option of keyhole surgery (where appropriate). In the US, this would be classed as negligence.

Another problem in this country is persuading "conventional" surgeons to take the time and trouble to retrain.

If anyone would like to read more about my own and other patients' experiences of this horrible disease and how we dealt with it, my web site is at www.lloydo.net

-Paul Lloyd, Temple Grove, Burgess Hill