My first surgery was laproscopic and was in remission for about 7 years, should of been longer had I stopped smoking and realised I had an incurable disease, that surgery was 1993 . Then my second surgery was 2003, open , terrible and never fully recovered and obviously the more surgery you have the faster it comes back. I am up and down now but for the most part holding my own. My first surgery was amazing, and if I knew I could be that way again I would do it in a heart beat. Are you contiplating surgery?