Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Undergoes Second Kidney Tumor Surgery in a Year

Carmel Shama, the mayor of Ramat Gan, announced he will be hospitalized today and undergo surgery tomorrow to remove a tumor from his left kidney, marking his second kidney operation within a year. He clarified that he is not in life-threatening condition nor seriously ill.

About a year ago, Shama had surgery to remove a six-centimeter cancerous tumor from his right kidney, which was successful and did not require further treatment. However, during follow-up imaging six months later, doctors discovered a separate three-centimeter tumor in his left kidney that had been missed initially. Both tumors are independent and were detected early enough to allow removal while preserving kidney function, with no signs of metastasis or need for additional therapies.

The surgery was postponed twice: first due to preparations for a potential conflict with Iran, and later because of his mother's sudden health deterioration. Shama continued his mayoral duties throughout the war, remaining active and accessible to residents. The upcoming operation will be performed at Sheba Medical Center using the Da Vinci robotic system under Professor Zohar Dotan. Recovery is expected to take two to three weeks, after which he plans to gradually return to work.

Shama also addressed rumors about his health, condemning false information spread by certain parties and dismissing unrelated political comments made two years ago. He reassured the public, stating he is in good hands and confident the surgery will be successful, expressing gratitude for the support and prayers he has received.