Questioning a surgeon?

So my kitty has a tumor in his ear that needs to be removed. The surgeon recommended a lateral ear resection, or partial removal of the ear. But everything i'm reading online says they usually treat this with a full removal because this cancer tends to be particularly aggressive... How can I ask him about this without sounding like "one of those people"? Or would you say anything? I'm definitely concerned, but I also figure he knows what he's talking about. 

You are very right to be concerned. I can relate to not wanting to sound like "one of those people" who get a second opinion from Dr. Google, but in my experience physicians and veterinarians these days are often open to these questions. I think it's very important that you bring up your question and discuss it openly with the vet.

This is your cat and you're going to pay a lot for the surgery. Getting answers for all your questions is part of the service and as I said, vets today are often used to their patients' owners researching on Google. Your vet will probably not mind discussing this with you, and if he does take issue, honestly, I would be looking for a different vet because a solid line of communication is crucial in any patient-doctor relationship, vets included.

Here's an idea. Why not email your vet about this rather than bring it up directly over the phone or in a meeting. This will give your vet some time to look up any additional info he may need and get back to you with a detailed response.

I volunteer with a group which promotes this kind of dialogue. We encourage patients to ask and be informed patients, and still follow up on medical recommendations. What I've learned over the past couple of years is that when something strikes me as odd and goes against things that I read on Google (or just know), there is often a very good reason for that. Not always, but more often than not. It's possible that your cat belongs to a special subset of patients where partial removal is in fact better than whole ear removal. Or not. You have to ask to find out.

Good luck and let us know how your vet responded. 

I agree with Anne, don't be afraid to ask questions. I freely admit I am neurotic when it comes to my cat's health. Thankfully, I have a very patient Vet. A second opinion might be worth soliciting. Hope kitty is ok 

to what has already been said. Your pet can't speak for himself or herself so it's up to you to question the vet about everything, especially for a surgical procedure. if you have concerns, no matter how silly it may be, ask anyways.