How to Find a Doc USA?

BadYear · Guest

Been a Bad Year. Jan9th lost my Dad to Lymphoma. Sep 3, I turned 44 and lost my Aunt to a tumour. And on Nov 19th I was diagnosed with PC. I don't know the velocity but the Gleason was a 6. Out of 8 biopsies two were cancerous. The one on the left side 10% and the one on the right side 40%. My PSA was 3.9. A DRE and a sonogram didn't show any sign of concer so I wansn't too worried until the day of the results. Well, the results obviously weren't good. The pathologist graded it Stage IIc. It seems to be contained in the prostate. B/c stage II is supposed to be palapable my cancer doesn't fit the clear cut definiton of stage but it is on both sides of the prostate so the pathologist rated it as he did.

My urologist, who I've only met three times, has a good bedside manner and I feel very comfortable with him. He was ready to refer me to a radiologist but I thought that it wasn't worth it. My insurance is major medical and none of these visits are covered. I have to pay out of pocket till it hits $5k.

Given my age I've decided on the surgery. The questions I have is what kind. da Vinci Robotic, larthoscopic, or open surgery. My doc reccommends the nerve sparing open surgery. I'm overweight by about 30 lbs but otherwise healthy. I have pretty weak stomach muscles and the idea of cutting them is not something I relish. I've decided to workout doing Kegel's, situps, walking and swimming for the next 6 to 8 weeks before the surgery. I am also going to change my diet.

I live in Northern California and have access to UCSF, UC Davis, Stanford, as well as Sacramento and SF doctors.

I've read here about Doctor Terri A in New York and like the idea of his procedure b/c he seems to have studied how to have a very high success rate with preventing incountenance. The idea of flying out there to have the surgery is a bit daunting.

For those of you who put thought into picking a surgeon or oncologist how did you chose? How did you research their stats?

Wouldn't it be funny if everytime you bought a package of the new bubblgum flavored anti cancer drug there were a few trading cards in the package with pictures of a surgeon holding a scalpal (or a robot) and their stats on the back: wins/Losses incounteance %, impotence %.

brainman · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: How to Find a Doc USA?

Hi BadYear,
I am very sorry to hear about your father's death and your recent diagnosis. Here is a link to an excellent site to find a high quality doctor. The site is a government site so it is not a ad... just gives advice on how to find a good doctor. It also has links to reporting sites that keep track of quality of services. It is worth checking out.

http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/qnt/qntdr.htm

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

johnw100 · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:31 am Post subject: Re: How to Find a Doc USA?

Choice of a top surgeon is more important than the method used.
Have heard good reports of UCLA and CoH Doctors Kawachi and Wilson.

tabby2 · New User Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 7

you have 2 other choices to surgery and I have heard good comments on both from the following: Hormonal Therapy (check out Dr. C. Myers book) and combined radiation therapy (check out Dattoli Cancer center and his books). Pay attention to side affects in making your decision.
Good luck.

brainman · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:27 pm Post subject: Message From BadYear

Hi guys and gals, this is not BadYear but for some unknown reason he is unable to post any messages. I have check his account and cannot find any problems with it or with this topic. He can receive and send PMs. He wanted me to post this for him. If you wish to reply, please send you a Private Message rather than posting here. I am trying to figure out why he is still unable to reply. In order not to further confuse you, I will not include my normal signature block.

Jim

====================================
Hello Brainman,
Thanks for you prayers I can certainly use them right now. I'll study the site more and see if I can find a doc that is close to me.

John W100:
Thanks for the heads up on UCLA. Looked at there website and it looks interesting. What does CoH mean?

Tabby2:
I don't know about the hormone treatment but will study it a little. I am reading a book called "how to beat cancer with nutrition" It looks has good ideas and even if it is completely wrong improving my diet can not hurt and won't cost much. The premise of the book is that by strengthing the immune system by eating the correct nutrients the body will help whatever kind of cancer treatment a person undergoes. He has a theory that the american diet which is rich in processed foods is creating a habitat in the body that is ripe for cancer to grow. I don't know enough about science to tell if he is correct but I do know that the veges that we grow on our own are much better tasting (even if they don't look perfect) than the ones that you buy in a store. As I said it can't hurt.

johnw100 · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: Re: How to Find a Doc USA?

BadYear,

Regarding "CoH", I meant "City of Hope" which is a top facility with doctors Kawachi and Wilson.

chas036 · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: Re: How to Find a Doc USA?

If you are looking for a surgeon, I strongly recommend you take a look at this new procedure being formed by Dr. Ashutosh K. Tewari, director of robotic prostatectomy at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell hospital in NYC. With this new procedure for reattaching the ureatha, 65% of the men are fully continente within 4 weeks after surgery and 95% after 16 weeks.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70715.php

I did a lot of reserach prior to my surgery, but I wish I could have done more or had someone tell me more about someone like Dr Tewari and incontinence. I knew incontinence was an issue after this type of surgery, but because I was relatively young, and in excellent pyhsical condition, and had been doing kegels for 4 months prior to my surgery, I had a false set of hopes, and I thought that I wouldn't have any problems with incontinence, or if I did, it would be very minimal at the most.

I even picked a good surgeon who had a good reputation and had performed well over 900 of these operations, so I thought I was in good hands, but luck was not on my side.

What I am trying to get across to you new guys considering surgery is that if you can find someone who can give you a better chance of continence very quickly after surgery like Dr Tewari can, then do everything in your power to take advantage of this and use this surgeon or ask your surgeon if he can do this technique. You don't know what having incontinence is until you actually have it, and it is something you don't want to experience if you don't have too.
_________________
Biospy 4/2007 - 2/12 <%5 Cancer Gleason 6
RP 9/25/2007 Uni Rochester, NY
Gleason 6, Negative Margins

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