Looking at options - Mayo?

Had RALP in Minneapolis on 4/12, but prior to that I did go down to Mayo for some second opinions. Mayo is a great place for "one stop shopping" to get expert opinion for various treatment modalities, open vs robotic, radiation etc. I had a very good experience there and learned a great deal. I reached the conclusion that RALP was best for me, and my opinion is that there are great surgeons in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with extensive experience in RALP. I live very near Minneapolis, so convenience was another factor. However, Mayo was a great choice for me to get expert feedback on all my options in one place in a couple of days. Also, should you opt for treatment at Mayo, you have many fine physicians and an excellent hospital.

Good luck on your journey!

Dr. Pratap Reddy was my surgeon and he performed RALP at the Virgina Piper Cancer Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Mpls. He is very experienced. Also, Dr. Christopher Knoedler at Metro Urology has done many da Vinci prostatectomies. I am sure there are a number of other very qualified physicians. Many of my friends had radiation treatment at the U. of MN hospital. I do think that it is important to get several opinions before choosing a surgeon or treatment since there are fairly strong arguments for each treatment option, and you do have some time to do this. If you decide on the da Vinci , get a surgeon who has done at least 200, preferably more that 500 procedures as there is a bit of a learning curve on this device. One more bit of advice: once you decide on a treatment and doctor, forget about the decision and go fishing, play golf...just get your mind off PCa for a time.

Also, I would suggest that you contact all your male friends your age and older if you are comfortable discussing the issue. When I was diagnosed with PCa, I was naturally taken aback and started to mention to this to my friends (I am 64). i was shocked to find out how many of my friends, and friends of friends, have had this problem. They were all most helpful and gave me some good advice. The downside was that I was not as much of a special case as I had imagined! This forum is also a great source for information and empathy.

Again, good luck on your personal journey, and remember there is life after PCa!