PC Infolink site takes a swipe at Samadi “advertorial”

Water Guy - Karma?

I've never been made redundant yet, suspect I will one day. But I think I can pinpoint the major difference emotionally between that and learning I had cancer. At least in my case. If I lost my job, I know I would have family and friends to support and help me, and I would always think I could regain a similar position or for that matter even a different and perhaps lower one that would make just as happy if not happier. But with cancer, no matter how much love I received from wife, kids, parents and siblings, I felt alone and helpless much of the time. Also, when losing your job one probably often second guesses his/her actions that might have contributed to that situation. But with cancer our actions often have nothing to do getting it further leading to that sense of helplessness.

David & Casey,

There is a difference that you point out by accident. In my case, I had/have little family (no wife/kids/exes), and worked (still do) in an extremely small business sector in which we all (very literally) know each other. To lose a job was (and still is) to lose a big chunk of your life. I've gone to more than one funeral provoked by a job loss.

I do expect someday with what little I've said someone will recognize who I am

In my changes, I was fortunate that I could move to one of the other companies that did the same work. You used to be able to count them on one hand, now you wouldn't need most of the fingers. At this point I have worked for all of those remaining, so ....

 

Davidg:

You've made some very insightful posts here.

I am in a field where I could easily get another job due to my experience and networking over a long working life. In fact, I retired from our local school system and then decided I still wanted to teach. I applied to 5 local places (colleges/universities) and got an offer from each one. In fact, the "interviews" were very social. I knew everyone from assorted math competitions (and I had also taught at some of these places previously as an adjunct). It was kind of like here is what we have what would you like.

But cancer is a different animal. My wife and I will be celebrating our 37th wedding anniversary. But with this cancer one suffers a LOT ALONE. That's the way it is. There are fears and emotions. If I expressed them a lot, I would not be much fun to be around. So, I use HW as nice sounding board.

As we see on HW, everyone handles things in their own way.

But, interesting comments about your working lives. Mine is somewhat parallel to yours. While I never had to fire people, I was in school administration. Our local public school has been an elite system. Our locale supported us greatly and passed every millage. about 15-20 years ago the State changed the funding mechanism. They abolished local property taxes and increased the sales tax. Michigan took in the funds and sent them out to the localities based on student counts. This was "fairer." A politically effective school system like Detroit, which did not support their schools, got as much money per pupil as we did. Eventually, times got tough and Michgan started making cuts. So, all of a sudden I had to make budget cuts and I suddenly had to say NO in a variety of circumstances. Administration was always challenging but the enjoyment eventually went as each year turned into a financial crisis for our top-notch academic District. That is one of the main reasons I retired and moved on to being a University Prof. In fact, I was Department Chair at my University for a year, but decided to just stay with the teaching.

So, I never had to fire people, but it got close as we had to make plenty of cuts.

I guess we do share some similarities. Does this kind of work cause PC?

Mel

Very well put, Bob Cape, very good. I think you have that right on the button. A doctor or surgeon's entire substance isn't just based on his technical skills. As you have said, and many others, no one is doubting those technical skills with Dr. Samadi. If he really sucked there, all the self-promotion and advertising in the world wouldn't help him make it. I am also interested in the character and humility of a doctor too. A good doctor doesn't need to keep patting himself on the back to feel good in my opinion. A good doctor takes the time to know his patient's, and to factor in all the elements of that patient that are pertinent to his or her care. Not saying this is the case, but I veer away from anything that resesmbles an assembly line method, of seeing how many surgeries can someone squeeze in a single week, to put some more notches on a belt.

When I was visiting Florida 3 years ago, I became disgusted with all the billboards of competing doctors and surgeons and medical facilities.

And you are right, its foolish to think or promote that surgery is the only way or even the best way (and I had open surgery for the record). The correct primary treatment choice should be the one best suited for the needs of that particular patient.

Self-promotion and ego stroking to the extent that Dr. Samadi provides, in my opinion only, pushes the line a bit, and if anything, if I were new to PC, and seeking the right way for me, would have the oposite effect on me, and steer me away from those types of antics. I don't want my doctor to be a game show host.

David in SC

Keeping mind that running a URO office is a business - me thinks having a top notch Doc doing the talking is better then having one of the scrub nurses do it.

An if that URO office specializes in surgery, it's not a stretch to see why they'd over hype that.

No one buys a Ford Truck because of its killer fuel economy or its ability to park on a dime...

The problem ISNT that he's not a great surgeon, he probably is.

When Ford shows their trucks flying through the air like they have wings, most folks are wise enough to know it's not true.

When a well known (partly due to his constant press releases) surgeon makes blanket statments that "surgery is your best chance for a cure", without regard to the specifics of the patient, that's a problem.

I dont question AT ALL why David would use this dr... and I hope his positive results remain in place and this ends up being something he could put behind him. That really isnt my point of contention.

It is this doctor, like no other, making general statements about how successful HE is compared to everyone else. It is about him claiming HIS style of treatments is the only cure for your life changing (or ending) disease.

Additionally, if the good doctor chooses ONLY patients that appear to have a more treatable case of pca, great. Then his results SHOULD be better than the overall numbers. But his statements dont mention that, and this can give false hope to many men who are NOT among that group.

I see that some entity must have gotten this across to the dr, because his website NOW has asterisks next to 2 of him claims:

96% of patients regain continence*
85% of patients regain sexual function*
* The benefits of robotic surgery cannot be guaranteed as surgery is both patient and procedure specific. Previous surgical results do not guarantee future outcomes.

I suspect it was the lawyers.

So he unless he can actually SEE individual cancer cells, that suggests to me that he chooses his patients very carefully, which is fine. But if cancer has spead to that area, neither Samadi Nor Houdini can spare nerves while removing individual cells.

3,800 robotic surgeries. Median age pca dx is 69, yet 85% of his patients regain sexual function. So 480 of the patients he did robotic surgery on lost all sexual function.

Sure, you can play with numbers. I dealt dice for years, but people arent a game.

If the guy helped ONE person, and David is clearly one, then Samadi is a saint for doing that work, I respect that. But we are talking about NEW cases, guys like all of us have been, who are trying to figure out what is real and what isnt, scared for their lives, wonder why there are so many different stats and numbers out there, that make it nearly impossible to decide on the best form of treatment.

Bottom line, WHEN my 21 year old son has to start being tested, and (god forbid) IF he were to have pca, would I consider Samadi? Absolutely.

BUT, if he asks me about Samadi's claims, I would have to give him the same arguments as I have given here.

And I would tell him to MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS WEBSITE AND READ THE ASTERISKS, because they are there for a reason!

Ironically (actually not so much so)... I JUST received a press release from the dr in my email...

http://tinyurl.com/cowubzr

"With the enhanced dexterity of the robot guided by his years of experience, he is able to preserve a man's sexual function and urinary control over the course of recovery." I guess the advertising agency forgot the asterisk.

"Patient adherence to post-operative care facilitates 97% continence and 85% sexual potency for Dr. Samadi's patients"

WOW, it's 96% on his website, and 97% here. I guess 38 guys just got lucky.

And so it shall end.

I think all the points of view have been beaten to death with a stick.