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Posted 11/20/2013 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
As I continue my research and decision making process, I put together a preliminary list of potential surgeons should I elect to go this direction. The same surgeons keep coming up over and over so I finally got brain tired and stopped. Also, there is no question that one of these would be the right one for me.

I did post this on another site which also has a some associated evaluations done by a member there (and I think goes by the same handle here) but I was not sure if it is appropriate to post a link to another forum.

One of the criteria was that the surgeon had to have at least 1000 surgeries (not easy to find data on this) an be recommended by someone I could find with a Google search that used them for their surgery.

If I missed someone, please let me and others know... I did focus more on the East Coast. If nothing else, I thought it might help others with their research.

Dr. David B. Samadi(RALP)
www.roboticoncology.com
485 Madison Ave(between 51st-52nd street) 21st floor New York, NY 10022
1-212-365-5000
Lenox Hill Hospital
100 E 77th St, New York, NY 10065
Healthgrades 4.6 Star (58) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-mani-menon-xpb3x
Notes: May not do entire surgery

Dr. Mani Menon (RALP)
/www.henryford.com/vui
Henry Ford Hospital
2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202
(888) 881-1117
(313) 916-2600
Healthgrades 3.8 Star (14) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-mani-menon-xpb3x

Dr. Stephen Ruyle (RALP)
www.tucc.com/Stephen-Ruyle.15.15.html
The Urology Center of Colorado
2777 Mile High Stadium Circle, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 825-TUCC (8822)
Healthgrades 5 Star(6) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-stephen-ruyle-x2tvm

Dr. Edward M. Schaeffer (RALP/RRP)
urology.jhu.edu/edwardschaeffer/index.php
John Hopkins - The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute
600 North Wolfe St. Baltimore, MD 21287
410-955-6100
Healthgrades 5 Star (1) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-edward-schaeffer-ggxxn

Dr. Mohamad Allaf (RALP)
urology.jhu.edu/edwardschaeffer/index.php
John Hopkins - The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute
600 North Wolfe St. Baltimore, MD 21287
410-955-6100
Healthgrades 5 Star (21) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-mohamad-allaf-yh7q5

Dr. Arthur L. Burnett (RRP)
urology.jhu.edu/arthurburnett/index.php
John Hopkins - The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute
600 North Wolfe St. Baltimore, MD 21287
410-955-6100
Healthgrades 5 Star (9) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-arthur-burnett-22pn2

Dr. Arieh Shalhav (RALP)
www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/arieh-shalhav.html
The University of Chicago Medicine
5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 6038, Chicago, IL 60637
1-888-824-0200
Healthgrades 5 Star (11) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-arieh-shalhav-y5psl

Dr. William Catalona (RRP)
http://www.drcatalona.com
fsmweb.northwestern.edu/faculty/facultyProfile.cfm?xid=18380
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
NMH/Galter Room 20-150, 675 N Saint Clair, Chicago IL 60611
312-695-6126
Healthgrades 4.3 Star (18) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-william-catalona-ysxft

Dr. Thomas Ahlering (RALP)
http://www.urology.uci.edu/prostate/about_Ahlering.html
UC Irvine School of Medicine - Urologic Oncology & Robotic Surgery
101 The City Dr. South,Orange, CA 92868
(714) 456-6068
Healthgrades 5 Star (9) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-thomas-ahlering-347gf

Dr. Ash Tewari (RALP)
http://www.centerforprostatecancer.org
http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/ashutosh-tewari
Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC
1425 Madison Avenue, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10029
(212) 241-9955
Healthgrades 5 Star (17) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-ashutosh-tewari-xq9cg

Dr. Peter T. Scardino (RRP)
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/peter-scardino
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue (Between 67th and 68th Streets), New York, NY 10065
646-497-9068
Healthgrades 5 Star (5) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-peter-scardino-3xfkp

Dr. James A. Eastham (RRP)
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/james-eastham
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue (Between 67th and 68th Streets), New York, NY 10065
646-497-9068
Healthgrades 4.5 Star (36) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-james-eastham-x5fss

Honorable mention based on Forum Member input below:

Dr. Vincent Laudone (RALP)
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/vincent-laudone
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue (Between 67th and 68th Streets), New York, NY 10065
(646) 497-9068
(866) 425-8999
Healthgrades 5.0 Star (22) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-vincent-laudone-3g28t
Note: Not validated to have 1000+ surgeries

Dr. Bruce L. Dalkin (RRP)
http://www.seattlecca.org/doctor/bruce-l-dalkin.cfm
depts.washington.edu/uroweb/physician-8-Dalkin.php
University of Washington Medical Center
SP1266, 1st Floor, Surgery Pavilion, Box 356158, 1959 N.E. Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 598-4294
Vitals 4/4 (1) - www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Bruce_Dalkin/profile
Note: No healthgrade found for Dalkin in Seattle

Dr. Gerald L. Andriole, Jr (Unkown)
http://urology.wustl.edu/Faculty/AndrioleGerald
Washington University School of Medicine
Center for Advanced Medicine, Urologic Surgery Center
4921 Parkview Place, Suite C, Floor 11, St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-8200
Healthgrades 5.0 Star (22) - www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-gerald-andriole-2pgct
Note: Not validated to have 1000+ surgeries

Dr. Louis L. Pisters (Unkown)
http://faculty.mdanderson.org/Louis_Pisters/Default.asp
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030
(855) 873-4321
Healthgrades 4.6 Star (9) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-louis-pisters-yrhhm
Note: Not validated to have 1000+ surgeries

Dr. Benjamin R. Lee (RALP)
http://tulane.edu/som/departments/urology/lee.cfm
Tulane University School of Medicine
1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-42, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 988-2536
Healthgrades Not Found
Note: Not validated to have 1000+ surgeries

Dr. Herbert Lepor (RRP)
http://urology.med.nyu.edu/about-us/our-team-physicians/herbert-lepor-md
NYU Langone Medical Center
150 East 32nd Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10016
(between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, near the corner of Lexington)
(646)-825-6327
Healthgrades 4.7 Star (13) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-herbert-lepor-y4qh6

Dr. Eric Klein (RRP)
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/staff_display.aspx?doctorid=393
Cleveland Clinic Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute
Mail Code Q10-1, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195
(216) 444-5600
(216) 444-5591
Healthgrades 4.7 Star (19) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-eric-klein-ykl3h
Note: Not validated to have 1000+ surgeries

Dr. Joseph A. Smith, Jr(RRP/RALP)
http://www.vicc.org/dd/display.php?person=joseph.smith
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
691 Preston Building • Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 322-2880
Healthgrades 5.0 Star (14) - http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-joseph-smith-38fqw
Posted 11/20/2013 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
That's a solid list.

When I did my final research and let my family convince me to drop my local uro and go with one who had thousands I looked at Patel, Samadi, Tewari and Menon. Narrowed it down to Samadi and Tewari because of distance and then picked Samadi because of a famil recommendation, a utube video that uplifted me, and because when my wife and I went in for a consult he blew our minds with his attitude and gravitas.

That said, you can't go wrong with that list and you stack the odds in your favor.

I think you need to narrow down to geography and open/robotic. On the latter, they say it's more important to pick the skilled practitioner than the type of surgery. I really wanted robotic though so that's why I selected those 4 initially.

There are plenty of Samadi, Tewari, Menon and Patel patients here, I'm sure we can all help introduce you to them if you like.
Posted 11/20/2013 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
I used Dr. Tewari, and couldn't be happier.

Note that your contact info on Dr. Tewari is outdated. The current info is:
http://centerforprostatecancer.org/
http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/ashutosh-tewari
Dr. Ash Tewari, Chairman of Urology
Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC
1425 Madison Avenue, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10029
phone: 212-241-9955
Posted 11/20/2013 2:06 AM (GMT 0)

gedman said...
I used Dr. Tewari, and couldn't be happier.

Note that your contact info on Dr. Tewari is outdated. The current info is:
http://centerforprostatecancer.org/
http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/ashutosh-tewari
Dr. Ash Tewari, Chairman of Urology
Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC
1425 Madison Avenue, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10029
phone: 212-241-9955


Thanks!... updated

PS: Hate mCode that this forum uses... very finicky
Posted 11/20/2013 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
My surgeon was Dr Vincent Laudone, Co-Director of Robotic Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. He's a perfectionist - dedicated to his craft. But comes across as a wonderful man. The night before the surgery, the phone rang and I was astonished to hear him on the other end, acknowledging that this must be a stressful time for my wife and me and wanting to know if I had any last minute questions or concerns. And, as I've prattled on about endlessly, my results were fantastic.

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/vincent-laudone

Mikey
Posted 11/20/2013 2:23 AM (GMT 0)

Mikey72 said...
My surgeon was Dr Vincent Laudone, Co-Director of Robotic Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. He's a perfectionist - dedicated to his craft. But comes across as a wonderful man. The night before the surgery, the phone rang and I was astonished to hear him on the other end, acknowledging that this must be a stressful time for my wife and me and wanting to know if I had any last minute questions or concerns. And, as I've prattled on about endlessly, my results were fantastic.

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctor/vincent-laudone

Mikey

that is special. must have made you feel so good.
Posted 11/20/2013 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Made me feel calm, Davidg. The guy really really gives a darn. And his ratings are great.
Posted 11/20/2013 2:43 AM (GMT 0)

Mikey72 said...
Made me feel calm, Davidg. The guy really really gives a darn. And his ratings are great.

I bet they are, with results like yours and his caring touch I'd expect nothing else from his ratings.
Posted 11/20/2013 3:01 AM (GMT 0)

Mikla said...
As I continue my research and decision making process, I put together a preliminary list of potential surgeons should I elect to go this direction. The same surgeons keep coming up over and over so I finally got brain tired and stopped. Also, there is no question that one of these would be the right one for me.

I did post this on another site which also has a some associated evaluations done by a member there (and I think goes by the same handle here) but I was not sure if it is appropriate to post a link to another forum.


Assuming you are referring to me, Mikla. Here is a link to my initial post on HW discussing my thought process and evaluation of many of these doctors: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2761907
Posted 11/20/2013 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
And here are a few other names I've seen come up that I had not considered but seem to be potentially great options:

Bruce Dalkin, University of Washington Hospital, Seattle
Gerald Andriole, Washington University, St. Louis
Louis Pisters, MD Anderson
Posted 11/20/2013 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Might want to consider adding Dr. Benjamin Lee at Tulane University in New Orleans.

http://tulane.edu/som/departments/urology/lee.cfm

Posted 11/20/2013 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all... I'll add them to the list when I get a chance.

njs... Thanks! I figured you had that post here, I just could not find it.
Posted 11/20/2013 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Well done Mikla - that's definitely a "who's / who" of surgeons!!!!!

When I was at that point of my journey when I was researching options, and considering surgery, I narrowed my list down (actually same as davidg) to Patel, Samadi, Tewari and Menon. If you have the means to travel I would suggest you meet with as many of these gentlemen as you can; alternatively most will also engage in a phone consultation.

I ended up taking another direction for my choice of treatment, but again IMHO you've got a great list there!

Continued best as you move along the path.
Posted 11/20/2013 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks A Yooper... njs gets most of the credit for putting his original list together that got me started.

Finding info on PCa is easy (almost overwhelming) but researching doctors is much more difficult to do. I thought I would find more local surgeons so I started asking my docs and they came back to this list. I am certain there are some other very good surgeons that are local that can do the surgery, but it is a struggle to figure out the info without spending hours on the phone or going to office visits. That's why it would be helpful if other folks have input, we can add to the list and get a network of good/recommended surgeons throughout the country (world?).
Posted 11/20/2013 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Added the mentioned doctors. Will have to fix some of the code later... mCode does not like some of the links.
Posted 11/20/2013 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Vipul Patel has the most experience having done more Da Vinci surgeries than any on the list, over 6,000 at last count.
Even though he is a rock star surgeon, he talks to you like he really knows YOUR body and YOUR cancer.
He does all his own surgeries with a fantastic team. He always gives his team credit for all they do.

I had EPE and positive margins and so far all my PSA are nothing but Zeros. Hopefully he cut wide enough to avoid recurrence. He was on my insurance plan and cost me less than $200 plus follow up visits.

The hospital he works out of is Celebration Health, 5 miles from Disney Word. In fact, the hospital is on Disney property and nobody does it better than Disney! It doesn't even look like a hospital. There are many hotels nearby since you are close to Disney. I stayed at a hotel across the street from the hospital for 1 week. It had a full kitchen, balcony and separate bedroom. It worked out perfectly for recovery. And of course the weather is beautiful year round for long walks outside. Most of the doctors on your list are in COLD COUNTRY for the next 4 months.

You have a strong list and should do well with any choice you make but I would definitely consider Dr. Patel.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 11/20/2013 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill... Dr. Patel is definitely high on my list. Besides his creds, he is the closest to me (I am a 3 hour drive away in So. FL). Will be calling him later today.
Posted 11/20/2013 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Mikla, I'd like to add for what it's worth - for me, I made the decision very early on, that I was not going to let cost or geographic location of the practitioner even remotely weigh in on my decision.

While I'm not independently wealthy, I looked at it from the perspective that I wanted the best shot at curing the cancer and preserving my quality of life. . . . .
Posted 11/20/2013 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Initially I was stubborn and travel was a big no no for me. I didn't even want to travel 30+ miles to NYC. I wanted to use our local hospital. My family and medical professionals quickly convinced me to go to a center of excellence or use a great surgeon even if it entailed travel as this is a one shot deal. They were right of course. So I traveled 35 miles.

Since then I've met guys from Colorado and overseas who travel to NYC for the surgery. No doubt more involved and more expensive, but still a sound investment considering the probable returns.
Posted 11/20/2013 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
You can also add Dr. Herbert Lepor at NYU. He does the open procedure and has done over 4,000. He was trained at Johns Hopkins and was a co-author with Pat Walsh of the paper originally describing the nerve sparing surgery. I consulted with all of the NY surgeons on your list, except for Dr. Scardino (I was told he no longer takes routine cases) and chose Dr. Lepor.

In the end, I decided I wanted the open procedure and that narrowed the choice down to Drs. Eastham and Lepor. I could only chose one, but I think either choice would have been correct. I will tell you that my anxiety level went down somewhat once I made a decision. When looking at a list like the one you're compiling, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these surgeons. Good luck!

Post Edited (FrackMe) : 11/20/2013 11:08:51 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/20/2013 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Afternoon,

You may also add Dr. Eric Klein head of the Glickman Urological Center at the Cleveland Clinic.

Posted 11/20/2013 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the additions!
Updated through this post... still gotta figure out how to fix some the links... ugh
Posted 11/20/2013 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Take a look at Dr. Joseph Smith. He is the head of Urolgic Surgery at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville TN. He did my surgery and serveral others on here. He was an "open" surgeon years ago and moved into robotic about 10 years ago. He still does both but his practice is largely robotic surgery. He has done several thousand of each.
I was very happy with him. It was a 2.5 hour drive for me but well worth it.

I have since moved into the Los Angeles area and my urologists at City of Hope Cancer Hospital knew Dr. Smith's work and praised him.

I see we had very similar stats. I am going for my next PSA check in early December. The anxiety is starting. I expect to be on yearly PSA checks starting on my 4 year anniversary (4/10/2013).

Best of luck. I am sure you will do well.
RickyD
Posted 11/21/2013 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks RickyD... added him.
Yes we certainly do have pretty similar stats. Wishing you the best on your next and future PSA tests!
Posted 11/21/2013 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Mikla:

Man, you don't need to add more names to that list!!!

YOU NEED TO NARROW IT DOWN. As others have said, you have a great list!

Good luck.

I also researched surgeons (and ended up choosing Dr. Menon -- I highly recommend him).

Interestingly, when, unfortunately, it came time to do SRT, I was unable to find a way to rate the radiology experts.

I ended up relying on a few friends in the medical profession and ended up going local. I really didn't want to travel 150 miles each way every day for 8 weeks and I also wanted to keep working.

Mel

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