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Thinking of going to Johns Hopkins for surgery...

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Posted 3/8/2017 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I'm considering going to Johns Hopkins for surgery. Wondering about folks experience at this hospital and if specific surgeons are recommended. I live in Charlottesville Va and would also consider other highly recommended centers or docs within 2-3 hour drive. Guess I will also have to see if whichever place is in my insurance network.

I want to get a RP with LN dissections. I had gone round and round on which treatment but have settled on surgery.
Posted 3/8/2017 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Gene: I live in Charlottesville and was treated at Hopkins in September 2016. I'd be glad to talk with you about it. My profile has my email address.

GWB
Posted 3/8/2017 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
You can find the best-of-the-best at Johns Hopkins.
Good luck
Posted 3/8/2017 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
From what I've read since my diagnosis, your chance of a good outcome increases if you are treated at a center for excellence. Johns Hopkins is certainly a place like that for prostate cancer.

Have you read the book "Surviving Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Walsh, of Johns Hopkins? Lots of good information that will help you.
Posted 3/8/2017 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've talked to a few patients treated by Misop Han who speak very highly of him.
Posted 3/8/2017 11:18 PM (GMT 0)

tennisplayer said...
From what I've read since my diagnosis, your chance of a good outcome increases if you are treated at a center for excellence. Johns Hopkins is certainly a place like that for prostate cancer.

Have you read the book "Surviving Prostate Cancer" by Dr. Walsh, of Johns Hopkins? Lots of good information that will help you.

No I hadn't heard of the book. I will get it. Thank you very much.
Posted 3/9/2017 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I had RP at JH. My wife stayed in recovery room with me for two nights. My surgeon is now at Northwestern. We flew in Thursday evening stayed at hotel on the harbor. Met with surgeon Friday morning did pre-op testing Friday afternoon. Checked out of hotel Sat morning, Had surgery Sat morning and stayed in hospital Sat and Sunday, checked back into hotel Monday night as precaution and flew back home Tuesday. Everything was handled extreme well, no complications. But pathology showed I was very high risk. In retrospect I should have had radiation. My bad.
Bob
Posted 3/9/2017 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Gene, great experience, all things considered at JH. My profile tells my tale, but if you're looking at surgery, I have no complaints. I had a private room on the 11th floor for recovery. No barking dogs or crazy cats. I wish I could've spent a few more days!!!!!

Be sure to check your insurance coverage both for the hospital itself, and again with the surgeon. They may not both accept it. I have Carefirst BC/BS, and while the hospital was covered, my doctor, Dr. Carter didn't accept it. Weird, I thought, but he was fine with seeing me as it wasn't my fault since I wasn't informed when making the appointment. First time I ever hit my out of pocket maximum! Dr. Carter does 'open' surgery. I'm not going to get into the 'open' vs. 'robot' debate, but I'll just say that a robot doesn't make a mediocre surgeon better, but experience does. I figured with over 3500 surgeries under his belt (1.5 years ago), he had experience! I'm guessing 'Break 60' had Dr. Schaeffer, who I believe Ben Stiller used. He was also recommended to me by a JH scientist as a "great surgeon." But....he's in Illinois now.

I'm about 25-30 minutes south of Baltimore. If you come up, let me know. I'll buy you a crabcake. lol!

Feel free to email me with any questions that I can help you with. My email address is in my profile.

MD
Posted 3/9/2017 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Dr. Misop Han at Johns Hopkins did my surgery in 2008. I have recommended him to others. Followed up quickly on my emails and phone calls. Great surgeon and nice guy.
Posted 3/9/2017 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi gene62,

At your age I highly recommend reading "You can beat Prostate Cancer: And You Don't need Surgery to Do it" by Robert J. Marckini. There are many choices for treatment, however, the driving force for your decision will be your age, health and your PC numbers.
I live in NOVA and my journey to a cure took me to Hampton University Proton Treatment Institute in Hampton, VA.
Contact Mr. Ed Dickey to discuss your situation and schedule a consult with Dr. Sinesi at 757-251-6800
before considering surgery.
I had ZERO side effects from my treatments and have had ZERO side effects post treatment.
With surgery you will most likely suffer from incontinence and/or impotency. Duration may be short lived or last for years depending on some things out of your control.
Your choice of treatment is a personal one, however, it will effect your family as well.
Contact me via email if you need more info.
Good Luck!
Posted 3/11/2017 7:37 PM (GMT 0)

MDNative said...
Gene, great experience, all things considered at JH. My profile tells my tale, but if you're looking at surgery, I have no complaints. I had a private room on the 11th floor for recovery. No barking dogs or crazy cats. I wish I could've spent a few more days!!!!!

Be sure to check your insurance coverage both for the hospital itself, and again with the surgeon. They may not both accept it. I have Carefirst BC/BS, and while the hospital was covered, my doctor, Dr. Carter didn't accept it. Weird, I thought, but he was fine with seeing me as it wasn't my fault since I wasn't informed when making the appointment. First time I ever hit my out of pocket maximum! Dr. Carter does 'open' surgery. I'm not going to get into the 'open' vs. 'robot' debate, but I'll just say that a robot doesn't make a mediocre surgeon better, but experience does. I figured with over 3500 surgeries under his belt (1.5 years ago), he had experience! I'm guessing 'Break 60' had Dr. Schaeffer, who I believe Ben Stiller used. He was also recommended to me by a JH scientist as a "great surgeon." But....he's in Illinois now.

I'm about 25-30 minutes south of Baltimore. If you come up, let me know. I'll buy you a crabcake. lol!

Feel free to email me with any questions that I can help you with. My email address is in my profile.

MD

MDNative, thank you for sharing your experience! Will look into my insurance and coverage for JH and the doc. The doc I am meeting with is Dr. Han but not sure he's an 'open' guy. I would rather have that type of surgery. If he can't do it maybe another doc experienced in that type can.
Posted 3/11/2017 7:43 PM (GMT 0)

Superboy said...
Hi gene62,

At your age I highly recommend reading "You can beat Prostate Cancer: And You Don't need Surgery to Do it" by Robert J. Marckini. There are many choices for treatment, however, the driving force for your decision will be your age, health and your PC numbers.
I live in NOVA and my journey to a cure took me to Hampton University Proton Treatment Institute in Hampton, VA.
Contact Mr. Ed Dickey to discuss your situation and schedule a consult with Dr. Sinesi at 757-251-6800
before considering surgery.
I had ZERO side effects from my treatments and have had ZERO side effects post treatment.
With surgery you will most likely suffer from incontinence and/or impotency. Duration may be short lived or last for years depending on some things out of your control.
Your choice of treatment is a personal one, however, it will effect your family as well.
Contact me via email if you need more info.
Good Luck!

Your post sounds a bit like an ad. But I thank you for the info.
Posted 3/11/2017 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Gene. Pretty sure LN dissection is usually done with either 'open' (RRP) or 'robotic' (RALP). I believe it's an issue with the 'perineural' method (RPP) due to ease of access, but not too many surgeons do that method any more from what I've learned, though my uncle went through that one 20 years ago.

Dr. Han seems like a solid choice. If you want the 'open' procedure, I have no complaints with Dr. Carter (over 3500 RPs).

Best wishes.

MD
Posted 3/12/2017 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
when you get to a certain level of medical care....i thinkthe differences in our anatomies can begin to come into play as to outcomes.


the place can be a Payton Place of personalities.....but....that's not why we go there.
Posted 3/12/2017 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
the place is certainly run well. Competence is in the air. Gives the patient confidence as well. The best brings out the best....IN the best. all ships on a rising tide....that sort of thing
Posted 3/12/2017 4:00 AM (GMT 0)

Northfoot said...
Dr. Misop Han at Johns Hopkins did my surgery in 2008. I have recommended him to others. Followed up quickly on my emails and phone calls. Great surgeon and nice guy.

the prompt calling and efficiency is part of the culture of the place. top to bottom

he'd couldn't have had many surgeries under his belt in '08. In '15....he had 600 and change. I did call him one morning while in town. (unexpectedly) He told me...."If you can, just come on over and we'll talk'.

so I did. good guy
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