Who are the best surgeons for robotically assisted prostatectomy

Hello,

My father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.  I have been researching the best option and it looks like it is robotically assisted prostatectomy.  UCLA looked good for a treatment center, with perhaps Dr. Reiter as the surgeon.  Would he be the best choice there?  Is UCLA the best choice?  What were your experiences with particular surgeons?  Who are the best surgeons for this procedure?  Thank you,

Middledaughter

Thank you Tony and Chas,

The procedure by Dr. Ashutosh K. Tewari at NewYork-Weill Cornell Medical College sounds like a great option.  I wonder if the surgeons at UCLA are doing this procedure.  If not, then I will recommend to my dad that he go to New York for the procedure.  As much as I would love for him to stay with me (I live near LA) it is far more important that he have the best surgeon possible to speed his recovery.  Thank you so much!

Middledaughter 

 Hey ~ Middledaughter, Dad,   & Loved Ones,   We know ~ we can “all” make “Your Journey” smoother just by being here for you!   This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined!  You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share...   It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if weknow where your loved one is …on their path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!        KNOWLEDGE     IS     POWER   ...   and   POWER conquers   fear   YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS… ~ and ~ Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!   Buddy & I invite you to visit our personal thread listed in our “signature” below.   Pull from “all of us”… things that will help to make your dad’s journey smoother.   Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of you as you continue your research. Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers. In Friendship,   Lee & Buddy   “God Bless You” It's a little prayer   ~   "God Bless You" ...but it means so much each day, It means may angels guard you and guide you on your   way.  

While the replys you have received indicate one surgeon to be the best I believe that there are several equivalent surgeons across the country and within the region that you live. I am sure that within a days drive there is at least one. When I was diagnosed I begin doing the same thing that you have as I was willing to go anywhere in the US. The names of Menon, Tewari, etc were the ones that you heard the most about. I then met my surgeon at Vanderbilt Univerity Medical Center and found out that he had performed almost as many procedures as the other guys have done. When I asked him why his name was not that well known he just told me that he did not need the publicity as he was doing 9 to 11 Da Vinci's a week and had a backlog of over three months at that time. I am sure that you will find a very experienced surgeon near you.

Tamu

I can't say enough about being close to home when possible. While I had to travel to CoH, my family lives in the LA basin and it was a blessing to be near my family during that time. For that reason, while the other mentioned doctors are very good and even great, so are some of the LA doctors.

Tony

Hello Tony and others, Thank you Tony for the suggestion of Dr. Kowachi at the City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, CA.  The care my father received was wonderful.  Dr. Kowachi is a fantastic surgeon and my father is recovering very well.  His surgery was on 12/18/2007 and his catheter was out 12/28/2007.  He is having very little leakage (1 to 2 pads a day) and thinks he will be finished with pads after another week.  I had also considered Tewari at Cornell and was very impressed that he called me back personally to answer my questions and was very friendly.   Anyway, my father is very happy.  Thank you very much for the referral to Dr. Kowachi at the City of Hope Hospital. middledaughter Post edited... naming specific hospitals by name and/or doctors name is not permitted   Post Edited By Moderator (bluebird) : 1/4/2008 8:58:42 PM (GMT-7)