“Well, at least it’s a good cancer”

As Mac and I take our first steps on this new and totally scary journey, it helps to try to remember that this is both the beginning of a battle and that it is also “just life”.     http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/with-cancer-lets-face-it-words-are-inadequate/   Does a life-threatening illness bring clarity?   Truthfully, we’d much prefer to skip finding out.   But if we must, I think this Dana Jennings fella’ may help us to eventually be able to express the inexpressible.        Best - Paella     Mac: Diagnosed May 3, 2010 with stage TC1 Currently meeting with surgeons of various disciplines at USC, UCLA & City of Hope May’s goal:   find the most highly-regarded and experienced cutter Favorite surgeon quote of week 1: “I’m at the top of my game” Favorite surgeon quote of week 2: “very slim chance of lymph node involvement” Biggest riddle of the week, “does great robotic trump great open?”   Mac’s stats: Age 65 - 5'11" Weight 208 BMI 29.1 Overall Health Condition: Good to excellent.   PSA: 1.0 in November 2001…slowly but consistently rising to 4.4 in Feb 2010 16- needle Biopsy 4/19/10 : Gleason 3 + 4 with 6 positive cores ; 1 @ 35%    1 @ 25%    2 @ 15%    1 @ 5%    1 @ <5% Both lobes involved (right lobe with 1@5% and 1@<5%) Left Lateral & Left Apex involvement No Base involvement  

Ah, how we hope to hear:
"bundle spared"
"continent from the jump"
"prostate confined"

Sooo glad for you!

Paella

Hello, ED C. et al -

Does anyone know of any good sites to find statistics on specific surgeons? All the Doctor Rating Sites I've been to pretty much suck. How does one find impartial data, rankings, etc or is it even possible?

Our Robotic option would be with a surgeon named Tim Wilson, at the City of Hope in the Los Angeles area . I'm told he's done over 1,000 but we don't meet w/him until 5/25/10.

Our open option is with Mark Litwin at UCLA Med. Center. Mark was great and is at the top of his game (his words - but we totally believe him)...Very confident. He says 1 night in the hospital and 1 week on the cath but that we'll have ED and Incontinence (incontinence likely to be short-lived). He does his own follow up (prefers to be the one to remove the cath, for instance) which my husband thinks bodes well and I pretty much think is a moot point.

These two guys were recommended by other physicians known by us or by knowledgable friends.

Thanks - Paella

Paella, I like your style!

open vs. robotic - hmmm, you'll get a fair number of opinions here with pros and cons for both. I don't necessarily agree that open gives better cancer control - have known too many who had open with no adverse pathology findings and who faced recurrence. The same is true with robotic though so I don't think the method is nearly as important as the surgeon. I vote for choosing the doctor and letting them decide the surgical method that they believe would work best.

As to follow-up, our surgeon does all the follow-up including calling us with John's PSA results usually within 48 hours of the blood test. He has spent time on the phone with me along, and he has spent time on the phone with both of us. Now, we are fortunate in that the surgeon is 15 minutes from our home - if we had chosen a surgeon in New York City (we live about 50 miles outside the City), I doubt we'd be using them for routine follow-up.

I have a feeling that you and Mac are going to get through just fine - you have a great attitude and are asking the right questions now when it counts. Keep up the good work!

If other surgeons recommend a certain guy i think that is a good indication you`re on the right track. We were told the guy i used was the surgeon that other surgeons would go to. I dont think many doctors would risk their own reputation by recommending a lesser skilled guy. Asa others have said all my follow up is done by the same guy and a call to his nurse always gets me a answer or she`ll have him call me back. No PA`s or assistants for him.

I was just one day in the hospital with my open. It's standard in my doctors care group here.

Yeah, I forgot to say that my insurance only covered one day, unless there were documented complications. Catheter in 10 days. Also standard here.

That is an interesting blog. I do not have cancer but am one of the bystanders who has to find words. I think everyone is entitled to have their own opinions on 'cancer language'. For me and my family the line 'at least it is a good cancer' has been a comfort. I want positive lines even if they are a cliche.
I agree that it is 'just life' and my dad sees it as another page in the book which has to be dealt with.

sephie: know what you mean. in reality, no cancer is good cancer in any sense of the word. just different degrees from different types.

my insurance, blue cross at the time, pre-approved 4 days for the open. was actually in 4 1/2 days, dr. almost approved a 5th day, but the hospital finance guy got a bit antsy about it, so i went home.

Paella,

I had Tim Wilson and I thought he and City of Hope were really great. Easy to get lost there, but I think that's true of a lot of hospitals. Don't know anything about UCLA.

Here's another thought: If you're feeling that both doctors seem equally good, then you may take into consideration other factors. Such as:
-Is one facility a lot closer to home than the other? Then followup will be easier. (What luck!)
-How about the nursing care? I thought the City of Hope nursing care was outstanding, really helped in recovery.

Good luck,

DJ