HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

RO and MO recommendation at MSK

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/12/2018 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Can someone please recommend a RO and a MO that you guys might have heard of at MSK in New York?
I would really appreciate it
Thanks a lot.
Posted 2/12/2018 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have had 2 recent visits with Dr Yu Chen at MSK in NYC. He is a medical oncologist. I found him to be very knowledgeable, answers questions in understandable terms, and did not rush the visits. he is open to discussing various treatment options.

That said, there are several top MO guys - Dr Morris, Dr Scher however the wait to get an appointment is long and these top guys specialize in only selected prostate cancers - meaning you might need a gleason 8+ to see them or recurrence etc.
Posted 2/12/2018 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks teddy9, I live on Long Island and not sure if I should stay here at MSK on the island or choose one in the city. I did my surgery in the city but couldn’t do the radiation for 2 months going to the city so I did it in commack.
Posted 2/12/2018 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Their top RO (and certainly among the best in the business) is Michael Zelefsky. If he thinks further radiation is indicated, he can refer you to their LI office for treatment.

Howard Scher (MO) is not taking new patients - try Michael Morris.
Posted 2/12/2018 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks very much TA, I have seen Dr zelefesky on Fox News years ago. I will try to make an appointment with him.
Posted 2/12/2018 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Don't hold that against him smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/12/2018 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Noooooo smile. I meant I know who he is. He seems very nice. I made a mistake by not going to see him for the SRT but it’s too late now for the regret.
Posted 2/12/2018 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I liked Borys Mychalczak, head of RO at MSK Westchester but also sees patients in NYC. Paired with Zelefsky by an ealier poster on this site as “top of the food chain” but not as much published research ss Zelefsky.
A week after he saw me, expecting me to choose between a clinical trial and RT with him, he followed up with a phone call to see what my decision was. He knows his stuff, communicates clearly, and takes all the time you need to get questions answered. I will see him again in three weeks to discuss SRT.
Since MSK starts people out with an MO, at least before primary treatment, they may do that with you. Karen Autio was mine — young but part of the team at MSK thus knowledgable. Again, clear communicator, patient, empathetic.
Posted 2/12/2018 10:06 PM (GMT 0)

Tall Allen said...
Don't hold that against him smilewinkgrin


FOUL BALL !! LOL smile smile
Posted 2/12/2018 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
So, progressing, you are seeing zelefesky on 3/6 or borys?
Posted 2/12/2018 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
AK, I have been a patient at MSK since October ‘11. My Medical Oncologist is Dr. Michael Morris. He is in every sense a quality physician and scientist. I had surgery in upstate NY at the end of ‘09, but that had clearly failed by the summer of ‘11. I was attracted to Dr Morris at that time because his Sloan bio said his practice was focused on men who had failed surgery, and were experiencing a rising PSA — which was me. I made a cold call, but needed to wait about 60 days for a first intake appointment. I figured I was in for a long, complex battle, so I was comfortable with that time frame. I am very glad I did. There are other superb MOs at the Sloan Kimmel Center on 68th St. Aside from a specific physician, I personally see two other advantages to MSK: a deep bench, and more ready access to clinical trials. With best wishes.

NewspaperLover
Age 74
Gleason 8
Surgery upstate NY ‘09. Failed.
Moved management of my case to MSK fall ‘11.
SRT + HT winter ‘11-‘12.
PSA undetectable until Jan ‘15. Emerged at .08.
Linear growth since then. Most recent Jan ‘18 .98.
Disgnosis systemic, but not yet metastatic.
Recently started PROSTVAC vaccine trial at MSK.
Posted 2/12/2018 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks very much newspaperlover, I will try to get an appointment with dr. Morris. I will call tomorrow.
Posted 2/12/2018 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Newspaperlover, sorry forgot to ask you. Are still on HT ? Or you only took it just before the SRT and stopped? Did you get a pet scan to find out you don’t have Mets?
Posted 2/13/2018 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Also, I saw dr gewanter, who you probably see in Commack. This was before my surgery. I felt very comfortable with h9m, but decided aga8nst radiation. Now that my PSA is cting up and I might be heading toward BCR, I met with Zelefsky. I wanted his opinion, but if I go do end up needing SRT, I'll probably ask Zelefsky if the treatment would be the same at the long island facility and if so ask him to move he back to dr Gewanter.
Posted 2/13/2018 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Newspaperlover,
My case is similar to yours. Can you provide your psa data since it hit 0.08? Mine seems to be linear, increasing at 0.1 every 3 months, now at 0.4. I had failed salvage radiation as well, concurrent with 6 months adt. My doctor as msk also mentioned the Prostvac trial, but I am determined to get a PET scan first. Any side effects from the vaccine?

Thanks in advance.
Posted 2/13/2018 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Teddy 9 and AK 123,

I have not received treatment since the winter of ‘11-12. Only ADT to date was during SRT. Have had yearly Bone and CAT scans, but no PET. Re the PROSTVAC trial, I was randomized into the six month surveillance arm (means monthly PSA), and will go on the vaccines for six months starting in late May. When I go “active” I will report here on the forum. My PSA for past three years: Jan ‘15 .08; June ‘15 .13; Jan ‘16. .26; June ‘16 .33; Nov ‘16 .46;April ‘17. .58; Oct ‘17 .92; Nov ‘17 .95; Jan ‘18 .98. Best wishes.

NewspaperLover
Posted 2/13/2018 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Newspaper Lover,
Thanks for posting this information. It seems your doubling time is slowing down - initially it was about 6 months, now around 1 year. That is good news. I am hoping for the same. My DT was around 3 months, now about 6 months - although with my low psa values, DT is not so accurate. Will look forward to hearing about your PROSTVAC experience. Thanks and good luck
Posted 2/13/2018 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Aki, I’m seeing Dr. Mychalczak on March 6 because I had met with him already.
Another to consider if Dr. Morris has a long wait is Dana Rathkopf. She was recommended highly by a friend who’s a patient of hers and is on many clinical trials at MSK. I tried to get an appointment with her initially but was told she only works with G8+ people, although a post-surgery recurrence might qualify.
Newspaperlover noted the advantage of MSK well, I think.
Posted 2/13/2018 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
unfortunately, I received a call from dr. Zelefesky’s office informing me that Dr zelefensky can not see people who did not treat and I should follow up with the RO in commack. This was a blow to me because I really trust his judgment and made the mistake by not seeing him when I needed the SRT.
Posted 2/14/2018 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have an appointment to see Dr. Morris at the beginning of April. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks a lot for all the help. I do appreciate it.
Posted 2/15/2018 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Great. Best wishes.

NewspaperLover
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply