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daVinci surgeons in North Texas.

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Posted 1/30/2007 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
posted on behalf of my father..

he is 70 years old with a gleason score of 3+3, his PSA is 7.11, we are looking for a good davinci surgeon in North texas, the DFW area,

if anyone has any recommendations for one, please let me know.

Thanks

 

Posted 1/30/2007 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tek,

I'm quite a ways north of north Texas but welcome to the forum. Some of the people here will be able to help you. Your father's stats caught my eye because we are in about the same boat. Most of the guys here are younger so please stick around!!!!!

Jim
Posted 1/30/2007 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Tek,

I am a Texan but live in Alabama now. I do not know any Da Vinci surgeons in North Texas but if you go to www.davinciprostatectomy.com you will enter a site where you can search for surgeons in your area that perform the procedure and also hospitals that have the robot. I do know that in Austin there is a Dr. Randy ***in that is getting good comments from men that have used him. He has a web site so you can probably search for it and take a look.

Good luck and stay in touch.

Tamu
Posted 1/30/2007 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tek

I live on the east coast so I cannot make a recommendation for a robotic surgeon in Texas. The most important thing in any treatment for prostate cancer is to get the best doctor you can find. Therefore, don't necessarily restrict yourself to the area you live in for convenience. The MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas and the Baylor College of Medicine are both in Houston. These are teaching hospitals and you should find top notch doctors there, including those performing robotic surgery. Whatever you do, get references from patients and find out how long the doctor has been doing robotic surgery, the number he does annually and how many he has done to date. The more experience the better. The website mentioned by Tamu (www.davinciprostatectomy.com) looks interesting for sources of robotic surgeons, but do your homework. For example, the website lists Dr. Menon at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and Dr. Ash Tewari at NY-Presbyterian in New York--they are two of the best that you can find anywhere. They are often mentioned, but there are other excellent doctors if you search for them. Good Luck to you!

Dave
Posted 1/30/2007 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Tek. We live in "the middle of nowhere" East Texas about 90 miles out of Dallas. We researched all the da Vinci docs in Texas, even one in Tyler. After several weeks of research and trying to find information on any of these, we went to Austin and saw Dr. Randy ***in. He's done more da Vincis than any other doc in Texas and at the time was #8 in the nation. His staff is outstanding, the hospital was absolutely superior. His skills are amazing and, for us, it was worth the drive and the stayover. He's aggressive about curing/ridding the cancer as well as the aftereffects. His information is all available on-line including a complete "book" on how to prepare for this surgery. That was also a big help for us.

Baylor, M.D. Anderson, and a couple of other places in the Dallas area do the surgery, but they're just now coming on board with it (in the last few months). This surgery is a case of "get the best who has done the most."

If I can answer any questions regarding Dr. ***in, just "holler."
Posted 1/30/2007 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Tekgeeks, Dad, & Loved Ones,            A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!       I 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 their journey with you!     It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!     We are all here to help you travel the path with prostate cancer.       KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... and POWER conquers fear YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS… YOU HAVE OPTIONS… ~ and ~ Your decision will be the right decision for you!!!     Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue your search for answers… 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.     (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints for New Members... Hope this helps you! :) Updated 02-05-2007
Posted 1/30/2007 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your posts.
I have written to Dr Randy, asking him if he can operate on my dad.

Will keep posting.!
Posted 1/31/2007 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Tek (and all). I see the word police snagged our doc's name. It's F.A.G.I.N. and if that doesn't make it through the sensors, Dr. Randy F. heads up the Prostate Center of Austin. He has an expansive web site and you can request an appointment on-line or talk to humans.

I'm reposting this info in case anyone else from the great state of Texas shows up.

It's also a good time to reiterate: if you can't find any info on a doctor you're checking out, move on. We called one (on the west side of Dallas) and they told us to go on-line and make an appointment. We went on-line and there was no place to make an appointment. Their web site barely mentioned da Vinci.

A third one (we were still looking for one closer to us), was quoted as saying "this is a really cool machine" (in reference to the robotics). His office couldn't really recall exactly how many he had done, "maybe more than 50, maybe as many as 100." We envisioned this "kid" getting in there and forgetting he wasn't at a Playstation.

With all the intricacies involved in getting the prostate out - you want someone who is confident in their skills and has done a whole bunch of anything he's doing.
Posted 1/31/2007 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Folks,
Because I live in Houston, and know the folks at Baylor, I decided to consult with them. They are very good, too, and have done several hundred of the procedures. I didn't know there was a name police on this site, because I thought I've seen the guy in Detroit's name spelled out a lot. Oh well, for Baylor, check out www.baylorurology.org, click on the place on the first page to open their magazine, and then scroll down to the article on robotic surgery. The two doctors that do it are shown next to their machines.
dj
Posted 2/5/2007 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
We too are looking for Dr. in Texas. Hoping to find a good one at MD Anderson. DJhouston, who did you say your dr was?
Posted 2/6/2007 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kurt and Courtney,
Glad to give you this information. It looks like you have similar stats to those I turned out to have. Hopefully, the name police won't have a problem with naming names, since this is the answer to a question.

I don't know the doctor who does daVincis at M.D. Anderson, but I had my surgery done at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston by Brian Miles, M.D. He is a professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Also, in the Baylor Department of Urology is Kevin Slawin, M.D. They are both very experienced robotic surgeons, as I call them, the robomeisters, but have years of experience with open surgery, as well. You can see pictures of them at the Baylor Urology website, www.baylorurology.org. On the opening page of that site there is a picture of an informational magazine about Baylor urological research called Pathways. If you get into the magazine, and scroll down, you will see a story about robotic surgery and their involvement. Dr. Miles is great, with a wonderful bedside manner. I like him very much, as well as his staff. The two doctors are also very involved in prostate cancer research, and Baylor is one of several national centers for this research. The department also has subspecialists in other aspects of urology, which the Lord willing, you won't need, but it is comforting to know they are there. There is a pathologist that works with the group, the chairman specializes in incontinence, and another doctor specializes in urologic endocrinology and erectile dysfunction.
All these guys are very busy, but to me, that vouches that they are good.

Also, check the daVinci website, http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/hospitals.html, which has a list of doctors who are trained in the method for all states. Because you are centrally located in OK, it looks like there are many doctors in a 250 mile radius that perform the procedure. Both Drs. Miles and Slawin are on the list for Houston, and there is one doctor that I could find at Anderson on the list. It looks like they are all around you, in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and at OU. But, check to see how many they have done. With the robot, practice makes perfect.

Keep us updated.
All the best,
dj
Posted 2/6/2007 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks DJ, we get our first "second" opinion tomorrow and will be taking all the names to him to see what he knows. We will also be seeing the onocologist who treated my father for prostate cancer on thursday. Hopefully after those meetings, we will feel ready to commit to which ever direction we choose. We are both still leaning toward the da Vinci. Thank you for all your help. Courtney
Posted 2/7/2007 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, do what I did..... I found my surgeon through the DaVinci website at:

http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/video.html

Look up you state and find a surgeon that way.......

Jay
Posted 3/14/2007 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
thank you all for your input, my father's surgery is fixed for tommorrow 3/14 with Dr F.a.g.i.n - so far everything looks good, will post tommorrow after the surgery is done.

70 yr old
diagnosed 11/06
gleason 3+3=6, 3+4=7
last psa 7.11
davinci on 3/14/07
doctor: F.a.g.i.n.
Posted 3/14/2007 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Tek,

Our hopes and prayers are with you and your father. He will soon be on the "other side" as we say.

Good luck...

Jim
Posted 3/14/2007 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Tek. We know you're set for today and wishing your dad all the best! Looks like the waiting room will be a bit busy today. Our Okla. City folks are in there, too.

Looking forward to hearing from you when it's over. Here's to a quik recovery!
Posted 3/14/2007 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
my fathers surgery went really well, the doctor is really pleased and the hospital is really nice. His blood pressure is very high 157/88 so now they are monitoring him, he did walk a little bit. that is the news so far..will keep posting.
Posted 3/15/2007 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ~ Tekgeeks & Dad,   Thank you so much for touching base with all of us.   Continue to do so okay!      Our thoughts and prayers will be right there... with you both. 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.                                                                        ~ author unknown ~
Posted 3/15/2007 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Tek,

I am really glad you father did well. Take a deep breath of relief and rest you mind and emotions. He needs to heal and you do too...

Jim
Posted 3/15/2007 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
My husband always go through those blood pressure spikes under pain. Hopefully, the meds have calmed it down. So glad to hear all is well otherwise. Hope he (and you) had a peaceful night. We didn't get very far down the hall that first night, before getting weak and dizzy.

Glad to hear from you. We'll be eager to hear updates.
Posted 3/15/2007 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tekgeek, glad to hear your dad is doing well. I think we saw you all walking last night. Kurt is doing better today, had some bad bladder spasms last night. ChiOkc is here also. Seems like all 3 am surgeries yesterday were from here. Good luck to you and continued recovery for your dad. Courtney
Posted 3/15/2007 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Small world!!!! Isn't it.... :) Keeping you all extra close at this time!!!
Posted 3/15/2007 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
thank you all.. hope kziz and chiokc r out of the hospital, dr f.a.g.i.n is very happy with my fathers surgery and progress, but my father is feeling quite weak and is going to stay one more night in the hospital just to recuperate. I am not there with him, my sister and my husband are, or I would have stopped and talked to Courtney.

my father is walking, shaved and has eaten, he just does'nt feel like leaving yet, i guess being in the hospital is comforting to him :). Tommorrow they drive back to DFW.

This board has been such a blessing for us, I am able to give my father so much information from what I learnt here.
Posted 3/18/2007 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
hello..quick update.
my father is almost back to normal, is walking around and feels good. BM are good. The catheter apparently does not bother him that much.
I am just amazed at this kind of surgery that has such a good recovery time. How are kurt and rog doing? have not heard from them, hope you recovery is going well.
thanks
Posted 3/18/2007 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Tek! That's great news - I know you are relieved. Hopefully, the others will check in soon.
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