Newly Diagnosed in Tampa Bay Area (FL) - Age 44

mjweis
mjweis Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
My research is leading me toward surgery - any rec's regarding surgeons & facilities in the area. Not sure if there is much local expertise w/robotics.

Comments

  • Olee
    Olee Member Posts: 97
    Tampa Area
    MJ First of all let me say our thoughts and prayers are with you. You are with like company here, we are a group of men that understand. I am 40 years old and was diagnosed 4 months ago. All of the literature I have read as well as advice from doctors has led me to schedule robotic surgery next month. I have been told the younger the age, the more aggressive the cancer. That combined with the mental factor of just "wanting it out of me." There are quite a few survivors on this site that have been through the surgery that can answer questions. My advice would be to find a surgeon that is very experienced with robotic surgery and one that will manage your care. I did find a list of surgeons in your area on the Da Vinci site,http://www.davincisurgery.com/surgeons/surgeon_list.aspx?specialtyId=444&&&stateId=6234&countryId=
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    Surgeon
    I went to Dr Arnon Krongrad------he is considered the best Doctor for this in the Southeast.

    He's in Adventura Florida(near miami)---check out his website. His staff is fantastic.

    I had my LRP back in Jun 2006---cancer free.

    Any other questions--just reply---Lion1
  • edmund
    edmund Member Posts: 19 Member
    I am in the Tampa area. I
    I am in the Tampa area. I went to Aventura and was very pleased with Dr Krongrad. He is possible the most experienced LRP surgeon in the US. I had surgery in Feb '05, gleason 4-3 multiple tumors and near the boundary of the capsule. Cancer free after 4 years. Google Dr Krongrad and you will get his website. If you email him he will personally answer very quickly. Krongrad, Dr. Arnon
    E-mail Address(es):
    ak@laprp.com
  • shipjim
    shipjim Member Posts: 137 Member
    Surgeons
    Don't worry if you have to travel a bit. I went about 200 miles, stayed in town an extra night then went back for removal of the catheter then just used my family doc. Minimal issues after Da vinci, light leakage if I lift, golf, sneeze etc and no erections. Can have orgasms just not as much fun. I may look into prosthesis if it bugs me enough. Within 200 miles of Tampa there's got to be lots of experience. jj
  • Judge
    Judge Member Posts: 10
    lion1 said:

    Surgeon
    I went to Dr Arnon Krongrad------he is considered the best Doctor for this in the Southeast.

    He's in Adventura Florida(near miami)---check out his website. His staff is fantastic.

    I had my LRP back in Jun 2006---cancer free.

    Any other questions--just reply---Lion1

    Choosing robotics over others.....
    On what basis have you all found that robotic surgery is used, rather than other treatments. For example, with a rising PSA, now 16 and a Gleason Scale of 3+4=7, and being 58 years old, my local urologist is suggesting using IMRT. Do you have any thoughts based on experience, please? Judge
  • Bing
    Bing Member Posts: 10
    Judge said:

    Choosing robotics over others.....
    On what basis have you all found that robotic surgery is used, rather than other treatments. For example, with a rising PSA, now 16 and a Gleason Scale of 3+4=7, and being 58 years old, my local urologist is suggesting using IMRT. Do you have any thoughts based on experience, please? Judge

    choosing robotics over others
    Hi, Judge. I have seen several posts this evening by you, and I would recomend MD Anderson in Houston for a second opinion. I had my surgery performed there on January 21st, and have been pleased with all aspects of my treatment at their facility. They discussed what treatments were available, and took the time to answer my questions. The care team was great, and my recovery is going well. If you have not looked at their website, I would suggest taking the time to do so, as their is a lot of information available there. www.mdanderson.com. I hope this helps, and keep doing your research. The info is out there, and the MDAnderson site helped me a lot. Take care, and let me know how it goes if you get time.
  • BDJC
    BDJC Member Posts: 9
    another option
    mjweis - surgery is a good bet for you, and you should feel very comfortable if that's the path you decide to take. Make sure the surgeon you choose is experienced in performing radical prostatectomies - you don't have to focus as much on what procedure he uses (traditional open or the Da Vinci radical prostatectomy), as the procedure itself does not have a bearing on the overall cure rate. Experience, particularly documented effective experience, is the key factor for you to consider.

    The other option I recommend is to go to http://www.prostrcision.com/ and read the Q&A section. Then fill out the form on the Contact Page to get a free phone consultation with a board-certified radiation oncologist who can tell you precisely what your chances for cure are with a less-invasive radiation procedure that actually has superior overall cure rates than surgery.

    Best of luck to you.
  • mjweis
    mjweis Member Posts: 11
    Scheduled Surgery
    I met with Dr. Julio Pow-Sang 7 staff at the Moffitt Center in Tampa - very impressive. I have robot assisted LRP scheduled for late March. I am relieved to have this part of the process behind me and thank all for your responses!
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    edmund said:

    I am in the Tampa area. I
    I am in the Tampa area. I went to Aventura and was very pleased with Dr Krongrad. He is possible the most experienced LRP surgeon in the US. I had surgery in Feb '05, gleason 4-3 multiple tumors and near the boundary of the capsule. Cancer free after 4 years. Google Dr Krongrad and you will get his website. If you email him he will personally answer very quickly. Krongrad, Dr. Arnon
    E-mail Address(es):
    ak@laprp.com

    Status
    Edmund,

    Dr Krongrad was very good--cancer free after 3 years---unfortunately I have dealt with incontinence ever since. I knew there was a risk of this and Dr Krongrad suggested I wait 2 yrs until I tried any type of treatment for the incontinence. 3 weeks ago I had collagen injections---no luck. My urologist is sending me to Duke university to see a Dr Webster--I don't know what will happen, but I am at the point where I have to move forward. We'll see what Dr Webster decides--sling--AUS----not sure where all this will lead. I am only 49 so I'm taking it slow on my decisionmaking. I am very lucky though--great wife---great family. By the way as far as my erections go, with CIALIS pretty close to normal---Thank God for that------------------thoughts??

    Lion1
  • allendale
    allendale Member Posts: 1
    mjweis said:

    Scheduled Surgery
    I met with Dr. Julio Pow-Sang 7 staff at the Moffitt Center in Tampa - very impressive. I have robot assisted LRP scheduled for late March. I am relieved to have this part of the process behind me and thank all for your responses!

    Dr. Pow-Sang reference?
    HI mjweis,
    Hope all went well with your January surgery with Dr. Pow-Sang at MOffitt. I am considering the same. Have not met with him yet. Did you have Di Vinci? and how were things afterwards ... after 4 months. Thanks for any advice you have.
  • 2ndBase
    2ndBase Member Posts: 220
    Judge said:

    Choosing robotics over others.....
    On what basis have you all found that robotic surgery is used, rather than other treatments. For example, with a rising PSA, now 16 and a Gleason Scale of 3+4=7, and being 58 years old, my local urologist is suggesting using IMRT. Do you have any thoughts based on experience, please? Judge

    IMRT
    Five and one-half years ago I had gleason of 9 and psa of 24 and had one Lupron shot followed by 40 radiation treatments. That is all the treatment I have had. Because the cancer had already spread there was no use in surgery and there never is if the cancer has spread to the bones, organs, ect. As expected my cancer level is rising again, doubling every 6 months and more treatment is being offered. I however will take my next treatment when and if I am ready and that day is at least a year away now. When death is sure to follow the quality of life is much more important than the quantity and I expect a lot of quality and really do not worry one bit about how much time I have left. No stress, no problems, that is quality.
  • mjweis
    mjweis Member Posts: 11
    Pow-Sang Reference
    I ended up having the DaVinci on April 2 so I am about 6 weeks out. I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Pow-Sang, his staff and Moffitt in general. Post surgery has been a series of steady improvements - honestly, much better/quicker than expected. We can exchange contact info if you'd like - I'd be happy to provide any specifics you are looking for.
  • jeffmarvel
    jeffmarvel Member Posts: 6
    mjweis said:

    Pow-Sang Reference
    I ended up having the DaVinci on April 2 so I am about 6 weeks out. I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Pow-Sang, his staff and Moffitt in general. Post surgery has been a series of steady improvements - honestly, much better/quicker than expected. We can exchange contact info if you'd like - I'd be happy to provide any specifics you are looking for.

    Pow-Sang
    I'm trying to decide between Pow-Sang and Dr. Frank Mastandrea for the surgery on the Da vinci. I have a friend who was Just operated on by Pow-Sang and I am leaning his way. Any info you could give me on recovery would be appreciated. I want to decide who I'm going with in the next week and get it scheduled. I'm 51 and in the Tampa Area.
  • mjweis
    mjweis Member Posts: 11

    Pow-Sang
    I'm trying to decide between Pow-Sang and Dr. Frank Mastandrea for the surgery on the Da vinci. I have a friend who was Just operated on by Pow-Sang and I am leaning his way. Any info you could give me on recovery would be appreciated. I want to decide who I'm going with in the next week and get it scheduled. I'm 51 and in the Tampa Area.

    As I posted above, I cannot say enough good about Dr Pow-Sang and the Moffitt staff. From what I read, my recovery has been pretty good - out of hospital in 36 hours, catheter in for two weeks, only minor stress incontinence after 2 months (no more pads!), slow but sure improvement on the ed front... Bottom line, all has gone almost exactly as the Dr. said it would and I have been pleased. Not sure if you had any more specific concerns but feel free to ask!
  • jeffmarvel
    jeffmarvel Member Posts: 6
    mjweis said:

    As I posted above, I cannot say enough good about Dr Pow-Sang and the Moffitt staff. From what I read, my recovery has been pretty good - out of hospital in 36 hours, catheter in for two weeks, only minor stress incontinence after 2 months (no more pads!), slow but sure improvement on the ed front... Bottom line, all has gone almost exactly as the Dr. said it would and I have been pleased. Not sure if you had any more specific concerns but feel free to ask!

    How did you fine out about Pow-Sang
    I have been trying to do some more research on him so I can make my final decision and schedule the proccedure. I havn't been able to find out very much about him on-line. Was he refered to you? Do you have any idea how long he has been operating with the Da Vinci and how many proccedures he has done?
  • mjweis
    mjweis Member Posts: 11

    How did you fine out about Pow-Sang
    I have been trying to do some more research on him so I can make my final decision and schedule the proccedure. I havn't been able to find out very much about him on-line. Was he refered to you? Do you have any idea how long he has been operating with the Da Vinci and how many proccedures he has done?

    More info
    I started with a search of the USF/Moffit website, found him in the list of PC surgeons and started asking. I have a friend whose wife used to do research with him and had wonderful things to say, several guys at my wife's office were operated on by him and, finally, I googled him. You will learn that Pow-Sang has been working with PC for many years and has published extensively along the way. He has done 300+ RALP using Davinci in addition to over 800 LRP. In my opinion, you are definitely asking the right questions!
  • jeffmarvel
    jeffmarvel Member Posts: 6
    mjweis said:

    More info
    I started with a search of the USF/Moffit website, found him in the list of PC surgeons and started asking. I have a friend whose wife used to do research with him and had wonderful things to say, several guys at my wife's office were operated on by him and, finally, I googled him. You will learn that Pow-Sang has been working with PC for many years and has published extensively along the way. He has done 300+ RALP using Davinci in addition to over 800 LRP. In my opinion, you are definitely asking the right questions!

    The other doc...
    The other doc I was looking at has done around 600 LRP proceedures, he does about 100 a year. I have heard nothing but great things about Moffit and Pow-Sang. Dr. Frank D Mastandrea was recomended by my primary physician,original urologist and a friend of a friend who he operated on. I guess having 2 good choices locally is nothing to complain about but it's making it really tough to make a decidion.
  • greener421
    greener421 Member Posts: 1
    2ndBase said:

    IMRT
    Five and one-half years ago I had gleason of 9 and psa of 24 and had one Lupron shot followed by 40 radiation treatments. That is all the treatment I have had. Because the cancer had already spread there was no use in surgery and there never is if the cancer has spread to the bones, organs, ect. As expected my cancer level is rising again, doubling every 6 months and more treatment is being offered. I however will take my next treatment when and if I am ready and that day is at least a year away now. When death is sure to follow the quality of life is much more important than the quantity and I expect a lot of quality and really do not worry one bit about how much time I have left. No stress, no problems, that is quality.

    may you be free of discomfort....

    Yours is a rough row to hoe with the resurgence of your cancer.

    Thank you for your frank description that helped me put my situation into perspective.

    Thanksgiving 2012 I was diagnosed w prostate cancer confrmed w biopsy invading seminal vesicles. 1/31 was my prstatectomy w 5 lymph nodes L and 17 nodes R with recommendation for a course of radiation, of which I have great fear.  There have been complications of the robo-surgery with a drain in my belly and incontinence of urine.

    So, now a month + post op, I am coping as well as I can.  Thankfully my wife and family have been incredibly supportive.  I am a lucky man.

    May the Lord bless you to be free of discomfort.

    Robert 3/4/2013