Robotic/Open surgeries and clear margins

Frank1205
Frank1205 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
My current uroligist, who does only open, states that new findings show better margins with open than Robotic. Information from Henry Ford shows the opposite. I am scheduled with Robotic with another Doctor and this made me very concerned to say the least. Any comments from friends??

Comments

  • fcatroneo
    fcatroneo Member Posts: 89
    #2
    Frank, I would not be concerned. Just insure that your robotics doctor is experienced. They say the minimum procedures is 400. If he fits this experience level, you are in good hands.

    Good luck....our prayers are with you.
    Frank from Atlanta.
  • epiderm5
    epiderm5 Member Posts: 3
    #3
    I am grapling with a similar problem, only am wanting to make sure I get a Doctor experienced enough with the robotics. I have read the info from Henry Ford and went and had a second opinion with an oncology urology Dr. at the University of Michgan Hospital. Feel comfortible with Robotics and am now comfortable with my first choice surgeon. Problem with some of these Doctors is while they may have the surgical skill/expertise, their bedside manner my leave something to be desired. Also, I believe that the Doctors who prefer the open procedure may be more old school and afraid, if not use to, the new surgical procedure.

    Epider 5 in Michigan
  • Frank1205
    Frank1205 Member Posts: 3
    #4
    fcatroneo said:

    Frank, I would not be concerned. Just insure that your robotics doctor is experienced. They say the minimum procedures is 400. If he fits this experience level, you are in good hands.

    Good luck....our prayers are with you.
    Frank from Atlanta.

    Hi Fcatroneo,
    Thank you for your reply. My scheduled Doc has performed 190 Robotic and more than 200 open. I am seeing an other Doc at University of Chicago who claims to have performed 3,000. I dont see how that is possable but I am going to check him out. I am in Chicago and Northwestern Memorial is ranked 17th for prostectomies and It seems that University of Chicago is not but they are ranked as one of the best hospitals in the country.
  • FairRider
    FairRider Member Posts: 5
    #5
    epiderm5 said:

    I am grapling with a similar problem, only am wanting to make sure I get a Doctor experienced enough with the robotics. I have read the info from Henry Ford and went and had a second opinion with an oncology urology Dr. at the University of Michgan Hospital. Feel comfortible with Robotics and am now comfortable with my first choice surgeon. Problem with some of these Doctors is while they may have the surgical skill/expertise, their bedside manner my leave something to be desired. Also, I believe that the Doctors who prefer the open procedure may be more old school and afraid, if not use to, the new surgical procedure.

    Epider 5 in Michigan

    Epiderm5 - We are also in MI and trying to decide on surgeon. Our 'local' Urologist is doing Robotic, but its new. We think we want more experienced center and are considering UofM and Henry Ford in Detroit. I am curious where your 1st choice has taken you.

    We also are considering a jaunt to Ohio State (Dr. Patel) or Johns Hopkins, but it would be obviously be nice if we could find 'good experience' and bedside manner closer to home.

    I wonder if we might email because we are in same state and sounds like, same time on "the path".

    Fair Rider
  • rogermoore
    rogermoore Member Posts: 264 Member
    #6
    FairRider said:

    Epiderm5 - We are also in MI and trying to decide on surgeon. Our 'local' Urologist is doing Robotic, but its new. We think we want more experienced center and are considering UofM and Henry Ford in Detroit. I am curious where your 1st choice has taken you.

    We also are considering a jaunt to Ohio State (Dr. Patel) or Johns Hopkins, but it would be obviously be nice if we could find 'good experience' and bedside manner closer to home.

    I wonder if we might email because we are in same state and sounds like, same time on "the path".

    Fair Rider

    FairRider,

    Good luck to you and Frank on selecting a surgeon. This is an extremely important decision that could affect the rest of your lives. Don't rush into making such an important decision.

    Roger
  • fcatroneo
    fcatroneo Member Posts: 89
    #7
    Guys, you are making a decision that will affect your lives.....go for the best doctor.....travel if you must. The recoup time is only days.
    I suggest you check into Dr. Tewari out of New York. Google his name and you will get his Bio. He is the #1 Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgeon in the world. And he still does surgeries. Again, don't go for second best when it comes to your life.
    Frank
  • Tasch
    Tasch Member Posts: 18
    #8
    fcatroneo said:

    Guys, you are making a decision that will affect your lives.....go for the best doctor.....travel if you must. The recoup time is only days.
    I suggest you check into Dr. Tewari out of New York. Google his name and you will get his Bio. He is the #1 Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgeon in the world. And he still does surgeries. Again, don't go for second best when it comes to your life.
    Frank

    fcatroneo-you couldnt be more correct. Any Dr outside of NY that does Robotic Prostatectomies has probably been trasined by Dr Tewari.
    He did my procedure 15 months ago and I havent had a minutes worth of problems.
    I agree with your statement-its your life, dont go for second best.
  • FairRider
    FairRider Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Tasch said:

    fcatroneo-you couldnt be more correct. Any Dr outside of NY that does Robotic Prostatectomies has probably been trasined by Dr Tewari.
    He did my procedure 15 months ago and I havent had a minutes worth of problems.
    I agree with your statement-its your life, dont go for second best.

    Thank you SO much for the suggestion of Dr. Trewari - we researched Cornell today, then called and the PA called back within hours. I can't imagine why we won't go with him, unless it becomes a financial concern. We have great insurance in Michigan, so will have to find out if it will cover procedures out of state. Any more feedback is appreciated immensely.

    We are going for Survivor....Just an odd additional note....our daughter is at a D2 college and is on the Soccer Team. She called today to say that her team is doing the Relay for Life and she doesn't even know yet that her Dad has Cancer - life IS amazing. Perhaps this Relay will become very important to her.

    Thanks again - SO glad we found this resource,

    FairRider
  • fcatroneo
    fcatroneo Member Posts: 89
    #10
    FairRider said:

    Thank you SO much for the suggestion of Dr. Trewari - we researched Cornell today, then called and the PA called back within hours. I can't imagine why we won't go with him, unless it becomes a financial concern. We have great insurance in Michigan, so will have to find out if it will cover procedures out of state. Any more feedback is appreciated immensely.

    We are going for Survivor....Just an odd additional note....our daughter is at a D2 college and is on the Soccer Team. She called today to say that her team is doing the Relay for Life and she doesn't even know yet that her Dad has Cancer - life IS amazing. Perhaps this Relay will become very important to her.

    Thanks again - SO glad we found this resource,

    FairRider

    If by chance you have a problem with your insurance not paying because Tewari is in a different state, have you family doctor recommend Dr. Tewari. Sometimes if you get a recommendation from a doctor in your state for a doctor outside your state your insurance will cover. Good luck, I heard Dr. Tewari is the "Doctor's Doctor". You will definitely be in good hands.
    Frank
  • epiderm5
    epiderm5 Member Posts: 3
    #11
    FairRider said:

    Epiderm5 - We are also in MI and trying to decide on surgeon. Our 'local' Urologist is doing Robotic, but its new. We think we want more experienced center and are considering UofM and Henry Ford in Detroit. I am curious where your 1st choice has taken you.

    We also are considering a jaunt to Ohio State (Dr. Patel) or Johns Hopkins, but it would be obviously be nice if we could find 'good experience' and bedside manner closer to home.

    I wonder if we might email because we are in same state and sounds like, same time on "the path".

    Fair Rider

    I am in Lansing. My surgeon originally performed open but switched to robotics when it came out 3 years ago here. Both major hospitals here, Sparrow and Ingham Medical have robotics altough Ingham medical has a newer high definition robotic machine. In my opinion, it's not the hospital as mch as the surgeon. My surgeon has performed about 600-700 surgeries
  • FairRider
    FairRider Member Posts: 5
    #12
    fcatroneo said:

    If by chance you have a problem with your insurance not paying because Tewari is in a different state, have you family doctor recommend Dr. Tewari. Sometimes if you get a recommendation from a doctor in your state for a doctor outside your state your insurance will cover. Good luck, I heard Dr. Tewari is the "Doctor's Doctor". You will definitely be in good hands.
    Frank

    Well, it looks like Dr. Menon at Henry Ford. Any experiences? I know he has been on the scene from the beginning, but need assurance of good cancer removal (margins etc) and not sure how to tease that out of the data. GOod luck to you - did you end up at U of Chicago afterall?

    FairRIder
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #13
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Discussion Boards