NEED RECOMMENDATION FOR A SURGEON IN SF OR BAY AREA

SFMom
SFMom Member Posts: 1
in Thyroid Cancer #1

Hi, 

I was just diagnosed with TC (papillary); I have three nodules, the primary located on the Isthmus (2cm) and two smaller nodules on the left side. I just had a baby and was fluctuating from hyper to hypo with a weird sensation in my throat. Fast forward, my doctor from UCSF (Dr.Gartner), recommended four surgeons, all from UCSF. I decided to take this to the real experts, and hope you can lend your thoughts on potential surgeons, your experiences, how long it takes to obtain a date for surgery, and, well, also point to the not so recommended ones. 

 

 I am assuming this will require total removal of the gland due to the primary nodule location.

 

Here are the names I got:

 

Jonathan George

 

Jessica Gosnell

 

Will Ryan

 

T Shen

 

I can potentially go to Stanford since it is only an hour away, and would really appreciate any information regarding recommended surgeons there, and differences between UCSF and Stanford.

 

I have read many posts with patients going through multiple surgeries. Is this common ? Is this a disease that ultimately ties one to the operating room and what are the factors influencing the need for recurring procedures. 

 

Thank you, 

SFMom

 

 

 

 

Comments

  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #2
    Surgeons

    Hello,

    I live on the east coast, so I can't speak from personal experience.  After doing a quick Google, the surgeons you listed for UCSF all seem to be qualified Head & Neck Surgeons that specialize in thyroid surgery.  Again, after doing a quick Google, Stanford has three Head & Neck Surgeons that also specialize in thyroid surgery, Drs Holsinger, Orloff & Sunwoo.  There may be more, these were the only ones listed on the web page I found.

    Not being a west coast resident I don't really know but I would think the reputation of Stanford Medicine is better than UCSF Medicine.  It may be that your doctor recommended the UCSF surgeons because UCSF is the hospital he's affiliated with.

    When I chose my doctor, I first chose the hospital I wanted, then I chose the first head & neck surgeon available who was qualified to do a thyroidectomy.  You may want to go with the doctor who has the best credentials, but you will probably have to wait which I didn't want to do.

    Hope this helps,

    Alan

  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #3
    Baldy said:

    Surgeons

    Hello,

    I live on the east coast, so I can't speak from personal experience.  After doing a quick Google, the surgeons you listed for UCSF all seem to be qualified Head & Neck Surgeons that specialize in thyroid surgery.  Again, after doing a quick Google, Stanford has three Head & Neck Surgeons that also specialize in thyroid surgery, Drs Holsinger, Orloff & Sunwoo.  There may be more, these were the only ones listed on the web page I found.

    Not being a west coast resident I don't really know but I would think the reputation of Stanford Medicine is better than UCSF Medicine.  It may be that your doctor recommended the UCSF surgeons because UCSF is the hospital he's affiliated with.

    When I chose my doctor, I first chose the hospital I wanted, then I chose the first head & neck surgeon available who was qualified to do a thyroidectomy.  You may want to go with the doctor who has the best credentials, but you will probably have to wait which I didn't want to do.

    Hope this helps,

    Alan

    My Reason

    Looking over my response, I realize I didn't get the timing correct.

    When I chose my surgeon, I wasn't yet aware that I had thyroid cancer.  Initially, I needed to have a swollen lymph node in my neck removed.  Only after this was done did I find out I had thyroid cancer, so the surgeon's experience with thyroidectomies wasn't one of my criteria.  Also, not knowing why the lymph node was swollen was the main reason I was not willing to wait.  Once I found out it was thyroid cancer, it turned out the surgeon I chose was very experienced, I was lucky.

    Alan

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