Research Update Dr.s Menon and Tewari from JUST DIAGNOSED WHW

WHW
WHW Member Posts: 189
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
Thanks to all you guys and your valuable info I have been conducting additional research as to what to do and where to do it.

For Quality of Life issues it seems the best route for me is surgery. Everything I have read points to Dr. Menon with the Vattikuti Instiute of the Henry Ford Medical Center as one of the best. He has really lead the way with the da Vinci surgery and the enhancements to the surgical procedures concerning ED and continence. To date they have done over 5000 da Vinci surgeries.

Some of you mentioned Dr. Tewari at Weill Cornell in New York. I found that he mentored under Dr. Menon and they still collaborate on key issues and advancements.

I posed a question to the group about the sense of urgency my local doc was conveying and my concern that he didn't really give me any backup to support it. I had a conversation with the Vattikuti Inst. yesterday and without my mentioning this push from my doc they had something interesting to say. We were discussing time frames and they said they would not consider scheduling any surgery until at least 6-8 weeks post biopsy. When I asked why, they said that until that time the prostate is still healing and recovering from the trauma of the biopsy. This sure seemed to make sense to me.

I would sure welcome any info, thoughts and input from you guys.

My wife is still on the ventilator in ICU and I have not discussed my diagnosis with her. She doesn't need any additional stress or worries at this point.

You guys have been my real source of conversation about this and being able to discuss it openly and in detail has sure helped me tremendously.

Thanks,

Sonny

Comments

  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #2
    Sonny,
    Glad you are getting
    Sonny,
    Glad you are getting some answers to your question. I've also found this site to be very helpful. I have heard the same about waiting to let the prostate heal post biopsy. It struck me as strange to let it heal so they can then take it out! LOL!

    Is your wife doing any better? Plans to let her come home soon?

    Have you looked for a local Prostate cancer support group in your area? I found one in the town that I live in and have attended 2 times, it helps to talk about it all man to man.

    Larry
  • WHW
    WHW Member Posts: 189
    #3
    lewvino said:

    Sonny,
    Glad you are getting
    Sonny,
    Glad you are getting some answers to your question. I've also found this site to be very helpful. I have heard the same about waiting to let the prostate heal post biopsy. It struck me as strange to let it heal so they can then take it out! LOL!

    Is your wife doing any better? Plans to let her come home soon?

    Have you looked for a local Prostate cancer support group in your area? I found one in the town that I live in and have attended 2 times, it helps to talk about it all man to man.

    Larry

    Thanks to lewvino
    Larry,

    Thanks for the kind words. I hadn't thought about a local support group, I'm going to start looking for one now.

    As to my wife. She is still on the ventilator, although they have let up on the drugs. She is more coherent, although she understandably can't talk. They plan to move it today from the mouth tube to a trach tube. This will provide her with much more comfort and give them flexibility in working with and her lungs to try to get her off of it. Her lungs have really taken a hit. She was diagnosed with pneumonia (4th in 3yrs) when she first went in and later Influenza A (read Swine Flu), but waiting on confirmation from Atlanta CDC. All of this moved her into ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), hence the ventilator.

    Once she is off the vent she will move to a rehab facility for 3-4 weeks. The full recovery from ARDS could be 6-12 months.

    My plan is to try to have my surgery while she is in rehab, so I can provide the caregiver
    energies she will need when she comes home.

    Sure seems like there is an awful lot of stuff hitting the fan, and all at the same time, doesn't it.

    We both have a really strong faith and positive attitude that allows us to deal with these things and just keep saying, "It Is What It Is". Life goes on, every day is a bonus, and no matter our issues, there is always someone who is less fortunate than we.

    Thanks for asking. As I said earlier, this forum has sure made it easier, by having someone to share the PC stuff with that have been there and done it.

    Sonny
  • dopplerjockey
    dopplerjockey Member Posts: 39
    #4
    WHW said:

    Thanks to lewvino
    Larry,

    Thanks for the kind words. I hadn't thought about a local support group, I'm going to start looking for one now.

    As to my wife. She is still on the ventilator, although they have let up on the drugs. She is more coherent, although she understandably can't talk. They plan to move it today from the mouth tube to a trach tube. This will provide her with much more comfort and give them flexibility in working with and her lungs to try to get her off of it. Her lungs have really taken a hit. She was diagnosed with pneumonia (4th in 3yrs) when she first went in and later Influenza A (read Swine Flu), but waiting on confirmation from Atlanta CDC. All of this moved her into ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), hence the ventilator.

    Once she is off the vent she will move to a rehab facility for 3-4 weeks. The full recovery from ARDS could be 6-12 months.

    My plan is to try to have my surgery while she is in rehab, so I can provide the caregiver
    energies she will need when she comes home.

    Sure seems like there is an awful lot of stuff hitting the fan, and all at the same time, doesn't it.

    We both have a really strong faith and positive attitude that allows us to deal with these things and just keep saying, "It Is What It Is". Life goes on, every day is a bonus, and no matter our issues, there is always someone who is less fortunate than we.

    Thanks for asking. As I said earlier, this forum has sure made it easier, by having someone to share the PC stuff with that have been there and done it.

    Sonny

    Waiting after Biopsy
    Hey Larry,
    Man, you have got your hands full, and our hearts go out to you and your wife.

    In my case, my urologist also suggesting waiting for 6-8 weeks before performing the Robotic surgery, and I assumed that it was due to the fact that I take Coumadin daily because of two previous strokes approximately 5 years ago. However, after reading posts on this forum, it appears to be a general practice among surgeons. And I agree with you, it seems to be strange that they would want the prostate healed from the biopsy before resecting it surgically. But, apparently, they have sound medical evidence to support that practice. I still wonder if the biospy procedures don't promote the spread of the cancer within and outside of the prostate gland itself.

    We hope that things for you and yours will turn around soon, and keep all of us PC guys up to date on how you are doing.
  • WHW
    WHW Member Posts: 189
    #5
    dopplerjockey said:

    Waiting after Biopsy
    Hey Larry,
    Man, you have got your hands full, and our hearts go out to you and your wife.

    In my case, my urologist also suggesting waiting for 6-8 weeks before performing the Robotic surgery, and I assumed that it was due to the fact that I take Coumadin daily because of two previous strokes approximately 5 years ago. However, after reading posts on this forum, it appears to be a general practice among surgeons. And I agree with you, it seems to be strange that they would want the prostate healed from the biopsy before resecting it surgically. But, apparently, they have sound medical evidence to support that practice. I still wonder if the biospy procedures don't promote the spread of the cancer within and outside of the prostate gland itself.

    We hope that things for you and yours will turn around soon, and keep all of us PC guys up to date on how you are doing.

    Thanks for the Well Wishes
    A little has happened in the last week or so.

    My wife is off the ventilator and was moved from the hospital ICU to a Respiratory Rehab Facility. She is doing much better and they are beginning a little physical rehab as well. She sure wants the trach tube out though. She hasn't had anything to eat or drink for 5 weeks. Trying to look on the positive side, she thought this would be a good way to lose a few pounds that she had gained from the steroids she takes for the cancer. NO SUCH LUCK. They told her that the feeding tube she has is delivering 2300 calories a day. They said her organs and body need it because they are working so hard.

    On my side of things, I am flying to Michigan next Wednesday to meet with Dr. Menon to discuss my surgery. I am looking forward to see what he has to say about my chances for success with the Nerve Sparing Surgery and the surgery that he has developed to improve or eliminate the incontinence issues. I don't have any doubts that the PC thing will be taken care of by taking the damn thing out. I am more concerned about the Quality of Life issues for the rest of my life. They sent me the statistics that they have kept on the last 3000 surgeries they have done and I am really encouraged by their results.

    I have done so much research on PC and the surgeons in this country, I feel very confident that Dr. Menon is the guy for me. Now I am just ready to get on with it. I need my strength and energy for my wife.

    On the really plus side of all of this, my wife and I have been having some really frank conversations about the future. Whatever time either of us has left, we don't want to spend it just living day to day and putting one foot in front of the other. I am only 61 and she is 53, we hope it's for a long time yet.

    We are really considering a plan to sell the house, get rid of all of the stuff that we all seem to collect that keeps us tied down to one spot and start traveling. I have been looking at RV's and there has never been a better time than now to make this sort of move. We are thinking about a 40-43 foot diesel big bus RV with all the creature comforts. Our house is just a bunch of walls and roof, our home is where ever we are. So we are going to take our home on the road and see all the things most people never get a chance to. I could go on and on about the positive side of this but here is not the place. Suffice is to say we both can't wait for our respective rehabs to be over with and "Get on With Living the Good Life".

    Thanks so much to all of you guys here for the info and encouragement. Having you guys to talk this over with has made it so much better. I feel really informed and confident from all of the posts you guys have shared.

    More to follow as things develope. When all is said and done I will probably create a web site to follow our developments with cancer and our successes at living the good life that we all strive for.

    Thanks again,

    Sonny
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010
    #6
    WHW said:

    Thanks for the Well Wishes
    A little has happened in the last week or so.

    My wife is off the ventilator and was moved from the hospital ICU to a Respiratory Rehab Facility. She is doing much better and they are beginning a little physical rehab as well. She sure wants the trach tube out though. She hasn't had anything to eat or drink for 5 weeks. Trying to look on the positive side, she thought this would be a good way to lose a few pounds that she had gained from the steroids she takes for the cancer. NO SUCH LUCK. They told her that the feeding tube she has is delivering 2300 calories a day. They said her organs and body need it because they are working so hard.

    On my side of things, I am flying to Michigan next Wednesday to meet with Dr. Menon to discuss my surgery. I am looking forward to see what he has to say about my chances for success with the Nerve Sparing Surgery and the surgery that he has developed to improve or eliminate the incontinence issues. I don't have any doubts that the PC thing will be taken care of by taking the damn thing out. I am more concerned about the Quality of Life issues for the rest of my life. They sent me the statistics that they have kept on the last 3000 surgeries they have done and I am really encouraged by their results.

    I have done so much research on PC and the surgeons in this country, I feel very confident that Dr. Menon is the guy for me. Now I am just ready to get on with it. I need my strength and energy for my wife.

    On the really plus side of all of this, my wife and I have been having some really frank conversations about the future. Whatever time either of us has left, we don't want to spend it just living day to day and putting one foot in front of the other. I am only 61 and she is 53, we hope it's for a long time yet.

    We are really considering a plan to sell the house, get rid of all of the stuff that we all seem to collect that keeps us tied down to one spot and start traveling. I have been looking at RV's and there has never been a better time than now to make this sort of move. We are thinking about a 40-43 foot diesel big bus RV with all the creature comforts. Our house is just a bunch of walls and roof, our home is where ever we are. So we are going to take our home on the road and see all the things most people never get a chance to. I could go on and on about the positive side of this but here is not the place. Suffice is to say we both can't wait for our respective rehabs to be over with and "Get on With Living the Good Life".

    Thanks so much to all of you guys here for the info and encouragement. Having you guys to talk this over with has made it so much better. I feel really informed and confident from all of the posts you guys have shared.

    More to follow as things develope. When all is said and done I will probably create a web site to follow our developments with cancer and our successes at living the good life that we all strive for.

    Thanks again,

    Sonny

    Glad to hear that your wife
    Glad to hear that your wife is improving. Also that your search is progressing on your treatments. I've thought the same thoughts about selling it all and actually put my boat up for sale this week. After my surgery and finding out what the surgeon and lab finds I may have a talk with my wife also!
  • NM
    NM Member Posts: 214
    #7
    lewvino said:

    Glad to hear that your wife
    Glad to hear that your wife is improving. Also that your search is progressing on your treatments. I've thought the same thoughts about selling it all and actually put my boat up for sale this week. After my surgery and finding out what the surgeon and lab finds I may have a talk with my wife also!

    Dr Tewari
    If my ins. covers it ,not there yet I hope to go to Dr Tewari as I have researched him and in my area Nepa he seems to be the best...Nick
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #8
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

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