Some surgeons have huge marketing machines, some cherrypick only patients with T1/T2a diagnoses while in the real world, there are surgeons doing amazing things every day to the best of their ability and in the belief that they can secure a good outcome for the patient.
Just be aware of the marketing machines- for every few men who rave about a particular surgeon, you will find at least one man on here who had a really poor outcome and / or feels the aftercare was inadequate.
The general view in uro-oncology is that in the years to come, people will be horrified and fascinated at the idea that prostates used to be removed surgically ... a bit like a few years ago, it was just automatic that any woman diagnosed with breast cancer had a double mastectomy or people with mental health issues had a lobotomy.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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Prostate cancer sometimes makes the lobotomy appealing!
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"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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I think that’s part of the problem Lyn. On this forum I’ve seen a few “names” crop up and there are only a couple of surgeons who have carried out more than 500 ops in the last 3 years (according to the BAUS data). It sometimes makes you feel that if you aren’t opting for these couple of London-based high volume surgeons then you aren’t getting the best. And let’s face it in situations like this we all want the best for our loved ones with the best outcomes. I’ve found it all a bit of a mine field. And I think your point is really valid about certain surgeons having a good PR machine. And unfortunately this becomes self perpetuating as more people get ops done with these people which increases their numbers and thus their reputation.
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Lyn
Loving your orange analogy. Not heard it explained in those terms before. Immaterial for me as I have already gone down the RARP road but instructive nonetheless.
"Some surgeons have huge marketing machines, some cherrypick only patients with T1/T2a diagnoses while in the real world, there are surgeons doing amazing things every day to the best of their ability and in the belief that they can secure a good outcome for the patient."
Never a truer word said!!
Edited by member 17 Nov 2021 at 19:23
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Originally Posted by: Online Community MemberI think that’s part of the problem Lyn. On this forum I’ve seen a few “names” crop up and there are only a couple of surgeons who have carried out more than 500 ops in the last 3 years (according to the BAUS data). It sometimes makes you feel that if you aren’t opting for these couple of London-based high volume surgeons then you aren’t getting the best. And let’s face it in situations like this we all want the best for our loved ones with the best outcomes. I’ve found it all a bit of a mine field. And I think your point is really valid about certain surgeons having a good PR machine. And unfortunately this becomes self perpetuating as more people get ops done with these people which increases their numbers and thus their reputation.
Some publish the proportion of men who were T2b / T3 at diagnosis alongside the rest of their data. The surgeon we chose doesn't have the most amazing stats for positive margins and biochemical recurrence but when you look at his data on BAUS it becomes clear that he has a significant number of patients who are at T3 before surgery and / or are down for RP with adjuvant RT/HT. We chose him because a) he was already the consultant for my dad, father-in-law and mother-in-law so I had met him a number of times and it seemed a good idea to keep with what we knew and b) his stats on ED and incontinence were excellent.
In the end, you can only follow your instincts
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
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The word on the street back in 2019 was that NICE are evaluating NeuroSAFE. No given timeline but approval thought to be about five years out.
According to a urologist I spoke to PCa does have a tendency to manifest itself in the anterior portion of the prostate. Mine was very close to breaking through ~1mm and quite a lot of involvement in the base near the bladder neck. The Prof performed using the RS approach but adapted during the procedure to alt-RS and did some bladder reconstruction. Two years on all good. So far using a high volume surgeon who like a technical challenge seems to have paid off. 🍾😵💫 Also worth being mindful that timing is critical it would appear. If I had waited any longer (months) my diagnosis would have gone >T2c and irrespective of surgeon would have potentially had a very different outcome.
Edited by member 18 Nov 2021 at 13:35
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The data speaks for itself. Usually there are checks and controls in place to validate the numbers. In terms of PR and marketing most of urologists who operate privately run a very lean shop with one or two back end staff. I suspect you are highly unlikely to find a large London marketing machine on their books 😀
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The one I am thinking of does indeed have a London marketing company on their books - it is included on the urologist's website map.
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