Posted 7/31/2017 8:23 PM (GMT -5)
Recently diagnosed with mCSPC. After reading about prostatectomy for metastatic cases I decided that it was worth pursuing and might improve OS. I saw Samadi and Tewari.
Samadi: Probably an excellent surgeon but arrogant, self promoting and protective of his statistics. I wrote him a one page summary of why I was there - the first line of which was "I have mCSPC". After 2-1/2 hours of waiting and being interviewed I see Samadi. I'm in the exam room and he picks up my note and instantly says "let's talk in my office".. He says he doesn't operate on metastatic cases; "it won't help you". [I don't think he should have said that. While he may think it won't help there is sufficient positive literature that it shouldn't be stated as a medical fact.] I said: " I thought we didn't know whether it would help or not" He said "I'm not comfortable with we don't knows". Tells me there are other surgeons ("not as good," he says) who will do it.
Tewari: about two weeks later I see Tewari. In exam room three minutes after my appointment. After 30 minutes I see Tewari. Says he wants to see my scans after chemo. In the mean time he wants me to go to this multidisciplinary group (urologist, radiation oncologist . . ). Once he has all this info he'll decide whether to operate or not, telling me that he's done the procedure many times with metastatic patients. Feels my prostate and says "it's not that bad, depending on what the scans say I could probably operate on it". And, lastly, he tells me it's important to take care of myself and stay in shape.