Spencer Lucas, Age 53 - Albuquerque, New Mexico Surgery: 4/11/2008
VIP Friends Online
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Read Other Survivors' Personal Stories CLICK HERE |
When I found out that the biopsy showed I had prostate cancer, initially, I was shocked. In no time,
the shock became fear. Part of this fear was based on the fact that I had testicular cancer 31 years
ago and had had one testicle removed as well as 65 lymph nodes. That cured my cancer then, but
the experience was a painful and terrible one. Therefore, I expected another similar experience
with this cancer.
Following the diagnosis, the urologist who diagnosed me recommended surgery. As did the
oncologist I saw for a second opinion. My primary care physician agreed. I was only 52 years old at
the time of my diagnosis. My PSA was low (less than 1.0), my Gleason score was only a 6. I had a
barely detectible induration (a “wrinkle”) on one side of my prostate which was not enlarged at all.
And I was otherwise very healthy. I was a perfect candidate for removal of the prostate to cure the
cancer. However, I live in New Mexico, one of the few states that lacks a DaVinci robot arm used
for robotic prostatectomies. My urologist wanted me to have the traditional manual open surgery
performed by him in New Mexico.
Before agreeing, I contacted a good friend who told me about robotic prostatectomy and about Dr.
Vipul Patel. My friend had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 46 and Dr. Patel
performed a robotic prostatectomy on him. He is now fully continent, potent and has a negligible
PSA. So, I began my own research into robotic prostatectomies and concluded that it was the best
way for the surgery to be performed. My research also revealed that the experience and skill of
the surgeon is critical to a successful outcome. And, indeed Dr. Patel's record of having
performed more than 3,000 prostatectomies identified him as one of the best prostatectomy
surgeons in the world — if not the best. My research indicated I could not do better than Dr. Patel.
My first contact with Dr. Patel was via email I sent him on a Sunday morning. He phoned me back
that very same Sunday. Dr. Patel exuded a great deal of confidence and positive energy. I knew
for sure I had chosen the right surgeon. I explained the basics of my diagnosis and he told me that
someone from his staff would contact me to arrange everything for the surgery. From this point
on, my wife dealt directly with Dr. Patel's staff to make all the necessary arrangements. In our
opinion, Dr. Patel's staff was the friendliest, the most professional, and the most efficient we had
ever encountered. When we actually met Dr. Patel's staff the day before the surgery, they were all
so nice to us! They are the most compassionate and understanding people we have ever met in a
medical setting. Meeting Dr. Patel pre-surgery was wonderful. He exuded a great deal of
confidence and positive energy. I knew for sure I had chosen the right surgeon.
Before the surgery, I was very anxious. I grew increasingly nervous in the pre-op area of the
hospital. Once I received the first dose of anesthetic, all memory of what was going on vanished. I
didn't experience any pain nor do I remember the actual surgery. About nine hours after the
surgery, the anesthetics wore off and I felt some pain in my abdomen and perineal area. However,
I would only rate the pain as about a 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. About eleven hours after the surgery, I
was up and walking up and down the hallway of the hospital. I was weak, but I was also amazed
that I was walking! The day after surgery I left the hospital. I had walked several times. I had eaten
and I was even passing gas. I was still weak, but much stronger than the night before. I was
nervous about leaving the hospital, but it was the best thing for me.
This experience forced me to reevaluate many aspects of my life. It has been a real gift to me. It
also was a surgical-medical experience totally different from the one I had 31 years ago. That one
had left me with many unpleasant memories and a good deal of angst. My memory of the robotic
prostatectomy, in contrast, is one of minimal pain and discomfort, great compassion and care, and
tremendous surgical skill on the part of Dr. Patel and his staff.
My wish for any man who has prostate cancer that can be cured surgi-cally is that he has the
surgery done robotically by Dr. Patel. I base this not only on my experience, but on the experience
of my friend who recommended Dr. Patel to me, and the extensive research I did.
the shock became fear. Part of this fear was based on the fact that I had testicular cancer 31 years
ago and had had one testicle removed as well as 65 lymph nodes. That cured my cancer then, but
the experience was a painful and terrible one. Therefore, I expected another similar experience
with this cancer.
Following the diagnosis, the urologist who diagnosed me recommended surgery. As did the
oncologist I saw for a second opinion. My primary care physician agreed. I was only 52 years old at
the time of my diagnosis. My PSA was low (less than 1.0), my Gleason score was only a 6. I had a
barely detectible induration (a “wrinkle”) on one side of my prostate which was not enlarged at all.
And I was otherwise very healthy. I was a perfect candidate for removal of the prostate to cure the
cancer. However, I live in New Mexico, one of the few states that lacks a DaVinci robot arm used
for robotic prostatectomies. My urologist wanted me to have the traditional manual open surgery
performed by him in New Mexico.
Before agreeing, I contacted a good friend who told me about robotic prostatectomy and about Dr.
Vipul Patel. My friend had been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 46 and Dr. Patel
performed a robotic prostatectomy on him. He is now fully continent, potent and has a negligible
PSA. So, I began my own research into robotic prostatectomies and concluded that it was the best
way for the surgery to be performed. My research also revealed that the experience and skill of
the surgeon is critical to a successful outcome. And, indeed Dr. Patel's record of having
performed more than 3,000 prostatectomies identified him as one of the best prostatectomy
surgeons in the world — if not the best. My research indicated I could not do better than Dr. Patel.
My first contact with Dr. Patel was via email I sent him on a Sunday morning. He phoned me back
that very same Sunday. Dr. Patel exuded a great deal of confidence and positive energy. I knew
for sure I had chosen the right surgeon. I explained the basics of my diagnosis and he told me that
someone from his staff would contact me to arrange everything for the surgery. From this point
on, my wife dealt directly with Dr. Patel's staff to make all the necessary arrangements. In our
opinion, Dr. Patel's staff was the friendliest, the most professional, and the most efficient we had
ever encountered. When we actually met Dr. Patel's staff the day before the surgery, they were all
so nice to us! They are the most compassionate and understanding people we have ever met in a
medical setting. Meeting Dr. Patel pre-surgery was wonderful. He exuded a great deal of
confidence and positive energy. I knew for sure I had chosen the right surgeon.
Before the surgery, I was very anxious. I grew increasingly nervous in the pre-op area of the
hospital. Once I received the first dose of anesthetic, all memory of what was going on vanished. I
didn't experience any pain nor do I remember the actual surgery. About nine hours after the
surgery, the anesthetics wore off and I felt some pain in my abdomen and perineal area. However,
I would only rate the pain as about a 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. About eleven hours after the surgery, I
was up and walking up and down the hallway of the hospital. I was weak, but I was also amazed
that I was walking! The day after surgery I left the hospital. I had walked several times. I had eaten
and I was even passing gas. I was still weak, but much stronger than the night before. I was
nervous about leaving the hospital, but it was the best thing for me.
This experience forced me to reevaluate many aspects of my life. It has been a real gift to me. It
also was a surgical-medical experience totally different from the one I had 31 years ago. That one
had left me with many unpleasant memories and a good deal of angst. My memory of the robotic
prostatectomy, in contrast, is one of minimal pain and discomfort, great compassion and care, and
tremendous surgical skill on the part of Dr. Patel and his staff.
My wish for any man who has prostate cancer that can be cured surgi-cally is that he has the
surgery done robotically by Dr. Patel. I base this not only on my experience, but on the experience
of my friend who recommended Dr. Patel to me, and the extensive research I did.
My wish for any man who has prostate cancer that can be cured surgically is that he has the surgery done robotically by Dr. Patel. I base this not only on my experience, but on the experience of my friend who recommended Dr. Patel to me, and research I did. |
