I started having annual PSA tests in my early 50s and when my count started to go up and then doubled within a year, it was clear something was wrong. My primary care physician referred me to a urologist and a biopsy confirmed that I had prostate cancer.
I had about three months to make a decision so my wife and I went into research mode and found out everything we could about the treatment options available. I talked to three urologists in Charleston and even made appointments with urologists at Emory and the Cleveland Clinic.
Because of my age, health and the fact that my cancer was contained within my prostate (confirmed by a bone scan), I knew I was a good candidate for the daVinci method of laproscopic robotic surgery. So I focused on finding a surgeon who specialized in that.
My decision was driven by who had the most experience with the device. Dr. Jonathan Picard came up because I found out he studied at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit with Dr. Mani Menon, a pioneer in the development of robotic surgery. So even though he hadn’t necessarily performed the most procedures, he had “studied at the master’s hand.”
After meeting with Dr. Picard my decision was made. I was already comfortable with being treated at MUSC and impressed with his experience, but Dr. Picard also really took the time to make sure I knew what to expect from the surgery and how long recovery would take. It was clear I was a real person to him, not just another patient or a number.
The surgery went great and he made sure I knew what milestones to look for after surgery so I would know what to expect for recovery, including how long side effects would last. Everything went according to plan and I was back to work after just two weeks. Now I’m back to normal and sometimes I even forget I had the surgery at all.
(While Mr. Seidler was a good candidate for the daVinci Surgical System, it’s not the best option for everyone. Fortunately MUSC offers all available surgical options for prostate cancer – the daVinci Surgical System, laprascopic, open retropubic and perineal – so you’ll be sure to get the surgery that suits you best. In fact, MUSC is the only hospital in the Southeast that offers the perineal option. And as a leading academic medical center, you will have access to cutting-edge research and a multidisciplinary team of specialists working with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center – the only NCI-designated cancer center in the state.) Click here to learn more about prostate cancer care at MUSC.
