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Earlier this year during a rectal examination the doctor noted a lump on my prostate. A subsequent PSA test was 13 and an ultrasound showed an abnormality in my prostate. I had a biopsy which confirmed the likelihood of cancer with a Gleason score of 4 + 4.
I was then faced with the decision of what to do…do nothing wait and see, have hifu, radiation or radical prostatectomy.
After consultation with a specialist hifu doctor the recommendation was radical prostatectomy with possible radiation and hormone post operative treatment.
This was quite a decision as up to this time I was showing no symptoms and felt fit and active. My readings of internet showed that prostate cancer is often slow growing and some people with it can live for up to 15 years but in my case the Gleason score was considered high and this put my cancer in the aggressive category, again I could wait and see which was an attractiveoption to me as it would not disrupt my life and physical activity as well as intimacy at this time and I was mentally handling the knowledge that I had the dreaded cancer without real concern. But even though I am 68 I look forward to many active years and did not relish the idea of the cancer progressing beyond the prostate.
So…the decision was do nothing and carry on a normal life for the near or medium term future…or…have the recommended surgery with the possible resulting incontinence and loss of erection ability.
My decision was to go for the surgery.
Next how to do…on reading robotic surgery appeared the preferred and most obvious choice.
Now who to entrust with this significant bodily invasion.
For me confidence in the surgeon and money were the main considerations. So more research and reading. Seemed the more operations a surgeon has done with robotics the better chance that they have the skills to accurately do the procedure.
I was referred to a leading surgeon in Bangkok but the cost was what I considered very high and at my meeting with him the communication was not that good. So my research continued and I found the Bangkok quote was higher than in my country, Australia, both were significantly less than Singapore but more than twice that of India.
In India the leading surgeon seemed to be Dr. Rajiv Yadav working out of Medanta Hospital in Delhi.
I researched him on the internet, saw he was trained and qualified in the US and had significant numbers of successful robotic prostatectomy and was using the state of the art machine.
But….India…images of congestion less than hygienic surroundings and possible language problems.
After the difficulty I had getting straight answers from the Australian hospitals I had contacted I sent an email to Dr. Yadav not really expecting a satisfactory response but to my amazement he replied within 5 minutes, a series of questions from me all answered with the same promptness and courtesy full of relevant information and I began to have confidence in this man.
Still there was the logistics problem of having this surgery in a country which I had no real knowledge of, no idea where the hospital was, what sort of affordable accommodation was available post operation.
No need to worry! Medanta hospital has an International Services Department specifically to take care of international patients and they like Dr. Yadav responded to my every query.
I arrived at the airport 5 minutes past midnight and there was a smiling, helpful Medanta man to take me to the hospital.
Now what to expect? The buildings and surroundings along the road were not that impressive but the hospital was an exception and inside was modern, clean quite impressive but the best was yet to come.
The staff that admitted me were extremely courteous and helpful, the people that took me to my room likewise.
The nursing were so attentive, courteous, friendly and obviously very well trained. They carried out their duties diligently and efficiently. Nothing was a problem to them no matter what the request it was satisfied promptly with a smile.
The pre operation testing was rigorous all staff doing their part in a very professional manner.
Dr. Yadav is someone very much above the average. Obviously very capable and extremely professional he has a relaxed manner, communicates extremely well, explains everything and anything in detail. Despite the fact he is a very busy man he never makes you feel he is in a hurry to get away from you. He gives the impression that you are the most important thing in his day. His attentive approach gave me great confidence and all associated with him spoke highly of his surgical skill. Truly the complete package you would want for a person that you need to trust to do the best for you.
Post operation was no different, care and attention every minute of every day I was in hospital. When time came to leave Dr. Yadav was there to make sure I was OK and the International Department arranged hotel accommodation and transport to the hotel, nothing I needed to do but get in the hotel car which was waiting for me.
Going to the hotel was like going to the hospital a drive through less than impressive surroundings and then the "oasis" the hotel called Park Inn. Very high quality at a very reasonable tariff. Everything here continued the same, cleanliness, care, courtesy and attention. The surrounding area while modest felt safe to me and I walked about freely without concern fascinated by the local culture.
For me the decision to entrust Dr Yadav with my care was a very wise choice.
The operation went well, I was up walking without assistance the next day, spent an hour that day and two hours each of the ensuing days up and down the corridors complete with my urine and drain bags meeting a never ending number of smiling nurses, security and medical staff. Truly a home away from home.
My catheter was taken out 7 days post operation after careful checking that everything was as it should be and I travelled back to Thailand the next day.
I walked 7 kilometers to work on the 9th day post operation and have continued regular work and exercise since.
I have the slight inconvenience of wearing a pad for urine leakage which is most difficult for me to control after I have been driving or sitting for long periods of time and then get up. Nights have been pretty good with minimal leakage and waking to empty my bladder in the normal way.
For me my Indian experience was the perfect scenario, difficult decision to have radical surgery but once made selecting a one in a million doctor, have him use his exceptional skill to give a trouble free operation, no post operative pain save a little muscle soreness when getting up the first day or two, no infection and a pathology report that seems to indicate the cancer was contained and all affected tissue was taken during the operation.
All this at less than 50% of the next cheapest alternative.
If ever I need surgery I would first look at Medanta Hospital and their team of professions to satisfy my needs.
If you are agonizing over a similar decision please feel free to contact me, Tony Nixon, mobile 66 9 1160 0736 or email tonynixon15@hotmail.com
All the best ….. life is for those that think positively and Dr Yadav and his team certainly let me think that way.
Contacts:
Dr. Yadav email drrajivyadav@gmail.com
Medanta the Medicity sector-38,Gurgaon, Hayana, New Delhi phone +91 124 4141 414
Tony's e-mail address is: tonynixon15 AT hotmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Tony has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.
