Dr Drake

[Rexwaterbury]

For those of you who had been patients of Dr Myers, how has been your experience with Dr Drake? Has he made alterations in Snuffy’s treatment protocol?

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[cesanon]

My experience was that it was not so hard to find a replacement for Myers the oncologist. There are a lot of good people out there nowadays.

But it was exceedingly difficult to find someone who would continue to prescribe his primary care protocols (metformin, lovaza etc.). The oncologists are just not interested, they do not consider that to be part of their practice. And almost all primary care physicians, just don't get it.

What has been your experience?

[tarhoosier]

Charles Drake is an accomplished researcher who moved to Columbia from Hopkins a few years ago. I have seen him twice with a third visit soon. The greatest difference is from the bucolic rural setting along the Appalachian Trail with a calm and quiet office, to the middle of Manhattan and the vortex of activity that is Columbia/NY Presbyterian Hospitals, the shouting, cars, people, crowds, uniformed security at reception desk and all the rest.

Once past that I find that patient care is a minority of the time for Dr. Drake. He sees patients in his clinical practice on Tuesdays only. No one follows patients as closely as Myers, not even my local oncologist whom I refer to as my treating oncologist compared to my managing oncologist Myers, and now Drake. I accept that as I was aware that this close monitoring was one of the things that set Myers apart from all others from the time I first saw him.

Drake has a warm and friendly approach and listens well. I have had no change in response to treatment so I cannot say how he will deal with that situation. He is willing to do uncommon things such as adjust my Xtandi to one pill a day, five days per week, to see how I respond. Myers had me on one per day per seven.

Generally I am pleased though the travel to NYC is a mixed experience as I live 620 miles away. If things turn in a different direction the opportunity for advanced care is right at the doorway. I went to Myers as I had learned that care from the very best was a key to success and I believe Drake represents a path to the very best. I accept the limitations his practice and location offer. I still have my local onc for backup, treatment, advice and support.

[Rexwaterbury]

Ok. I had my visit with dr Drake 2 days ago. I couldn’t have been more pleased. He has received a lot of patients from dr Myers (I saw 4 former patients in the waiting room that day), and respects the care and treatment that dr Myers had administered, stating that all of the patients he inherited are doing remarkably well. No changes were made to my treatment regimen. He will follow labs every 2 months. He wants a new set of conventional scans. He came across as a very competent, educated, conscientious, caring physician.