What about Duke?

[Jvaughan0]

It is time for me to consider adding a medical oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer to my health plan. I am considering Duke since it is within a reasonable drive for me. Does anyone have first-hand anecdotal suggestions? I am a bit adversarial in dealing with doctors in general. If I don't sense candor, compassion and moderate out-of-the-box thinking, I tend to be difficult.

[packfan]

Dr. William Berry is well thought of. He is a prostate only MO. He is not my MO but I am considering switching to him if I come out of remission. There are a number of good ones at the Durham (main) campus who specialize in prostate cancer.

[Jvaughan0 in reply to packfan]

Thanks. I am still researching. He is on my short list. I am also looking at Dr. Daniel George.

[packfan in reply to Jvaughan0]

Dr. George is nationally known, and another MO I saw in a out-of-state clinical trial recommended him. He's on my shortlist. I see my Duke RO next week. I'll ask him for recommendations and will pass them along. I'm just coming off HT now and am trying to find the best MO possible if my PSA returns (post RP/SRT/HT). My MO is has been good, he's just young and is not a prostate specialist.

[Jvaughan0 in reply to packfan]

I have DaVinci surgery in 2014, upgraded from G6 to G9 post-op. PSA stayed at <.01 for 18 months. PSA moved to .18 in the fall of 2016. I started six months Lupron in January 2017 with 44 doses of salvage radiation. PSA has been <.01 since January 2017. I stopped Lupron last spring and PSA was still <.01 this October. Hoping for the best, but the shadow is always there. I know that sounds pessimistic, but then I worked with the Boy Scouts for years. Be prepared.

[GeorgeGlass in reply to Jvaughan0]

Could you see any of the cancer outside the prostate when they did the radiation treatments or did they just shoot radiation around the entire area?

[Jvaughan0 in reply to GeorgeGlass]

The entire area was radiated.

[charlesmeyers1964]

not all of us live near duke dude so its not a option

charlie

[Jvaughan0 in reply to charlesmeyers1964]

I hope you live somewhere that provides the care you need. No matter the miles, this is a difficult journey. Peace.

[Trengle]

We moved to NC 2 years ago and I first saw a local cancer generalist as we are about 2 1/2 from Duke. My PSA went up to 150 as he had to do research after each meeting! My original MO in Providence RI (Dr Anthony Mega) had referred me to Dr Dan George and I started seeing him in Dec 2017...he is the best and I highly recommend him. He is very knowledgeable, compassionate and understanding. The entire team that I work with at Duke is incredible. I feel we are again in control of my Metastatic PC!

[Jvaughan0 in reply to Trengle]

Good to know. State of mind is more than half the battle. Thanks.

[Roberthale7318]

I am stage 4 metastatic,, Gleeson, nine thriver. I am currently in the Duke prostrate cancer program . In August I met with four prostate cancer specialists including, a MO,RO, surgeon and GP. That’s how their program begins . My Medical Oncologist is Dr. Daniel George. He is very well respected and possibly one of the most empathetic doctors I have ever encounter. The only negative is he tends to spend quite a bit a time with each patient and then runs late, up to an hour . Here is the number 😄

[phone]

The best of luck and health !!

[Jvaughan0 in reply to Roberthale7318]

I understand the "waits". Minutes seem like hours, and often are, living alone with only your thoughts waiting for a doctor. Thanks for the information.

[Toad1]

Try Dr Andrew Armstrong

[Jvaughan0 in reply to Toad1]

Appreciate it.

[j-o-h-n]

So this guy comes home and tells his wife "Dear, let's play doctor". Wife says "that's sounds like a great idea". Husband says "Ok i'll be the doctor and you'll be the patient". Wife says "Ok I'll be the patient". So her husband left her sitting on the couch for 2 hours.

And one just for you (boy scout oath). "On my honor I will do my best, to help the girl scouts get undressed".

p.s. Kick the M.F. bastards. (M.F. does not stand for Mighty Fine).

Good luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 11/29/2018 6:24 PM EST

[spikezoey]

My husband goes to Duke, to Dr. Megan McNamara; she's a medical oncologist that specializes in PCa. Based on what you said that "I am a bit adversarial in dealing with doctors in general. If I don't sense candor, compassion and moderate out-of-the-box thinking, I tend to be difficult," don't go to her! (LOL) I find her to be a bit of a cold fish. She's also very much "standard of care" (i.e., not always out-of-the-box thinker). Had to beat her over the head for months before she was ok with adding Avodart to my hubby's regimen (he's on degaralex and zytiga).

I have not met Dan George, but I have heard from the Duke PCA Support Group guys that he's also very much a standard-of-care guy (although a nice and compassionate person from what I heard). Most of those guys in the Duke PCa Support Group go to Dr. Barry, who seems more willing to think outside the box. We met with him once. He is quiet, but you definitely feel like he is really listening to you and is compassionate.

If you are close to Duke, I highly recommend you come to one of the Duke PCa support group meetings - they provide a LOT of information on different people's experiences and how to ask for what you want and need. That's where we got the tip that we really should add Avodart to clean up some of the metabolites from Zytiga that end up promoting PCa cancer (something Snuffy Meyers used to do and which Cleveland Clinic did a study on that showed it was successful - both facts of which I learned at the group). The meetings are the last Monday of the month from 4-6pm at the Duke Cancer Center. December's meeting has been cancelled, though, because it falls on Christmas Eve, so next one will be 1/28/19.

[Jvaughan0 in reply to spikezoey]

Thanks for the insight. People caring about others here is healing in itself. I appreciate your suggestions.

[spikezoey in reply to Jvaughan0]

PS. Dr. Barry's office is actually in Cary, not in the Duke Cancer Center. Depending on where you are coming from, it might be closer or farther to you. An advantage is that parking there is free and close (versus Cancer Center parking)!

[Peterd110 in reply to spikezoey]

Do you have a link to the study done on the avodart?

[Jvaughan0 in reply to Peterd110]

No, but I have read anecdotal pros and cons about its effects.

[spikezoey in reply to Peterd110]

newsroom.clevelandclinic.or...

[Jvaughan0 in reply to spikezoey]

Thanks. Best of holiday seasons to you and yours.

[GeorgeGlass in reply to Jvaughan0]

I go to Andrew Armstrong too. I fired the doctor at MD Anderson because she didn't really seem to give a shit and always wanted to do extra tests for no reason. Dr. Armstrong doesn't do that.