Has anyone seen Dr. Eric Small @UCSF?

[ChinaBadger]

Hello to all. I have been on here for about a month, and have learned a lot of very helpful knowledge about advanced prostate cancer. I am so touched by the atmosphere of this forum, feeling like a loving family; everyone is compassionate, supportive, inspiring, and helping.

I was diagnosed to have a very high-risk prostate cancer in June 2019, with Gleason score 10, 9 of 12 cores positive, MRI staging T4, mild invasion into the base of the bladder, mild invasion into the central seminal vesicles, two pelvis lymph nodes involved and blockage in ureters which caused moderate dilatation of the distal ureters and moderate bilateral hydronephrosis of the kidneys. I had a bilateral nephrostomy last August. because the renal hydronephrosis got very severe. Now I haveT4 advanced prostate cancer plus a stage 4 chronic kidney disease.

I started Casodex shortly after diagnosis last June, then Lupron in August, and radiation IMRT in September. My PSA was 0.03ng/mL, down from 3.55 mg/mL before biopsy and 0.9mg/mL before radiation. What worries me is that my ureters are still blocked, which means the cancer cells there remain intact. My urologist and medical oncologist think I have responded to the treatment very well judging by PSA only, and will do nothing except keeping me on Lupron for 3 years, no plan of any imaging tests.

Many of you have suggested that to see an oncologist specializing in prostate cancer is essential. I wrote down the names of doctors recommended here, and searched for information about them online, hoping to find a good doctor near SF Bay Area, where we are living. I was attracted to Dr. Eric Small in UCSF. He seems to be outstanding judged by what his profile page at UCSF says, but patients’ reviews at several websites don’t look encouraging.

Has anyone in this forum visited Dr. Eric Small? If yes, what do you think of his performance？Also what kinds of health insurance does he accept?

[tango65]

I understand that is very difficult to get an appointment with Dr. Small, since he is mostly dedicated to his research and administrative issues. Dr Rahul Aggarwal at UCSF is also very good.

cancer.ucsf.edu/people/prof...

[ChinaBadger in reply to tango65]

Thanks very much!

[tango65 in reply to ChinaBadger]

Best of luck on the journey.!!

[Tall_Allen]

He has an excellent reputation. I know Rahul Aggarwal and find him easy to work with.

[ChinaBadger in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks!

[Roberthale7318]

I see Dr Rahul Aggarwal as my clinical trial DR and like and respect him!

[ChinaBadger in reply to Roberthale7318]

Thank you!

[MichaelDD]

I am in the Bay Area . I see Dr Aggarwal. I can't say enough good things about him and UCSF.

[ChinaBadger in reply to MichaelDD]

Appreciate your reply!