Oncologists in Honolulu?

[kapakahi]

Does anybody know the name of the best (hopefully) oncologist for PC in Honolulu? One of my best friends there just told me that he was diagnosed last year with advanced PC with mets in the lymph system and bones. Then he got thyroid cancer - didn't say if it was PC - so the thyroid is gone. He's on ADT (with standard side effects - low energy, had to go on a diabetic and thyroid regimen) and had chemo. He gets labs every 3 months. He's 67.

The latest, after more than a year, is that his PSA and T are undetectable (and have been for a year); his oncologist said he's "pleasantly surprised," and will revisit the medication question in 6 months. My buddy is severely depressed (a lifelong problem, always with a sense of humor - of ADT he said "I am woman, hear me roar!" "The thyroid cancer either departed with the thyroid itself or is being vewy vewy quiet." ) There aren't many choices of hospitals there - it's basically Queens.

It's hard getting information out of him - he goes silent for months with deep depression, and meanwhile I know he's not exercising much - depression as a disease is much worse than people think. One thing he said he's learned is to become much more assertive - he'd always been passive medically, and as a result his PCP didn't test his PSA for 3 years at the same time he was getting T therapy because of low T levels. That's astonishing to me.

Anyway, any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks, all.

[AlanMeyer]

I don't know anything about specific doctors in Hawaii, but I do see that the University of Hawaii Cancer Center in Honolulu is one of the U.S. National Cancer Institute is one of only 71 cancer centers in the U.S. that made the NCI Designated Cancer Centers list. Their website is here: uhcancercenter.org/

Making it onto the list means that NCI regards their cancer research highly. That usually means that the doctors keep up with the latest cancer research and offer clinical trials of new treatments as well as application of well known treatments. It may also mean that they have their choice in picking the smartest doctors. Being in Honolulu might also help them attract top talent - though I might be wrong about that.

Unless your friend is already being treated there, it might be worthwhile for him to call them and find out who they have that specializes in prostate and related cancers. Maybe he could get a list of names and look each of them up on the Internet.

Best of luck to him.

Alan