Patient Testimonials
Bill Haisman, Pathways to Health, Summer 2007
Patient: Stan Keith
Email: srkeith@cox.net
Surgery: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Date of Surgery: December 17, 2008
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June, 2008. During a normal annual physical exam, my GP took a blood sample to measure PSA. In previous physical exams my PSA had been in the range of 0.5 to 1.5. The PSA test revealed an elevated PSA which necessitated a visit to a urologist for a biopsy.
When the biopsy results were returned, it was determined I had a very slow-growing but present malignancy in my prostate. My cancer was judged a Gleason 6 which meant at my age (59 at the time) I had to do something about this cancer.
My urologist explained that I had two choices – surgery or radiation. He then proceeded to discuss surgery – in this case, open surgery. With a recovery measured in months and not great odds at recovering continence and sexual function, it appeared surgery was not a good option.
I received a referral to a radiologist in the local area and met with him. We discussed the procedure for standard radiation and again, I was not pleased with the side effects – most of which occur months after the radiation treatments.
To the internet I went. I read medical journals, web sites for doctors and web sites for treatments. I discussed a form of radiation called proton therapy with a friend of mine who had just finished that protocol.
Then I discovered surgery using the da Vinci robot. I watched several on-line videos discussing the procedure and interviews with patients. It appeared as if this might be a better approach. I called my urologist requesting a referral to a surgeon who did robotic radical prostatectomy. He knew of none so I called Torrance Memorial Hospital where I knew they had a da Vinci system installed.
Dr. Matsunaga is the doctor to see, they told me. I called his office and made an appointment.
Upon meeting Dr. Matsunaga for the first time was a breath of fresh air. I brought my records from my urologist with me and he reviewed my medical situation and he sat there and we had a frank discussion on robotic surgery in general and his specific capabilities and results. He gave me his personal surgical results obtained on his patients. We discussed continence and sexual function and based on his results, my wife and I decided that not only was the da Vinci robotic the right method, but Dr. Matsunaga was the right surgeon to do the surgery.
Dr. Matsunaga tells it like it is and has the ability to explain medical terminology in ways that are understandable. I am an electronic engineer by education so I have a pretty good feel for technology and by the time I met with Dr. Matsunaga I had done considerable research so I was able to ask the second and third level questions to get to the heart of the information I needed to make my personal decision on how to best take care of my medical condition. Dr. Matsunaga was with me the entire way providing me with answers to all my questions.
My surgery was on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at Torrance Memorial Hospital. With the surgery early in the morning I was in my regular room in the cancer wing by 3:00 that afternoon. I was up walking around the halls by 4:00. Dr. Matsunaga was at my bedside at 8:00 the next morning where we discussed the results of the surgery. I was out of the hospital before noon on Thursday.
My recovery was smooth and pain-free. I took a couple of Vicodin on Thursday, backed off to Extra Strength Tylenol on Friday and no pain medication from then on. I was back to work the following Monday – on the phone working out of my home office. I took a total of three days of sick leave for the entire surgery and recovery.
I obtained total control of continence ten weeks after surgery. I am in the recovery process with sexual function three months after surgery. I am fully confident that I will be totally recovered in the near future. I have no side effects from the surgery. All that remains are five little slits that are totally healed and one larger cut where the gland was removed.
My suggestion for new patients is to research all treatment options available to you. The internet is your friend! Read all you can get your hands on. Watch the video's and read the patient testimonials on all the various treatments. Then get down to business and meet with several doctors and have the frank and open discussions with them based on your individual medical situation and your individual desires as to an outcome. Take your time on making a final decision and then make that decision based on knowledge. Find a surgeon that you personally feel comfortable with.
One thing I can tell you – I doubt whether you will find a surgeon with a better ability to give you the confidence that you have found the right course of treatment than Dr. Matsunaga. The da Vinci system is a true breakthrough in technology and Dr. Matsunaga has the skill to use that technology to give you the best possible outcome so you can live your life as you want to live your life. S.K.
If you wish to speak with some of Dr. Matsunaga's robotic patients, please call the office for a patient list.
More to come!