Home Forums All Categories Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Best surgeon/institution in California for RC

  • Best surgeon/institution in California for RC

    Posted by luvs2garden on August 23, 2008 at 1:56 am

    I am looking for the surgeon who is the most expert at doing Radical Cystectomy in the San Francisco Bay Area, preferably. (this would likely be the one who does a large number of them) However, if you know someone anywhere in California, I am interested in knowing who they are and the institution/hospital where they perform the surgery.

    I will expand this request to include anyone/anyplace in the USA who has done alot of RCs.

    Thanks so much!
    Glenna

    replied 15 years, 8 months ago 5 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • 's avatar

    Guest
    June 19, 2009 at 3:25 am

    Great to see you back Glenna and that you were so pleased with Dr. Konety. UCSF has a great reputation in so many areas. My cousin had her kidney transplant done there traveling all the way from New Orleans.
    Continued wellness to you and hopefully energy will get back to some normalacy soon. Any questions just ask. You can post under Invasive Bladder cancer…just hit the New Thread tab….
    Pat

  • Luvs2garden's avatar

    Luvs2garden

    Member
    June 19, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Well, I am not very proficient at using this site…so I will reply to my own post, as I am not able to see how to post something new:-)

    I am very happy to say that since I posted last, I have completed chemo and had surgery and am beginning to feel some normalcy again…and hope it continues to fully feel myself! What a journey!!!

    I am posting here because Dr. Konety, UCSF, was my surgeon. I was looking for the best surgeon when I posted before…and I think I found him.

    I have been very pleased, so far, with the results of my surgery and with Dr. Konety as a human being:-) He has the ‘whole package’.

    I learned at my last follow-up appt. that Dr. Konety may be leaving UCSF, which I personally feel will be a terrible loss! as well as a loss to UCSF as an institution.

    If any of you reading this have been served by Dr. Konety and feel to let UCSF know how you feel about his leaving, there are 2 people you can send a letter to. They are as follows:

    Mr. Mark Laret, CEO
    UCFSF Medical Center
    500 Parnassus Ave.
    San Francisco, CA. 94143-0296

    Peter R. Carroll, MD, MPH
    Chari, Dept. of Urology
    Box 1711, UCSF
    San Francisco, CA. 94143-1711

    If you have had as positive outcome as I feel I have (and I know others have, as well) please take a moment to let UCSF know how important it will be to do what is necessary to retain Dr. Konety at their institution.

    I hope you’re all doing well today…that it is a good day for you.

    Glenna:-)

  • harry-s's avatar

    harry-s

    Member
    August 23, 2008 at 10:44 pm

    My husband Harry had his RC at Stanford last October. Dr. Gill was his surgeon. He is excellent. We also think highly of the nursing staff as well. I would highly recommend Dr. Gill and Stanford. Margot

  • 's avatar

    Guest
    August 23, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Hi Glenna……..yeah..11 is a very low number…i wonder if he meant Indiana pouches?…they always do more neo’s as they are very successful in the male population.
    i would venture to say at USC/Norris these surgeons do from 60 and up a year…Dr. John Stein who was a great surgeon and passed away this year under very tragic circumstances…was someone i had seen when i was interviewing prospective surgeons. I was very impressed with the entire staff. They are excellent surgeons and female friendly to our needs. I would venture to say they probably do more radical cystectomies than anyone in Ca.
    Here is Konety’s page
    http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/cgi-bin/prd.cgi?action=DISPLAYDOCTOR&doctorid=28735
    Gracie i know was very happy with him.
    Pat

  • gracie's avatar

    gracie

    Member
    August 23, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    I just had my RC done by Dr. Konety (Indy). He did an outstanding job.

    At UCSF Mt. Zion he is very much the bladder doctor (as well as Dr. Meng). I question the number of RC’s you quoted – they do much more then that. I was with Dr. Carroll initially who is head of urology there but from what I know is more of a prostrate doctor. However both Carroll and Konety are excellent surgeons.

    Dr. Greene that Pat mentioned is Dr. Konety’s partner @ Mt. Zion.

    At Stanford, I consulted with Dr. Presti. Dr. Presti also worked at UCSF before moving to Stanford . Very nice person – seemed very capable…I just opted to go to UCSF.

    Dr. Konety also has worked with Dr. O’Donnell (well known in the BC world).
    The care at UCSF was great – have also very good pain management which is something to ask about.

    Many here know how important this decision is. I wish you all the best.

    Best,
    Gracie

  • marigold's avatar

    marigold

    Member
    August 23, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    I recommend Dr. Maxwell Meng at UCSF. He performed my RC and I have been very satisfied with the results as well as with him.

  • Luvs2garden's avatar

    Luvs2garden

    Member
    August 23, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    P.S. Dr. Konety said they do around 11 Radical Cystectomys/year. That isn’t a very high number?

    Do you have any idea how this compares with Skinners in LA?

  • Luvs2garden's avatar

    Luvs2garden

    Member
    August 23, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    Thanks for this information, Pat. I appreciate getting it.

    I have been in touch with Dr. Konety at UCSF and Dr. Meng has been mentioned, too.

    Do you know anything about Konety? He seems to have the lighter schedule for surgery (not good?/neutral?)

    Do you know anything about Stanford or anyone there?

    Thanks again for the info!

    Glenna

  • 's avatar

    Guest
    August 23, 2008 at 4:55 am

    Glenna…you’re in a great place for surgeons that specialize in bladder cancer for women…..in the Bay Area its UCSF…there are several..Dr.Carroll
    http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/cgi-bin/prd.cgi?action=DISPLAYDOCTOR&doctorid=158
    Dr. Greene
    http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/cgi-bin/prd.cgi?action=DISPLAYDOCTOR&doctorid=38727
    Dr. Meng
    http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/cgi-bin/prd.cgi?action=DISPLAYDOCTOR&doctorid=27371

    Also known for dealing with women and bladder cancer is USC/Norris in LA
    and Dr. Eila Skinner or Dr. Donald Skinner (no relation)
    http://doctorsofusc.com/doctor/bio/view/117
    both voted as Best Doctors in the US

    If you want to go outside your area just let me know and i can give you the top people in the field ……….Pat

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