Joel Griffin talks about his robotic prostatectomy
Cancer! That terrible thing that happens to so many I have known over the years. Surely this was a misdiagnosis! Cancer happens to others, not me. My feelings were everywhere….Shock? Fear! Dismay!
It only took a day or two for my “double A” personality to take over as well as my “take charge” approach to life. I began calling friends who had dealt with prostate cancer. Some had undergone radiation and some surgery. I soon realized that, in of itself, if diagnosed early, prostate cancer is curable.
The Internet provided invaluable information and did so until the wee hours of the morning; obliging my need to get on with the educational and decision-making process. Early on, I learned of the new robotic procedure being performed around the country. I did quite a bit of research and it soon became apparent to me that this was the newest and perhaps the best surgical approach available. I was somewhat familiar with the fact that Saint Joseph’s Hospital was one of the first to offer cardiac surgery with the assistance of robotics. I then learned that Dr. Nikhil Shah had recently come to Saint Joseph’s and was performing prostate surgery robotically.
Let me share with you my personal opinion when it comes to selecting someone to perform any procedure on me or one of my family members. I have taken family members to large, academic centers over the years. The price of an airplane ticket is an acceptable expense for me when it allows me or one of my family members to be in the hands of a surgeon who is regarded as the best in his/her field. Simply put, I was willing to go anywhere. The expression I often use is that, “I’ll go to Zanzibar if I need to in order to get the best care available”. I don’t even know where Zanzibar is, but I would find it.
I then went to visit with Dr. Shah to “interview” him. What I discovered was that he had been working at Henry Ford in Detroit from almost the very beginning of the development of this new robotic prostatetomy procedure. I learned that he had been involved with several hundred procedures and there was no question in my mind that he had the skill, experience and technical knowledge to perform this surgery. I also received multiple opinions regarding his experience, here in Atlanta, from well respected doctors in this field.
I then went to visit with a very special friend who was the cardiologist who saved my life 15 years before with emergency angioplasty during my heart attack. Over the years, we have become close, and there is no one whose opinion I respect more. After showing him all of the exhaustive information that I had collected and telling him of my many conversations and consultations, he asked me a provoking question. He said, “Joel, there are probably a lot of surgeons who are competent enough to perform this procedure successfully. The person you are looking for, among those who are experienced and qualified, is the person who gives you a feeling that he really cares about you.”
Bingo!
I thought back about my interview with Dr. Shah and how he, at one point in our meeting, leaned forward and looked me right in the eye and said, “I will take the very best care of you and see you through this.” He had a certain sincerity about him and a sense of humility that was compelling.
I went back to see Dr. Shah and told him that I was totally comfortable with my decision to let him perform the surgery.
I am convinced that my research and due diligence in finding the right doctor to perform this surgery was time well spent. After a completely successful operation and speedy recovery, I write this for those of you who may be beginning your own search for the best care.
For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-866-SJ-ROBOT (1-866-757-6268).
