Recently received prostate cancer diagnosis: need a second opinion.

Posted by pops1 @pops1, Nov 28, 2024

I’m Gleason 7(4+3) , Surgery vs Radiation are my choices. I live in Asheville , NC. Leaning toward SBRT (Cyber Knife) . I’m going to Duke Health for a second opinion. What type of oncology doctor should I contact for a second opinion?

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Profile picture for paulg24 @paulg24

First thing I would recommend is to get a second opinion on your biopsy at a center of excellence; I would recommend Sloan Kettering in New York City.
Began with Gleason 4+4 = 8. I live in Raleigh NC and recently went to Duke Cancer Center and was very disappointed and unimpressed.
However, my 2nd opinion by Sloan Kettering experts downgraded my Gleason to 4+3 = 7 and ordered the decipher genetic test to determine aggressiveness.
Duke Cancer Center did none of that. I saw three different doctors at Duke. The first was a urologic oncologist who told me the only thing he could do for me was prescribe testosterone block therapy. I next went to a radiation oncologist who spent about 15 minutes with me wanted to cook my prostate with SBRT. My cancer would have been cured but my quality of life would’ve been wrecked for life. So I asked if focal therapy was possible at Duke and they assigned me to a junior physician who was still an intern just a few years ago, so I said F U very much to Duke and went to Sloan Kettering in NY. Night and day difference. Be willing to travel to get the best treatment. There are actually studies that document the further away one is willing to travel for treatment increases the probability of a better outcome.
Best to you as you work through this.

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@paulg24

Who were the doctors that you saw at Duke? I had a similar experience recently

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