Hifu And Dr. Chinn

Hello,

I  am seriously considering having HIFU with Dr. Chinn (practices in California, HIFU in Germany).

Is there anyone out there who has had a recent HIFU procedure with Dr. Chinn?  Would love to hear about your experiences.

Thanks,

Hal

Hi, Where would the procedure take place? Germany? Where do you live? I had HIFU through Maple Leaf Clininc in Toronto in May of 2006- Very easy experience, highly recommend it to those who just do not want hassle of surgery, radiation, or cryosurgery. Would be happy to give you more details on my HIFU experience if you like. Doug

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your reply.  Dr. Chinn practices in California but takes his patients to Germany for the HIFU procedure.  Has used both Ablatherm & Sonablate.  He currently uses only Ablatherm.  He most always performs a TURP before the HIFU.

 I would like to hear more about your experience - Has the cancer returned?, How long did you deal with incontinence & ED?, Any signs of either incontinence or ED at this point?, Who did the surgery at Maple Leaf?, Did you have the nerve sparing procedure?, How was the recuperation?,  Did you have TURP? 

I would appreciate any info you'd care to share.

Thanks,

Hal

Hi Hal, Interesting that Dr. Chinn ventures to Germany when you can just head to Toronto (maple leaf clinic) for same procedure- I had spoken with Dr. Chinn about cryosurgery- very informed and pleasant physician. Ablatherm- No did not have TURP done- had HIFU last May (06) after being diagnosed in Sept of 05- spent a lot of time weighing options- Goal in life is to stay out of hospitals, particularly operating rooms in hospitals! PSA at time of procedure- 13.7- current reading .01 Had nerve sparing procedure and had sex 3 weeks after procedure. It WORKS!!!!!! Took about 30 days to get normal flow of "peeing" back- don't laugh too hard or cough because you might leak a little. Look, in today's scenario I would only do 2 things with prostate cancer- HIFU or watchful waiting. HIFU for me was great- flew from Seattle on a Monday, had procedure on Tuesday, back to hotel for dinner, checked by doctor Wed morning and back on place Wed afternoon. It is the least invasive of all procedures with same cure rates as surgery, cryo, radiation, etc. though it was an out of pocket expense, quality of life was way more important to me than the $$$$$$$. If you want to call me, I can answer more questions you might have. Not a problem. Shared knowledge is the best knowledge!!!! Doug

Doug,

Thanks so much for your prompt reply.  I found your info very helpful & encouraging.  Yes, I would like to talk to you sometime soon.  I plan to make my decision within the next month.  Which doctor in Toronto did your surgery?  Would you use him again?

Thanks,

Hal

Hal, You want me to call you? I am on West Coast (Seattle) so if you give me a number and time of day that works for you, great. The clinic that uses the Ablatherm Machine is Maple Leaf HIFU- The main Doctor is Dr. Orovan - my physician was Ed Wood- great guy with sense of humor and great bedside manner. These are all urologists so they have great understanding of "our" problem. But really, if you are going to get cancer, this is the one you want- great survival rate, etc. so maybe it is just one of those wake up call blessings! Doug

Doug,

Thanks, again.  I would like to talk to you.  How about next Mon. night?  My schedule isn't predictable this week.  How would between 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. your time work?  I am in Arkansas.  My # is

--Message edited by CancerCompass staff. For personal protection, phone number removed. Consider private reply. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html-- 

 If there is another time that is more convenient for you please let me know.

Thanks,

Hal 

 

On 11/26/2007 halvan wrote:

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your reply.  Dr. Chinn practices in California but takes his patients to Germany for the HIFU procedure.  Has used both Ablatherm & Sonablate.  He currently uses only Ablatherm.  He most always performs a TURP before the HIFU.

 I would like to hear more about your experience - Has the cancer returned?, How long did you deal with incontinence & ED?, Any signs of either incontinence or ED at this point?, Who did the surgery at Maple Leaf?, Did you have the nerve sparing procedure?, How was the recuperation?,  Did you have TURP? 

I would appreciate any info you'd care to share.

Thanks,

Hal

Hal:

Here's a link to a research paper that Dr. Chin authored comparing Ablatherm to Sonablate 500 http://prostate-cancer.org/education/novelthr/Chinn_Transrec It's appears to me from Dr. Chinn that the Sonablate is the superior choice for HIFU.  I looked at Maple Leaf's website and I think you will receive equally excellent results with both Sonablate and Ablatherm.  As expected, Maple Leaf as failed to throughly explian the signifigance in key differences between the Sonablate and Ablatherm, which boosts their technology.  However, after review of Dr. Chinn's comparison, and others I will likely pursue treatment by a physician using Sonablate. Also, features that Maple Leaf point out such as the equipment shuts down if the patient moves is okay.  But forther research show that this is only an infrared unit attached to the patients's hip.  Obviously the bowels can still move without your hip moving, which indicates that close monitoring by the doctor is necessary and more importatnt.  Do your own research from a technical viewpoint and don't necessarily depend on messgae boards.  For all you know I own stock in Sonablate or perhaps others have their own agenda for a specific Doctor or clinic.

Best of luck,

Todd 

 

Todd,

Thanks for your response and the link.  Best of luck to you!

Hal