Charlie Rose Science Series
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03/31/2008
Dr. Patrick Walsh
A conversation with Dr. Patrick Walsh
Keywords:
A conversation with Dr. Patrick Walsh. Dr. Walsh was honored as the 2007 National Physician of the Year for Clinical Excellence by America's Top Doctors® and authored the best-selling book Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
I am fortunate to have had the quality service provided by Dr. patrick Walsh and his skilled team at Johns Hopkins. I was age 45 when diagnosed with an agressive form of prostate cancer. Needless to say, I was scared and did not know what would be ahead. I was lucky to get an appointment with Dr. Walsh and about one month later had my radical retropubic prostatectomy September 1995. Thirteen years later, I have retained the quality of life I had prior to the procedure. Thank you Dr. Walsh and Johns Hopkins for exploring the issues men face. Dr. Walsh's books provided me real answers in a clear way when my wife and I needed them most.
I consider myself to be very blessed to be a patient of Dr. Walsh. Dr. Walsh is truly an icon in this field of care! I have read his book cover to cover and have found it to be a valuable resource not only for me but my family as well. I had my surgery eight months ago and I am cancer free with no major challenges at all. I participate in every study that I can as I want to be a part of the cure process. I will do whatever is required to educate others by encouraging them to get frequent check ups at an early age.
My husband just found out he has prostate cancer - he is 52 - everything we have read is so confusing - we have a urologist, but how do you know for sure they are the right doctor to perform this delicate surgery and preserve the nerves? Can anyone tell me how to find the right doctor to do the procedure? We live in Oklahoma City - Thanks for any input
Within months of arriving in Australia from Ireland I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. In all respects the learning curve was steep, for a stranger in a new country. My GP suggested I write to Dr Walsh, which I did giving him full details, Gleason score etc. Within a week I had a reply. I read his book, and subsequently a number of emails were exchanged. Based on his book, and particularly his communications, I eventually found the right Surgeon,and can say I am cured. Dr Walsh is a very special person to whom my family and I will be eternally gratefull.
I will be going for my Biopsy this thursday at Hopkins to determine what I face ahead. I am seeing a young surgeon who I liked from the moment I met him. He embodies the qualities of Dr. Walsh so far and I beleive because of Dr. Walsh those that are at Hopkins have that quality about them who are selected. I enjoyed this interview very much and it coincided with many things I had read and researhed on line from other sources. My PSA was .077 two years ago with no digital exam problem. This janaury it rose to 4.3 with a hard nodule detected. Since then my PSA has dropped down to 3, but that as Dr. Walsh points out is not a reliable indicator that there is or is not a problem. Something is wrong and that you have to accept beyond hope or ignorance that nothing is wrong. His approach I applaud when he speaks to a patient of what he has discovered. No one wants to know the bad, but if bad can be made good with the skills he and his team exhibit dailey, then the gift he the others possess give you volumes of courage to face this head on. Lastly, Kudos to Dr. Walshs wife. He would not be able to give to his patients what they need emotionally if she did not support him in Kind.
I'm 69, living in Maryland, and have the good fortune to have a very sharp internist who noted a slow rise in my PSA. He had me back again in 6 months for another test, and the PSA was up again....not much, and the number was "only" 3, but enough "velocity" to send me down the hall to Dr. Nicholas Constantinople. In turn, Dr. C palpated a soft mass on one side, had me back for a biopsy, which showed a small amount of "low grade" (Gleason 6) cancer. After considering the options, I elected to have Dr. C do the radical retropubic procedure. What came out had a Gleason of 9....but....was well encapsulated and both nerves were spared. No chemo or radiation needed. Lesson learned, as far as I'm concerned: when it happens, look it in the eye, deal with it ASAP, and be thankful. To appreciate the incredible skill the surgeons must have, see Dr. Walsh's article at http://urology.jhu.edu/surgical_techniques/radical_prostatectomy/
Dr. Walsh did not claim that all of his patients regained 95% of their sexual function after radical prostatectomy. What he stated was that for men UNDER THE AGE OF 60, with NORMAL SEXUAL FUNCTION BEFORE SURGERY, the chances of recovering normal sexual function is 95%. I would add that, as he stated, the experience of the surgeon performing the operation plays an enormous role in the successful outcome of the surgery. Dr. Walsh is the real deal.
95% retention of normal sexual function? I don't buy it.
Excellent, Mr Rose. Thank you. I'm a 9year survivor and thoough I have a few problems,I'm esentially cancer free. My Dad passed away from bone cancer that started in his prostate. Took him 20 years. This is an outstanding interview for some of my friends and in particular my two sons,since there are now two generations of prostate problems. Again thanks. Just watch the potholes, so we can watch you! Semper Fi!
it was uncanny that i watched this interview and three days later heard my brother has prostate cancer. i forwarded this link and the book title to him. he caught it early and feels he'll be ok. it was a great interview and i am forever and deeply grateful for charlie rose. i love to watch his respectful, thoughtful,and thorough style of interviewing and the diverse array of guests . loved ted the other night. being a montanan, living very near the flying D, it was nice to hear of my neighbors activities. best.
On June 25th, 2007, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I had just turned 48. My urologist arranged a consultation at Johns Hopkins with Dr. Walsh. Because of my age, Dr. Walsh recommended a radical prostatectomy and agreed to perform the operation himself. Three weeks after surgery, I had full urinary and sexual function. Today, my PSA is at zero. Dr. Walsh's passion for "fixing things" has saved and improved the quality of life for men with prostate cancer. Thank you, Dr. Walsh. (Read the book!!)
Patrick Walsh covered most of the protocols of attacking prostate cancer. One, I believe he did not mention was Hormonal Therapy; or combination Hormonal Therapy. This is a paliative treatment for advanced prostate cancer; which has metastised, usually in the bones. It cuts off the production of testosterone, the prime feeder of the cancer. Anyone with advanced prostate cancer will be told by the urologist or oncologist of this option.
A 60+ year old woman who recently went through colon cancer surgery saw this interview and encouraged me to watch it the following day. I am 60 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. I thought the information was extremely helpful in trying to decide what to do. I've gotten too many opinions, though from friends, relatives and a young Urologist who studied at Northwestern and N.Y. How do I decide if my doctor in Chicago is truly qualified to perform the "robotic" procedure or if I should stick with the traditional? Will Doctor Walsh respond to me if asked even though he is not my doctor at this point? Thanks for the great interview. - Richard
I had my prostate removal 10 years ago. I wish I, my primary docton and my urogilist knew what Dr. Walsh found out 15 years before. Thank you Dr. Walsh for all us guys.
Dr. Walsh and Charlie had a great discussion. I would like there to be an additional and detailed conversation about the steps after the PSA readings cause concern. Are the readings of biopsies an art or a science? Once it's absolutely certain that the biopsies are positive, what are the choices of treatment?
Can there be a more insightful Q & A than Charlie's 20 minute interview with noted urologist/surgeon Patrick Walsh? As a 55 year old who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, I elected to have a robotic prostatectomy performed by Dr. Ashutosh Tewari at NY Presbyterian Hospital, using the da Vinci surgical system. I elected this procedure over the open radical method because of my age and early-stage diagnosis. While doctors Walsh and Tewari are a generation in age apart and come from entirely separate backgrounds, I am struck not by their differences but by their similarities. Both exude a quiet, eye-grabbing confidence that comes from knowing they are among the best at what they do�not unlike the NFL quarterback who knows just what it takes to move the offense 80 yards down field in the game's final minute for the winning touchdown. Thank you, Charlie, for bringing prostate cancer into clearer focus through the timely viewpoints of Dr. Walsh.
This interview was well conducted, informative and optimistic. My husband, at the age of 55, was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Thankfully, Dr. Walsh operated on him over a year ago and he is doing great! Dr. Walsh is not only a skilled and gifted surgeon, but a truly amazing human being. We will be forever grateful to him.
Great show. Thank's for letting us meet such a special person. Lar and Bruny Graves
Recently diagnosed, I (62 y/o) was calmed by his reassurance that this is not a death sentence AND that I have time(unlike a heart attack)to educate myself re: course of treatment. Charlie, ever the great interviewer, asked all the right questions - Thanks.
Being female, I almost did not listen. Would that have been a mistake! Charlie's guest was intelligent....brilliant really! Add interesting and informative; combine this with innate curiosity & a prodigious, wondrous joy of problem solving & there we have Dr. Patrick Walsh. I am sending information out to everyone I know who may be a male or know or be related to a male over 40. A life may be saved. Thanks once again, Charlie. Dorian.
Charlie Rose is the absolute best interviewer on TV. This is not to take anything away from others. Charlie seems incredibly informed or well briefed, maybe a bit of both, and he makes his guest feel at ease while getting them to answer questions they might not otherwise answer. I particularly appreciated Charlie's interview with Dr. Patrick Walsh. Being a male in his 60s, I learned important information and thank both Dr. Walsh and Mr. Rose for this public service.
The conversation with Dr. Walsh was informative. I feel his thoughts on surgical talent is a little controverseal but for the most part correct. The disscusion about PSA testing was informative and put into prospective how much is still hotly contested about prostate cancer testing. I would have liked to hear more of Dr. Walsh's feelings on the Davinci robot and its posotive and negitive affects in prostectomy surgery. Thanks Charlie for another informative interview, with an important person in are world.
What a coincidence to see this episode tonight after just having had a conversation with my stepson, a first year medical student with an engineering undergraduate degree, who just expressed his first interest in a particular field of medicine- surgery. I cannot think of a more perfect role model for him at this point in his education than this fine surgeon, scientist, and teacher. I will certainly be advising him to learn all he can about Dr. Walsh. Thank you Charlie!
To see how I dealt with prostate google "prostate song with Matt Schatz" and hear the tune he and I performed at the Ensemble Studio Theater in February. It was the best therapy and I am now --post surgically cancer-free.
Your conversation with Dr. Patrick Walsh was absolutely superb! I'm usually a little queasy listening to medical talk but I hung onto every word. It was a fascinating and extremely informative interview. Thank you.
One of our favorite books is by Dr Walsh. Combined with his Guide to Prostate Cancer and our Malecare prostate cancer support group malecare.org and our online support group at cancermatch.org, Sidney and I were able to talk and discuss his treatment, deal with our fears and now, deal with the sexual side effects that we hope were a reasonable price to pay for a longer life together.