Dan M., Humble, TX

"They became more than just professionals doing their job; they became concerned friends who wanted to help me make the right decision for me. In our humble opinion they are the best. Dr. Slawin and his team create an environment of personal care seldom heard of in the medical field."

My journey began in July of 07’ with my yearly physical. My personal physician was concerned with my PSA number, which was in range (3.6) on a 0-4 scale. The doctor was concerned my PSA was a little high for my age 51. After consulting my family urologist and 2 rounds of biopsies over the next six months, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January of 08’.
I was given all the options by my urologist, all of which, at the time, were not options in my mind. I entered a study program at a local cancer center called “Active Surveillance”. This program consisted of biannual PSA tests and DRE exams along with a yearly biopsy. Basically tracking the disease.

During this time I educated myself on the disease, research, treatments, cures and potential cures. I eventually withdrew from the study.

In March of 2010 I knew I needed to have a biopsy done to evaluate my prostate. I wanted to find a Urologist that specialized in prostate cancer that I felt I could trust my life with. My family urologist referred me to the Vanguard Urologic Institute, specifically Dr. Kevin Slawin.

Upon meeting Dr. Slawin and his family of professionals, John Dodge PA-C, Pat Meyers, RN, Edna Escamilla, and Sarah Johnson, I knew I had found friends who were not only experienced in the field of prostate cancer but also understood the anxiety and fears I had over the potential outcomes if or as the disease progressed.

Dr. Slawin prescribed six months of medication to reduce the size of the prostate to help increase the accuracy of the biopsy. At the end of six months the biopsy showed the disease had grown in additional areas of the prostate, was of significant volume and graded out at a Gleason seven. Not the news I was hoping for. My wife and I had a consultation with Dr. Slawin and Pat Meyers (Dr. Slawin’s head nurse). Dr.Slawin expressed his serious concern that this was turning into Russian roulette if left unaddressed. His two suggestions were robotic surgery or radiation.

It’s hard to put into words the things that rushed through my mind, but the gentle and kind demeanor of both Dr. Slawin and Pat Meyers calmed the fears and the uncertainty of my future. They became more than just professionals doing their job, they became concerned friends who wanted to help me make the right decision for me. I looked at him and said “if you remove the prostate the cancer is potentially gone and if we us radiation it could return.” He told me the greatest potential for a complete cure is with removal of the prostate. And so my decision was for robotic surgery.

In October, along with John Dodge, Dr. Slawin removed my prostate at Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center. The surgery was text book. I was on my feet walking within six hours of surgery and eating dinner. An overnight stay for observation, a good breakfast and I was on my way home by noon the next day.

I returned to work within twelve days and other than the irritation of the catheter, which was removed seven days later, I had minimal pain or discomfort. My continence has taken about six months to return to normal and I have no problems urinating. My sexual functions returned to normal within a week of surgery.

Words cannot express the appreciation my wife and I have for Vanguard Urologic Institute. In our humble opinion they are the best. Dr. Slawin and his team create an environment of personal care seldom heard of in the medical field. They are head and shoulders above the rest. Thank you to everyone at Vanguard, from the receptionist who greets us each time with a smile to the handshake and smile Dr Slawin gives us every time on our follow up visits.