Rick Casey, 63, Wheeling, WV Date of Surgery: 04/17/2007
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My name is Rick Casey and I am 63 years old. In March of 2007 I was diagnosed with prostate
cancer. As it would be for anyone, this was devastating news for my wife and for me. We had been
looking forward to our retirement years and planning our adventures in our motor home. This
news certainly caught us by surprise and changed our priorities.
My urologist provided us with the information regarding the many treatment options and gave us
a month to decide which one was best for us. He offered his opinion regarding the treatment
option of choice which was radical surgery to remove the gland using the minimally invasive
robotic procedure. He provided the names of several physicians who were qualified to use this
technology. Dr. Patel was at the top of that list.
After doing our homework, we decided to go with Dr. Patel. During our preliminary visit, Dr. Patel
challenged me to lose 40 pounds in 3 months, which I’m proud to say, I did.
After our arrival in Florida our first stop was at the hospital. We have never seen such a beautiful
facility. It resembles a wonderful resort hotel. We arrived early on the morning of the surgery and
were greeted by Dr. Patel’s concierge in the lobby of the hospital. Soon we were in the surgery
preparation area getting ready for the big event. Then, I was on my way to the operating room.
The procedure only took less than a couple of hours and I was in my room before noon. Dr. Patel
stopped by to see how we were doing and to inform us that all had gone well. After a few hours I
was up walking around and feeling remarkably well. The care I received for the remainder of the
day and night was outstanding. The nurses were very attentive and informative. I felt like I was the
only patient in the hospital.
The following morning, we walked out of the hospital and went to our hotel room where we stayed
for the next five days to recuperate. We then returned to the hospital for a Cystogram and
removal of the catheter. After this procedure, we went to Dr. Patel’s office to review the pathology
report and to receive instructions for the subsequent PSA testing to be done every 3 months for
the first year and longer intervals thereafter.
Two days later we were in the car traveling back to West Virginia. As we were driving home, we
reflected back on the past week and could not believe that things had gone so well, given the
seriousness of this operation. I literally had no pain and felt very good.
It has now been three weeks and I continue to do very well. I know this is hard to believe, but the
entire experience was wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, there were a couple of days after the
surgery that were not so pleasant with soreness associated with the wounds and getting used to
the catheter, but overall, our expectations were far exceeded.
If you are reading this and still have doubts about how you want to move forward with your
treatment, let me tell you that Dr. Patel and his team, coupled with this wonderful hospital, in my
opinion, is the very best option you have. I have several friends and acquaintances who have
chosen other treatment options in other places and none have done as well as I have. I feel
blessed to have been referred to the best, most qualified doctor on this planet to have this life-
saving procedure made available to me.
We will be forever grateful to Dr. Patel and his team and consider ourselves to be fortunate to
have been under his care. We are now back on our original path planning for our motor home
adventures around this great country. I am certainly always available to provide any reflections of
our experience with anyone who might find this helpful. Again, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to
Dr. Patel and his team and the wonderful hospital in Celebration Florida.
cancer. As it would be for anyone, this was devastating news for my wife and for me. We had been
looking forward to our retirement years and planning our adventures in our motor home. This
news certainly caught us by surprise and changed our priorities.
My urologist provided us with the information regarding the many treatment options and gave us
a month to decide which one was best for us. He offered his opinion regarding the treatment
option of choice which was radical surgery to remove the gland using the minimally invasive
robotic procedure. He provided the names of several physicians who were qualified to use this
technology. Dr. Patel was at the top of that list.
After doing our homework, we decided to go with Dr. Patel. During our preliminary visit, Dr. Patel
challenged me to lose 40 pounds in 3 months, which I’m proud to say, I did.
After our arrival in Florida our first stop was at the hospital. We have never seen such a beautiful
facility. It resembles a wonderful resort hotel. We arrived early on the morning of the surgery and
were greeted by Dr. Patel’s concierge in the lobby of the hospital. Soon we were in the surgery
preparation area getting ready for the big event. Then, I was on my way to the operating room.
The procedure only took less than a couple of hours and I was in my room before noon. Dr. Patel
stopped by to see how we were doing and to inform us that all had gone well. After a few hours I
was up walking around and feeling remarkably well. The care I received for the remainder of the
day and night was outstanding. The nurses were very attentive and informative. I felt like I was the
only patient in the hospital.
The following morning, we walked out of the hospital and went to our hotel room where we stayed
for the next five days to recuperate. We then returned to the hospital for a Cystogram and
removal of the catheter. After this procedure, we went to Dr. Patel’s office to review the pathology
report and to receive instructions for the subsequent PSA testing to be done every 3 months for
the first year and longer intervals thereafter.
Two days later we were in the car traveling back to West Virginia. As we were driving home, we
reflected back on the past week and could not believe that things had gone so well, given the
seriousness of this operation. I literally had no pain and felt very good.
It has now been three weeks and I continue to do very well. I know this is hard to believe, but the
entire experience was wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, there were a couple of days after the
surgery that were not so pleasant with soreness associated with the wounds and getting used to
the catheter, but overall, our expectations were far exceeded.
If you are reading this and still have doubts about how you want to move forward with your
treatment, let me tell you that Dr. Patel and his team, coupled with this wonderful hospital, in my
opinion, is the very best option you have. I have several friends and acquaintances who have
chosen other treatment options in other places and none have done as well as I have. I feel
blessed to have been referred to the best, most qualified doctor on this planet to have this life-
saving procedure made available to me.
We will be forever grateful to Dr. Patel and his team and consider ourselves to be fortunate to
have been under his care. We are now back on our original path planning for our motor home
adventures around this great country. I am certainly always available to provide any reflections of
our experience with anyone who might find this helpful. Again, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to
Dr. Patel and his team and the wonderful hospital in Celebration Florida.
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