This is the surgeon who performed my 3rd surgery.  I was sent to him by my primary ENT because he knew this would be a difficult surgery.  When I met with my primary ENT doctor, I brought a list of a few of the doctors below and asked him which one he would go to.  I had picked out doctors from Mayo and John's Hopkins.  He said "I would go to Dr. Terry Day at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston because in difficult cases like yours, he believes in 'nerve preservation', and is less likely to sacrifice the facial nerve if the tumor is involved with it".

In my opinion Dr. Day is a fantastic surgeon.  Easy going, great bedside manor, and clearly very skilled.  I think he lives in the operating room.  My surgery was 6 hrs long, and the next day he performed a 12 hour surgery on someone else.  He heads the department at MUSC and is clearly a leader in the field.  He is putting together sponsors to build a world Head and Neck center.  He is currently working in the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC.  During my first visit his staff informed me, "you're very fortunate to be seeing Dr. Day, he works on difficult cases".  My meetings with Dr. Day were low pressure and I felt like I was truly participating in the process.  We reviewed MRI scans on his computer just hours after the MRI's were performed.  He consulted his tumor board, and I was in the loop.  I feel very comfortable recommending him and his staff.  I've seen a lot of surgeons during my 18 year history with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma. Unlike some of them, he wasn't "full of himself".  He thinks things through, listens to the patient's concerns, isn't afraid to change his mind in light of new data or information, and was persistent when he needed to be.

If you're reading this, thanks doc.

Dwight

Link to Dr. Terry Day's Information

Charlotte, NC

Dr. Kamerer

February, 2009

Thank you everyone for the support shown over the last weeks. My surgery was done on Thursday in Charlotte, NC. This website, I feel has saved my life. First- it informed me on what I had and what I had to go through. I had never even heard of a Parotid Tumor in January of this year. It gave me the right questions to ask my GP and my ENT. It even made me have second thoughts about my old ENT. When I asked this site about other ENT's in the area, an Angel named Elaine stepped forward and gave me the name of Dr. Kamerer. Though he was 3 hours from my home, the information she gave me on the good Doctor immediately eased my mind-(in a previous memo I stated my old ENT had done 40 parotidectomies,  Dr Kamerer had done over a thousand.

GOD BLESS YOU ELAINE- I simply cannot thank you enough. This site prepared me for what I was to go thru during my stay and what to do and eat when going home. I arrived home after a 2 day stay in the hospital. I had a suction drain that was used to reduce swelling and prevent blood buildup. I didn't feel a thing when it was removed. Dr Kamerer even put a drain in my fat incision site- fat was taken from my belly to fill in "dent" caused by removal of large tumor. Imagine getting ready for surgery- I am a worry wart anyway, and your attending nurse tells you your Dr. is "an Artist"- the next nurse says he "is one of the best in the southeast"- "His father was one of the best ENT's in the Southeast as well". Then your anesthesiologist walks in and say's "see this"- I told her "No" she said "I Know", "Dr Kamerer performed a parotidectomy on me two years ago". The surgery went great- you can tell Dr Kamerer truly is an artist- I can look at the stitching- how he carefully placed each stitch- he truly is an artist. I have no trauma to the face- only numbness over a palm sized area of my ear that has been diminishing over time. I will find out this Friday the results of the biopsy.

If anyone lives in an area close to Charlotte, NC and is looking for someone to take care of you. I would be proud to recommend Dr. Don Kamerer.

Again- THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, for your support, your prayers, your guidance. Elaine- I don't know you, but I love your for what you did for me.
 

May God bless you all,
YiC Steve

The following letters are from 2002

Alabama

Im from Mobile, AL. I took my 16 year old son to DR Carol at UAB in Birmingham for a 4th opinion. You can find him on UAB's web site. We have BC of AL(PMD) it will cover the surgery 100%. Money isn't the issue when it comes to your health, however remember-- there is life after this thing. My son had his 1st surgery about two years ago by a DR in Mobile that really was not prepaired for what he found when he went in to get what he thought was a cyst from Acne. He only got part of the tumor. Dr Carol is watching what we think is the 2nd return of the tumor. I know we are going to let DR Carol do the 2nd surgery this summer. I have total confidence in him. It was well worth the 4 hour drive to Birmingham. DR Carol does mapping, cosmetic surgery (the works) he also does around 600 of this type surgery a year..If you want addition info on him just email me and I will get back with you when I get home tonight. (Im at work):}

F Middleton

Australia (This from a reader)

Hi Dwight,

the surgeon who performed my operation is Dr Ian Cole and is one of, if not the best ENT surgeons in this country (Australia). Well he definitely is the best in my opinion. His email address is:

enthncole@ozemail.com.au

regards,

andrew

ISRAEL

A good ENT in Israel to go to is prof.a Goltz in Ramba"m hospital in Haifa.  In the Tel Aviv area it is prof Feinmesser. an exellent ENT sergeon (and the best in Israel) and expert on neck tumors.
both are experienced kind and what we call " a Mentch"

Thanks again

EITAN

San Diego, CA

Mr. Shelato:

Thank you for your interest. I direct the head and neck oncology program at UCSD, and perform many parotidectomies each year. I also made the instructional video on how to perform perotidectomy for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This video is used by residency  programs and by practitioners throughout the U.S. and outside the U.S. as
well. I have been in practice for 23 years. I will visit your web site, and would be happy to be listed as someone who is an experienced parotidectomy surgeon.

Sincerely yours,

Robert A. Weisman, MD

Dr. Weisman's web site is at:

http://www-surgery.ucsd.edu/ent/physicians/weisman.html

---

San Diego, CA

It is a difficult operation but we do it well at UCSD. I have forwarded you email to Drs Orloff and Weisman, the two surgeons I think do this extremely well. I still do parotid surgery so am also happy to help.

Dr. Davidson

These doctors can be found at:

http://www-surgery.ucsd.edu/ent/

---

Stanford Hospital, CA

 

From a reader named Pamela,

Just had my surgery this Tuesday Morning Feb 19 at Stanford Hospital in California. My surgeon was Dr. Goode. He is the chief of surgery at the department.

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=333

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UCLA Medical Center, Westwood - CA

A Note From a Special Lady,

Dr. Elliot Abemayer, Vice Chief of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, performed the surgery. The tumor was very large and very deep. It completely encapsulated the nerve which was splayed inside. He peeled the tumor away ... with clean margins. Because of my age and my other medical problems, especially asthma (I never do well with anesthesia), they kept me at UCLA for four days.

I've been around the world and have met some of the most famous and outstanding physicians of our time. And I've found that the old adage we use in show business is true in this field as well .. the bigger they are, the nicer they are.

Nowadays, it is hard to find the human touch in medicine, no matter where you live. Doctors are always whispering in your ear that the famous Dr. Such-and-such is fabulous in the operating theatre or in the lab ... but just doesn't connect emotionally with the patient. The first time I met Dr. Abemayor, my instinct told me I had found the right guy. He is direct, precise, doesn't pussyfoot around, answers every question
immediately and fully. He understands and validates that our fear is real. He is kind and unhurried and they don't make tumors big enough or tough enough to scare him. The patient makes the decision; he gives you all the respect in the world.

The greatest doctors are those who practice their medicine as both a science and an art. Here is one of the greats.

He appears at the foot of your bed as the doctors and nurses are preparing you for surgery and anesthesia, His team knows that anyone who puts one of Doctor Abemayor's patients to sleep before he makes his appearance to wish his patient a good rest "doesn't work there the next day". In other words, he cares. Deeply. About his work and about the human being lying there before him.

Yes, I have some facial paresis but my tumor was very unusual and very deep. The nerve is asleep. But Dr. Abemayor expects me to make a full recovery. It is going to take some time in my case ... because of my age. A younger person would go along faster.

When I was a big-shot press agent on Broadway and in Hollywood, I gravitated to the biggest and best! Excellence has always inspired me. There are some who rise above the pack and here, my darlings, is the best of the best. Love you all and I'll post a more detailed summary of my surgery, the result and prognosis.

 Always ... Vivian
 

---

Pittsburgh, PA

Dear Mr. Shelato,

Thank you for contacting the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Clare Collins from our news bureau forwarded your inquiry to me. Dr. Shin is a medical oncologist who does specialize in head and neck cancer, as you stated. However, for a head and neck surgical procedure, such as the parotidectomy that you mentioned, we would refer patients to the Eye and Ear Institute, Department of Head and Neck Surgery. You can view their website at http://www.upmc.edu/eyeear/.
Several doctors there perform this surgery. Their phone number is 412-647-2100. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact me if you
have additional questions.
Carolyn Nunnally RN, MN

Program Director
UPCI Cancer Information And Referral Service
Phone 412-624-8148
Fax 412-624-1936

http://www.upmc.edu/eyeear

 

 

Dr. Jonas Johnson - Pittsburgh Eye & Ear

From a reader named Rich,

I also can not say enough about my surgeon, Dr. Jonas Johnson - Pittsburgh Eye & Ear. I now truely believe the key to a successful surgery of the parotid gland is an experienced and skilled surgeon. Be sure to do your research on the surgeon.

 

Dr. Myers - Best In Country? - Pittsburgh

 

I had a cat scan last monday, and my doctor sent me to an ENT doctor and said the scan showed a tumor or mass in my parotid gland. I am 57 (will be 58 on May 21) and I live in Hartselle, AL. My ENT doctor suggest that since my tumor or mass seems to be very deep that I need to see one of the best doctors in the nation. He suggested a Dr. Myers in Pittsburg. Do any of you know of this doctor? He told me the odds of it being cancer and said just pray. I am waiting to hear where I will be going for surgery. I am a post polio person with lots of problems and things normally do not go well with me. Even simple procedures seem to back fire. Another surgeon here in Alabama thinks Pittsburg is too far, and he is researching a closer surgeon and hospital. He mentioned Vanderbuilt in Nashville. I have heard bad things about this hospital (associated with staff infections) do not know anything but what I have heard. Well anyway, here I sit waiting not really even knowing what is going on deep inside my neck. I certainly have a fear of cancer like I am sure all of you had or have. Have any of you heard of a good surgeon down south and also have any of you had your surgery close to Alabama that you could recommend your surgeon. Please reply.

Thanks Myra

HELLO MYRA
Welcome to the tumor club. I had Dr. Myers for my surgery after seeking the BEST DR. Four other ENT"S told me to go to him. He did my surgery on March 19th and truly is the best and really experienced. He does this surgery about 600 a year.He does the surgery at Monefore Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. I would travel across the nation for this dr. I had no face or eye problems as he is the best to save the facial nerve. I did have cancer and am now going thru radiation. Any questions feel free to email me. Keep us posted.

Maureen

 

 

 

---

Boston, Mass

Dear Mr. Shelato,

Thank you for contacting me. I would be happy to assist you with your webpage. I completed my residency in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and a fellowship in advanced facial plastic and reconstructive surgery including microvascular surgery at Harvard University.

At both institutions I had great exposure to surgery of the facial nerve and salivary glands. Additionally, much of my research experience has
focused on salivary glands and a recent project on submandibular gland transplantation won the 2000 Sir Harold Delf Gillies research award from
the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

My practice currently focuses on advanced head and neck tumors and cancer (including salivary gland disease) and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

I would be happy to answer any additional questions for you.

Best wishes,

Jeff Spiegel

http://msweb.med.umich.edu/mcado/search/dr1.asp?RI=478

 

From a reader named Lin,

My ENT, Dr. Charles Norris of Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Boston, told me he would never sacrifice facial nerves if tumor is benign, he said he would use radiotherapy to kill the remaining cells after surgery in the scenario you described. He is an assistant professor at Harvard medical school, his approach to such cases perhaps represents that of many other surgeons who give/receive similar trainings.
I suggest that you send emails to as many good surgeons as you can identify ASAP, many doctors would kindly respond, that way you can gather a lot of opinions in the most cost efficient way.

I send you my best wishes,
--Lin

 

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Houston, TX

At Methodist hospital we have two head and neck specialists who are excellent at this procedure. Dr. Robert B Parke and Dr. Donald T Donovan both would be great recommendations to any patient who needed a parotidectomy. Their phone number is 713 798 5900.

Thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Erik Weitzel MD

 

http://www.methodisthealth.com/Oto/physicians/parke.r.htm

---

Jackson, Mississippi

I primarily do sinus work, but my partner C. Ron Cannon, M.D. does more benign and malignant tumor work than anyone in Mississippi He is on The Academy of Otolaryngology's Board of Directors and was theChairman of the Board of Governers last year.

C. Ron Cannon, M.D.
1038 River Oaks Drive
Jackson  MS  39232

This is the closest I could come to a link on Dr. Cannon

http://www.mc.edu/campus/users/taylor/newslet.htm

---

Maryland , Johns Hopkins

In Baltimore, appropriate Surgeons include myself, Charles Cummings, Ralph Tufano, and Joseph Califano at Hopkins, John Saunders, John Price and Dario Kunar at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and William Gray or Bert O'Malley at University of Maryland. Our American Head and Neck Society web site includes a physician locating capability that will identify members in other cities.

Wayne Koch

Cummings @ Johns Hopkins

Received this comment from a reader named Diana

I highly recommend Dr. Califano at Johns Hopkins hospital. I can clearly see why Johns Hopkins was ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report. From the receptionist who greets you, to the nurses, and doctors....they all act like you are their only patient and they have all the time in the world for you...I never felt that they had other patients to hurry to.....Every thing that was done to me was explained in full as it was being done. The nurse who put in my I.V. even explained what all the numbers meant that she wrote on the tape that held it in place and to top it off she drew a guardian angel on the tape to watch over me. Great hospital experience.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/who/bios/cummings.html

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/who/bios/tufano.html

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/who/bios/califano.html 

---

University of VA

 

I adore my surgeon, so I'm recommending him to anyone who may be in Virginia.

Dr. James Reibel, University of Virginia.

Yep a doctor with a decent bedside manner imagine that!

Dana

---

Indianapolis, IN

Interesting and informative website. It is unfortunate that you suffered a recurrence of this benign tumor especially with the recurrence being on the facial nerve. Radiation would be a strong consideration. Every Wednesday afternoon we have the Clarian Health Head and Neck Tumor clinic that is staffed by one of the largest head and neck surgical specialty group in the country along with medical and surgical oncologists, prosthedontists, speech therapists and counsellors. By calling our number we usually can get almost everyone in for an evaluation within one week. 317-926-1056.

Stephen B. Freeman, MD

http://www.headandnecksurg.net/sbf.htm

 

---

Nebraska

Dear Mr. Shelato,
I reviewed your website with interest. I think it is always helpful to hear
a prospective from the other side of the mask. As you may know, we have
written a book called Cancers of the Mouth and Throat which attempts to
present data on issues of head and neck tumors, especially cancer, for
patients and their families. We do deal with parotid tumors although that
is not the focus of the book. The book is available from Barnes and Nobles
or Amazon.

I am a fellowship trained head and neck surgeon and perform parotid surgery
routinely, typically about 12-18 per year. I tend to use a facial nerve
monitor although I don't feel it is always necessary. I am in a practice
with my brother, also a fellowship trained head and neck surgeon, and a
general surgeon with extensive experience in head and neck surgery. We
practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska
Methodist Hospital, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Thank you for your interest and best wishes in your recovery.

Sincerely,
Bill Lydiatt
 

http://www.unmc.edu/plasticsurgery/pages/headand.html

---

New York

From A Reader Named Lori,

My daughter (age 14) had a total parotidectomy at Yale, New Haven. She had 2 branches of her facial nerves involved with the tumor, and the doctor was able to remove the tumor without damaging the nerves! Her doctor was Clarence Sasaki of the Yale Medical Group. He is the head of the Otolarynology Dept. He is listed in a Castle Connolly publication "Americas Top Doctors" (2001). He has also been listed in New York Magazine (June 5, 2000) "The Best Doctors in New York". I think he did a great job.

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=246

 

From a reader named Connie,

My search brought me to a wonderful surgeon at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Dr. Eric Genden. Their otolaryngology department is one of the top in the country. I had a consultation with Dr. Genden at the end of November and my surgery was scheduled for January (15th originally, but then changed to th 30th.) I was 100% confident in his abilities and felt much better about having this procedure done. He is also a certified plastic surgeon, which also eased my mind re: the amount of scarring that would be left. He had a 0% rate of damage to the facial nerve during this procedure and performs 4-12 a month. Anyone looking for a surgeon in this area...I HIGHLY recommend Dr. Genden!

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=235

 

From a reader named Audra,

I have this done 12/5/01. I went to Dr. Tom Facalle in Suffern NY. His phone number is 845-357-8800. He is an excellent doctor, he is also in the New Yorker as top doctors in NY. He has done many of these procedures.

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=322

 

From a reader named Alice:

I just had surgery with Dr. Shah at Memorial Sloan Kettering on June 3rd. He is a fantastic, brilliant doctor, with lots of experience. He is a world-renowned surgeon. He is not the easiest person to talk to, because he speaks quickly and is extremely sure of himself. But I think he is an amazingly skilled doctor and that is what you really need.

I had a second recurrence of a tumor after 40 years. Before I saw Dr. Shah I saw two top doctors in Philadelphia. One doctor advised not to operate because the MRI showed the tumor to be on the facial nerve. He thought the tumor was so slow-growing and he was sure I would end up with permanent facial paralysis if he operated. Another doctor said I would definitely need a nerve graft. When I went to Dr. Shah, he said my tumor was not slow-growing, it had been dormant for many years and had now started growing and had to be removed, and other things which made me feel he had much more knowledge than the other doctors I had spoken to. When Dr. Shah actually did the surgery it turned out he was able to remove the tumor without destroying the nerve, so I was extremely lucky. I think he is a brilliant surgeon. I have spoken to several head and neck surgeons who say that Dr. Shah travels around the world to conferences to teach about how to do this kind of surgery. I would trust him to do the most difficult surgery.

It is probably smart to get other opinions, if only to get more educated in asking questions. I find it hard to ask enough questions because it is all so overwhelming. I know Dr. Shah told me that if I have a third recurrence or if I had more than one tumor, he would recommend radiation. He believes that radiation is the way to treat these tumors. He also believes that nerve grafts do work, and that you will not be paralyzed for life. The gold weight in your eyelid I believe is a temporary measure until the eye blinks on its own. I would trust what he tells you.

Please feel free to e-mail me; I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have about Dr. Shah.

Link to Alice's Message

 

From Alexi  (Nov. 2003)

The one I choose was Dr. Dennis Kraus, senior ENT at the world famous Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in NY. There are certain people that are created with an inherent talent, maybe for music or math…Dr. Kraus is such in fine technical surgery. He informed me that he had performed close to a thousand of these and had NEVER cut the nerve (unless by design, as in a malignancy).

It was a large tumor, almost golf ball size and the facial nerve ran along it. Dr. Kraus finished the surgery in two hours, from knock out to regaining consciousness. He had to run the entire nerve yet cut none of it, the full nerve is intact and thus is expected to regain 100% use. He actually saved me 1 inch of cutting and it’s relative scar since he decided that he could safely start the incision from the lower lobe rather than the classic top part of the ear.

I also had a Board Certified plastic surgeon do the close and the stitching was so incredibly small that the Dr. that took out the stitches could not see them without a magnifying glass! Dr. Kraus was amazing; saved the nerve, saved most of the gland thus “no dent” is expected and left the smallest possible scar. Sure I have the wood ear etc, but I was able to close both eyes fully 5 minutes after awaking from surgery and now I am working on whistling, mostly from happiness. Stitches came out yesterday, six days after surgery and the final pathology came back BENIGN! I strongly recommend Dr. Kraus and Sloan Kettering for anyone on the East Coast, you will know what I mean when you meet him…you cannot do better and you deserve the best! Here is the Sloan Kettering web page for Dr. Kraus. http://www.mskcc.org/prg/mrg/bios/29.cfm.

 

 

---

St. Louis, MO

From a reader named Paul,

I had one removed three years ago on the right side. To date I do not have any feeling in my ear lobe (no big deal) It took the doctor 4 1/2 hours.
I was eating a pizza two hours later. I now have one on my left side. I going to call him to slice and dice this one out also. If any one need a great cutter in the St. Louis Mo. area drop me a line.ps they can a a face lift while you wait.

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=244

 

From a reader named Melissa,

Could you add my surgeon to the ‘list of surgeons’ on your website?  He was absolutely fabulous and has done a LOT of these surgeries with great success.   

St. Louis
Dr. Norman S. Druck, M.D., F.A.C.S.
ENT Associates, Inc.

(314)523-5310

http://www.ent-stl.com/

 

 

Cleveland, OH

 

From a reader named Nancy,

If you can take a 2 hour drive, I know a great surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Marshall Strome. He did my surgery.
 

http://www.patientsforum.com/cgi-bin/webbbs_config.pl?read=304