Shahram Shawn Gholami, M.D.
2581 Samaritan Dr., Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95124
2581 Samaritan Dr., Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95124
408-358-2030 Office
408-358-2036 Fax
408-358-2036 Fax
I have a family history of cancer, but was not even thinking of cancer when I was diagnosed at my age 50 physical. My father was diagnosed with PC at age 65.
I had no symptoms or PSA elevation since my last physical at age 45 to signal that I had PC in 20% of my prostate. I eat well and exercise diligently. My internist Dr. Yamouti, discovered a nodule on my prostate on Dec 5, 2009. The urologist found the same nodule, scheduled a biopsy and the results showed PC stage 2a with a Gleason of 3+3. The left side results were 6 of 6 cores with cancer. It was scary to realize that if my internist had not paid attention and found my PC at this physical, my next physical and chance of discovery would have been 5 years later!
At my young age, and from our extensive research, long term survival was best if I followed a surgical path. I met with 4 urologists/surgeons over an 8-week period. I met Dr. Gholami and found him to be the most experienced with the Da Vinci "miracle" machine. He told me and my wife that we should not rush into anything, answered a long list of questions, and referred several patients for further info. He also insisted waiting for the prostate to calm down after the biopsy before any surgery - very important for nerve sparing success. Something other doctors failed to mention.
The first 2 weeks after my March 31 surgery were difficult, but I was walking laps in our back yard the day after surgery. I extended my walks further each day. Once the catheter was removed, I started to exercise on my stationary bike and returned to work. I ran a 10K at week 7 post surgery. Plumbing was back to normal quickly. My pre-op energy level returned about 7 months post surgery. Lucky for us all, we have this technology and medical talent in our country.
Advice for those considering Dr. Gholami and surgery:
If you have a family history and ignored it, tell your friends to learn their own family history. You could save their life with that simple advice.
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In October of 2009 (following a progression of higher PSA tests), my doctor referred me to Dr. Gholami.
Starting with the first visit, I was impressed by Dr. Gholami's direct and confident demeanor. It was clear that he knew what he was talking about. He explained the fact that, in the past, there was a tendency to watch the PSA until things reached a critical point before taking action. We could wait and watch, but the PSA would likely continue to rise with the possibility of real trouble ahead. He went on to say that I should not worry and that we should take things one step at a time (this was a consistent theme throughout the process).
The next step, he said, was to have me undergo a biopsy and then we would take the next steps. The biopsy took about 30 minutes and then we waited for the results.
About two weeks later, the results were in and indicated that I had stage 1 prostate cancer. Again, Dr. Gholami emphasized that I should not worry and following a discussion surrounding treatment options we decided on removal surgery. He said that if I were his brother he would recommend the same approach. There were the possibilities of side effects, but the odds were low and we decided to move forward with the incredibly advanced DiVinci surgery. I was fortunate to have a very good friend who had undergone surgery with no issues and he encouraged me to do the same.
As the Holiday season was just ahead I decided to wait until after, and underwent the surgery in late January 2010. I spent one night in the hospital and then I was released to recover at home with a pain medication, which (as Dr. Gholami predicted) I did NOT need. Bladder control was not a big issue with only a handful of very small incidents when sneezing or coughing. A catheter that had been inserted was removed after two weeks. After 5 months, I was able to have sex just as I had before surgery.
And today, after 7 months I feel better than ever. The above, represents the facts of my journey to date. The back story is that this was much more of an emotional than a physical ride for me and my wife. Note: My wife was very supportive and encouraging.
Dr. Gholami was very patient with my occasional hand wringing and answered all my questions. Prostate Cancer is scary and the treatment is not pleasant. But, as Dr. Gholami stated, the minutes of pain and the inconvenience of having a catheter are significantly outweighed by the fact that the cancer is removed. Wanting to get better is half the battle. Not worrying, taking one step at a time and trusting your Doctor is the advice I would give anyone diagnosed with any form of cancer or illness. Don't worry, take one step at a time and trust those around you.
In the summer of 2009 I learned that I had moderately aggressive prostate cancer. At that point the only thing I was sure of was that I wanted the cancer OUT. I had never had a major surgery and now was diagnosed with cancer. I was, to put it mildly, scared stiff. I have repeated the sequence of events in my mind so many times it is almost second handÉ 7:00 am Wednesday went to operating room.. 24 hours later I was walking in the hall and I went home. By Monday I was feeling pretty good. Less than one week after surgery I was working from home and moving around comfortably. About three weeks after surgery I was at work and noticed that my ŅpeeÓ pads had been dry for a several days. I stopped using them after that. I never had a problem with continence overnight.
IÕm sending you my story to share with your patients in hopes it will help someone overcome the fear that takes over after you find out you have cancer and that you need surgery. One year after surgery my PSA is less than 0.01 and I am 100% continent. Oh there are times when I pass gas or cough very hard that I dribble a little Š to be clear a few drops. The one thing that has amazed me the most is how my live is literally the same today as it was before the procedure.
No one could believe I was only off work one week, worked from home one week and then returned to my 10 hour days at work.
You deserve a big congratulations for getting all of the affected area out and for cleaning up behind yourself so my life continued as if nothing had been done.
I would recommend you and your robotic assistant Da Vinci to anyone requiring prostate surgery.
Thank you very much.
Tom Bennett
I have to confess that even with my family history, I did not get my PSA checked on a regular basis and I did not start when I was 40 years old, as I should have. Four years prior to my prostate cancer diagnosis at 54, I had only had it checked twice. I initially went to another urologist who biopsied me and gave me the ominous news one week later that I had prostate cancer. The month following the diagnosis was not easy for me as I was slowly coming to terms with the fact that I had cancer. I was wondering about all of the possibilities, what would I do about it, would I see my daughter and son graduate from High School, what if the cancer spread after the initial treatment, what then? I recalled how some of the treatments affected my fatherÕs late diagnosis and watching him die of the cancer in spite of the treatments.
Within a short period of time, fate steered me in the direction of Dr. Gholami. I was immediately impressed by the fact that he had more experience with the Da Vinci Robotic method than the Urologist who biopsied me, who also was an excellent physician. For me, surgery seemed to be the best way to go and I was convinced that Dr. Gholami was the best surgeon for the job. What also impressed me were his professionalism and his availability to address my numerous concerns and questions pre and post op. I really appreciate his willingness to be available to answer my questions via email. Additionally, his staff was also available and helpful. In particular, Lynn, one of the nurses, frequently discussed my concerns and questions-both she and Dr. Gholami were always reassuring and helpful. Kristi Leer, P.A. and Dr. GholamiÕs surgical assistant came to the hospital the day following surgery to speak to me about post op dos and donÕts. She was also very reassuring while she took the time to discuss these issues and what to expect in the days and weeks following the surgery. Also, the staff at El Camino Hospital deserves to be commended. The staff I interacted with during my one-week pre op and the day of the surgery was stellar.
12 days after the surgery, my catheter was removed and I received the glorious news from Dr. Gholami that I was cancer-free. I was walking on air. Nothing compares to the feeling of receiving such good news following the days and weeks of uncertainty while I was coping with the cancer in me.
One month after the surgery I am healing fine. The incontinence is improving slowly and I have adjusted to it for the most part and have learned to accept it always having the attitude that it will get better.
Now I no longer have to wonder whether or not I will live long enough to see my son and daughter graduate from High School and go on to college. I am counting on enjoying many more years of life that lie ahead of me. Thank you Dr. Gholami for giving me a new lease on life. You are a stellar physician and surgeon.
Dr Gholami,
When my family physician recommended further testing of my prostate and gave me the name of two Urological Surgeons I feel blessed that I was guided to make the choice of you to come and visit.
I found myself to be uncharacteristically at ease when consulting with you about my problem and you gave me a feeling of "we're gonna beat this thing" right from the beginning.
After the biopsy showed cancer, you recommended that I undergo a radical prostectomy using the DeVinci Robotic System. Being a person that has never been admitted to a hospital in my life, I was, to say the least, scared. Although scared, I also felt somewhat at ease because I felt I had chosen this areas best Urological Surgeon.
Now, almost 5 months after my surgery, I am totally convinced I selected the absolute best surgeon. You made me and my wife feel that you truly cared and that, together, we were going to beat this thing. About the surgery itself, the worst part was undoubtedly having to wear a catheter for two weeks. Not so much that it's painful, just quite uncomfortable. I spent one night in the hospital and was home 30 hours after the surgery. Each day I experienced significant improvement from the previous day and once the catheter was removed I didn't experience any significant discomfort. I have complete urinary control and my ED is a nonissue with the help of ED medication.
I just had my first PSA since the surgery, and when you came in the office and said "what are you doing here, your PSA is "0" and it's raining outside, go home", my wife and I both felt nothing short of elation.
To you I would just like to say once again, "Thank you for doing what you do". You are a magnificent surgeon. And to those who may be considering going through a similar procedure I would just like to say "God has blessed you by sending you to Dr Gholami. Rest assured you are in the hands of the best!"
Sincerely,
Steve
Dear Doctor:
When I thanked you for my surgery and results you replied "that's what I do". In my opinion, based on my experience and research, you are probably the best in your field. My great fortune was being able to meet up with you! I could elaborate on all the elements that make one superior in their endeavors, but that's all encompassed in best. I wish you a long and energetic life, that you can help a great many and derive a great satisfaction from that.
Once again,
Thanks!!!
Doug
Dr. Gholami,
It’s been five months since I had my prostatectomy with the DaVinci Robotic System and wanted to thank you and give a testimonial about my experience and recovery.
I had my surgery in late September 2008 and spent one night in the hospital. I experienced very little pain after surgery, only slight tenderness at the incision sites. By far the worst part of the recovery is living with the urinary catheter. There was no pain associated with the catheter, just an inconvenience, and although it was only ten days it seemed an eternity.
I was able to get erections and have orgasms starting about a week after the catheter was removed, however not very strong and certainly not sufficient for penetration. The strength of the erections are continuing to improve, although still not quite strong enough for penetration. As far as the bladder is concerned, I wore a small pad 24hrs a day going through maybe three or four a day for the first month, but was down to two pads by the second month. I continued to wear a pad for about 3 ½ months, mostly for “insurance” rather than necessity and have been “pad free” for about six weeks. I had my first PSA a couple of weeks ago and the count was “0”.
One of my big questions for you after surgery was, when could I play golf? You gave me the go ahead after about four weeks and I played my first round at Spyglass Hill exactly five weeks after surgery, here’s a picture of me teeing off on the 4th hole.
At 49 years old I certainly didn’t expect to have prostate cancer, I’m lucky it was discovered and treated early. Thank you, not only for your expertise in performing the surgery, but also for how expeditiously my case was handled.
Sincerely,
William Bell
Dear Dr. Shahram Shawn Gholami, M.D.
Kindly allow me to pass my warm regards to you and your entire staff for having carried out a very successful operation on 21 January, 2009.
On behalf of my family and on my own indeed, may I take this opportunity to really thank you most for a job well done, as your gentleness, kind words of encouragement and personal attachment in relation to my welfare during and after the operation made me feel myself and hence responded positively to medical treatment. The moral encouragement extended to me and my family in general was really touching and very wonderful.
In the same vein, I would like to advise that I am making a steady progress and as advised I will only start taking the half tablet regarding the blood circulation next week.
In view of the above and your personal humanitarian approach to my well being , may I on behalf of my family and on my own indeed extend our whole hearted invitation to our home whenever you may happen to visit this part of the world. Please feel free to do as this is now your second home.
Please keep it up and may the Almighty God bless you all.
Yours Sincerely
A.S.Thakur and Family
John Maloblocki, scoring a goal at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships 2007
Shortly after the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships in frigid cold Minneapolis, I had the biopsy that I had been putting off for a year. The shocking result was positive for prostate cancer.
I had been monitoring my PSA annually since 40 years old, and mainly because my father was diagnosed as having prostate cancer at the age of 66. I knew I was genetically at risk, but didn’t think to worry about it. So when my PSA shot up from normal levels to 5.4 in October 2006 I became concerned but did nothing. Six months later my PSA still remained high, but attributed that to a very stressful period of my life at work and with the death of my father in February 2007 (he died of leukemia, not directly related to his prostate cancer but possibly it was a contributing factor).
Finally acknowledging that I should see a urologist, I sought out a highly recognized expert from Stanford University who recommended that I immediately have a biopsy to confirm or deny prostate cancer. Reluctant, I sought out second and third opinions from other highly recommended urologists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. David Nudell convinced me that I should have a biopsy and in early March 2008 I did. On our wedding anniversary my wife and I had decided to stop by the doctor’s office, on our way to dinner, to get the results. The result was not what we wanted to hear… positive for prostate cancer in 2 out of the 10 biopsies. The good news that it had been detected early, clinical state T1c. But the bad news was a Gleason score of 7 (3+4), which meant it was growing rapidly. My wife and I were stunned.
I had been stubborn up till this point. But now this was not just about me, it was about my family - my wife and two boys ages 6 and 8.
The next three months we dove into the research, reading books and seeking consultations, reviewing all the treatment options available to me including: prostatectomy; external beam radiation; brachytherapy; proton therapy; or watchful waiting. I selected what Dr. Nudell had initially recommended, prostatectomy. Once I decided on the treatment now all that was left was selecting the best surgeon.
I selected Dr. Shawn Gholami, and had surgery on August 27, 2008. The surgery went according to plan and all lymph nodes removed came back negative when tested for any trace levels of cancerous cells. As of this writing, I am six weeks post surgery and my recovery is proceeding ahead of plan. I have resumed heavy exercise just 5 weeks after surgery and skated for the first time last night. In January I will return to the U.S. Pond Championships again in Minneapolis.
I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of me from beginning to end with my aggressive Gleason 9 Prostate Cancer. I can honestly say I had no pain and every treatment from the many biopsies I was given (I am glad you were so thorough) and no pain following the robotic surgery. I felt great and I missed no work except for my recovery after surgery, which I loved because I have taken no time off from my work. As you know I have a full time job and also I am a musician and Choir Director for our church and I also play about 30 one-hour performances at Senior Assistant Living Facilities. I was out on a job right after my biopsies feeling fine. I missed only ten days of playing and that is all. I did not enjoy that catheter for 6 days that was my only gripe. I can say that was the only part of all this that bothered me. It was not painful just annoying.
The most important aspect of all this was your guidance and willingness to answer all of our questions. My wife Alice had a long list every time we came in and you answered every question and your demeanor was such that we did not worry. We knew we had the most capable physician. You gave us strength and hope. I think a person must be optimistic and that is so important. I am so glad we stayed in our own city and I know we made the right decision.
It has now been 10 weeks since my prostrate surgery and I couldn’t be happier to know I am cancer free. I have regained most of my erectile functions and would put my recovery at about 92% after a short ten weeks. I was up and feeling well just 60 hours after the operation. The catheter was in place for 10 days but once it was removed I felt great except for my incontinence, which to this day is the last area of concern. I have monitored my recovery using Monday’s as my reference day. The first week I wore pads that needed to be changed about every 90 minutes. Today I wear the pad for precautionary reasons and it lasts the entire day. To this day I have a tendency to drip once in awhile when I sneeze or cough but I suspect another week from now I’m 100%.
I was back to work 14 days after the surgery but I took it easy. I am proud to say I played 18 holes of golf 21 days after the surgery but again took it easy not to strain anything. I’m now able to travel and do anything without worry. The fear of having a surgery of this magnitude was minimized when I talked to others who have gone through this surgery. I was directed to use the De Vinci method for the procedure, which led me to Dr. Gholami. Dr. Gholami is an expert in this field and I couldn’t be happier about the outcome and those he surrounds himself with at the office. I hope Dr. Gholami shares this information with any patient that might be worried or has concerns. If anyone would like additional information or someone to talk with before making a decision of this magnitude I please don’t hesitate to ask. I would love to talk with anyone who needs to know what to expect from this surgery. In the end, I look forward to living a long healthy life and helping others that carry the fear of cancer wit them.
That picture was taken a few hours before Lance Armstrong won his 6th Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It was one of the great times in my life, riding my bike every day, following Lance around the spectacular French countryside in the summer of 2004.
Shortly after I returned home, I knew it was time to finally look into a problem I was having with frequent urination. That’s when I made an appointment to see Dr Gholami. Ironic, but I found out that he actually studied medicine in Paris not far from where I was standing in front of The Arc de Triomphe. Well, I found out that I had an abnormally high PSA level. I had to have a biopsy. Then Dr Gholami gave me the chilling news - "You have prostrate cancer.....but it's highly treatable." Wow.
Dr Gholami carefully explained to me my options and encouraged me to get a second opinion. I did. And I got a third opinion as well. My decision was to have Dr. Gholami remove my prostate laparoscopically.
I was so impressed with Dr Gholami's measured approach, his skill at having performed so many hundreds of these surgeries, and his care and concern for me as a patient. The surgery went flawlessly. I was in the hospital for 2 days and back at work on the radio in exactly one week!
The Arc de Triomphe was built by the great Napolean to honor those who fought in wars and, as corny as it may sound, I really feel that thanks to Dr. Gholami, I am celebrating my own personal triumph over cancer. Livestrong. That’s my motto.
Thank you very much for the support you gave me during my recent surgery. Receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer is not an enjoyable experience and has had a very strong impact upon my life; however working with a surgeon who is respectful, thoughtful and extremely competent has helped me to get through the process.
After my initial diagnosis I was in a state of shock/denial but after this brief period I decided to get as much data as I could about my prognosis and options for removal of the cancer. I discussed my prognosis, stage of cancer and options with no less than 6 different doctors including my general practitioner, other local oncologists and Stanford University.
I considered the following options to eliminate the cancer; radiation using radioactive seeds, external radiation with hormone therapy, prostrate removal using a large incision in my abdomen and prostate removal using the Da Vinci method, which uses laparoscopic techniques to remove the prostate.
I chose Dr Gholami because he was very experienced with the Da Vinci method and he made me feel the most comfortable in his ability to achieve my objectives of removing my prostate with the minimum of risk and discomfort. I did not make this decision lightly and after the surgery I feel that my confidence in Dr Gholami was justified and I am feeling very confident about living the rest of my life to my full potential.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Dr. Gholami to anyone who finds themselves diagnosed with prostate cancer.
I spent a lot of time investigating the myriad of possibilities for treating prostate cancer. The robotic laparoscopic procedure looked to offer not only the best possibility of eliminating the cancer, but also, given post operative pathological analysis and PSA tests, could offer more definitive evidence that the mission was accomplished. The possibility of long term side effects from the surgery was a concern but paled in comparison to having a high probability of totally eliminating the cancer and having a “cure”.
The key question for me was: how do I find a great surgeon to do the job? Fortunately I was introduced to Dr. Gholami. His reputation, considerable experience and success at the leading edge of prostate surgery, along with his straight forward confident demeanor, convinced me he was the one for the job. Dr. Gholami went through the treatment options with me and confirmed my feeling that the da Vinci laparoscopic procedure was the best choice for my case. He made a statement something like: “Have the surgery, get this behind you, and get on with your life. The primary objective is to get rid of the cancer, this is the best way to do it, and any post surgery side effects can be dealt with.”
I had surgery and it was extremely successful. The cancer was confined to the prostate, the pathology report showed negative surgical margins, and my 3 month follow up PSA reading was “zero”. Discomfort from surgery was minimal and only lasted a couple of days. I started taking long walks and chipping golf balls within a week, and was lifting weights, golfing and running again within 6 weeks of surgery.
Source: The 2007 Cancer Care Center Program Report, prepared by Katy Calios, RHIT, CTR.
At age 40, Andrew Stearns is busy. He has a thriving practice as an attorney and director of Bustamante O'Hara Gagliasso. He's Dad to Max and Chloe, making the rounds of soccer games and parent-teacher conferences. He's a volunteer through Rotary Club of Los Gatos. Hiking, gardening and social life fill the remaining hours.
And now he is a survivor of prostate cancer.
Andrew is accustomed to mastering tests, so he was surprised when he "flunked" a PSA test, the blood test used to screen men for prostate cancer. His grandfather died of prostate cancer in his early 60s, and his father had prostate cancer in his late 50s — but Andrew thought even that family history wouldn't pre-sage cancer for him at 40.
Further examination and biopsy confirmed Andrew's prostate cancer. Almost all of the 12 biopsy samples showed cancer. Several of them showed significant amounts of cancer cells. In fact, the cancer had snaked out of the prostate and around near-by nerves.
After discussing all of his treatment options with his urologist, Shahram Gholami MD, Andrew chose surgical intervention. He was impressed that Dr. Gholami would be using daVinci robotic-assisted techniques.
"I had back surgery in January, so I wasn't interested in a long recovery period," Andrew says. "I also knew there was a possibility of losing some nerves, so for a young patient like me, the chance to use finer incisions, smaller tools and to have better visualization by the doctor seemed like the best option."
Andrew's surgery was at 7:30 a.m. on October 10. By 1 p.m. the next day, he was ready for discharge. "I didn't even take Tylenol afterward. I had no pain. It felt more like I'd done too many (abdominal) crunches," Andrew says.
After two weeks at home, Andrew was back at work. Six weeks after the surgery, he finds the temporary incontinence and erectile dysfunction "a little frustrating" but acknowledges he has some remaining recovery. Andrew says, "The idea of erectile dysfunction stops too many men. The real question is: Do you want to live?"
Dr. Gholami will follow Andrew's progress closely, and he may still face external radiation treatment in the months ahead.
Andrew knows estimating length of survival is an uncertain science, but he takes seriously the possibility that without intervention he may not have survived past another birthday. Today he's an advocate for early testing.
"You're already doing the blood work for your annual physical. Men should request that a PSA be added to the panel. Pay for the test yourself if it's not yet covered by your health plan. Prostate cancer can happen to younger men. It's not just old guys running around talking about their AARP benefits who need to be concerned about their PSA scores," Andrew says.
Early detection is so important to long-term survival. With his family history, Andrew plans to encourage his son to be tested in his 30s. Andrew says, "We routinely check for diabetes and cholesterol and high blood pressure so we can treat chronic diseases earlier at a lower cost. Prostate cancer is no different.
"There are costs associated with surgery, but compare that to the costs of dealing with more advanced, potentially terminal cancer. Compare that to the costs of the loss of a father and family provider, not just in terms of income but in terms of being there to raise your sons, raise your daughters and see them becoming successful, happy young adults on their own."