How to avoid a biopsy to test for prostate cancer

[al007]

 

8 hours ago, teddog said:

Take a trip to India  3T MRI  prostate scan under 3000 baht

Having first hand experience of the Indian scene, including MRIs I very much doubt if IT exists, was thinking about asking the same question

 

Might with a following wind be 20% below Chula but that still makes 3T 13,000 less 20% so 10, 400

 

I will bet it does not exist, or Indians not always trustworthy, and you leave with your CD with gobbledouche on it , Good scam

 

If it sounds too good to be true, that is often the case

 

Years ago a man was selling liferafts with nothing inside, so when you were sinking you pulled the cord, nothing happened and you died and could not even make a claim

 

Often you get what you pay for , caveat emptor

[teddog]

7 minutes ago, al007 said:

 

Having first hand experience of the Indian scene, including MRIs I very much doubt if IT exists, was thinking about asking the same question

 

Might with a following wind be 20% below Chula but that still makes 3T 13,000 less 20% so 10, 400

 

I will bet it does not exist, or Indians not always trustworthy, and you leave with your CD with gobbledouche on it , Good scam

 

If it sounds too good to be true, that is often the case

 

Years ago a man was selling liferafts with nothing inside, so when you were sinking you pulled the cord, nothing happened and you died and could not even make a claim

 

Often you get what you pay for , caveat emptor

You seem to know a lot but you do not, India is way way ahead of Thailand in every respect   3T MRI have been in existence there since 2013

[teddog]

27 minutes ago, al007 said:

 

Having first hand experience of the Indian scene, including MRIs I very much doubt if IT exists, was thinking about asking the same question

 

Might with a following wind be 20% below Chula but that still makes 3T 13,000 less 20% so 10, 400

 

I will bet it does not exist, or Indians not always trustworthy, and you leave with your CD with gobbledouche on it , Good scam

 

If it sounds too good to be true, that is often the case

 

Years ago a man was selling liferafts with nothing inside, so when you were sinking you pulled the cord, nothing happened and you died and could not even make a claim

 

Often you get what you pay for , caveat emptor    

 

Thailand is the place I would avoid like the plague    Anyway 2and a half thousand baht  ..plain ,  4and a half thousand baht w/ contrast     A claim in Thailand  LOL   cheaper plus the fact you come out with some crap

    Chennaiwill be cheaper   look it up

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2017 by teddog

[al007]

23 minutes ago, teddog said:

You seem to know a lot but you do not, India is way way ahead of Thailand in every respect   3T MRI have been in existence there since 2013

Your kind comments appreciated

[teddog]

3 minutes ago, al007 said:

Your kind comments appreciated

 

mri scanner chennai.htm      

 

  3T MRI scanners all over the place  in India and have been for years

Edited July 7, 2017 by teddog

[nontabury]

9 minutes ago, teddog said:

 

mri scanner chennai.htm

Failed to download, same as the download you asked me to do when I P.m you.

Though I do accept that this will be my fault, as I'm not too good with the computer.

[al007]

Teddog

I believe we all participate to share knowledge, for everyones benefit, that is certainly my wish

 

I have had some excellent surgery in India, and in many instances would recommend it but not all, but that is only my own personal view, I am not medically qualified

 

I have had some very bad advice medically here in Thailand but also some of the very best advice and treatment at  very affordable cost

 

I believe we all need to be aware of the possible options, so if the time comes we can make good sound informed decisions

 

I appreciate you input, even though I read it as a little biased maybe towards India

 

I would be interested on your views on whether it is better to live in india or Thailand, especially as in you case and mine we both have prostate problems

[al007]

6 minutes ago, teddog said:

 

Chennai gets its first wide-bore Silent Scan MRI

re

Chennai, India - August 14, 2016- MRI scans are among the most advanced tools available to image a host of medical conditions that assist the clinician in their diagnosis. 

 

• 

  I believe Chulalongkorn had its 3TMRI facility up and running in 2016, so that would only leave Thailand a matter of months behind India, I would have thought

[teddog]

Just now, al007 said:

12 minutes ago, teddog said:

 

Chennai gets its first wide-bore Silent Scan MRI

re

Chennai, India - August 14, 2016- MRI scans are among the most advanced tools available to image a host of medical conditions that assist the clinician in their diagnosis. 

 

• 

  I believe Chulalongkorn had its 3TMRI facility up and running in 2016, so that would only leave Thailand a matter of months behind India, I would have thought

4 years to be precise,look at earlier post of dehli, Chennai his latest 3T

[Sheryl]

Posts with outright advertising for hospitals in India, pasted verbatim from hospital and medical tourism websites,  have been removed in keeping with forum rules on unpaid advertising.

 

It is understood that health care in India is less expensive than in Thailand.

 

I think everyone on this board knows how to use google.

 

First hand accounts of  treatment received in India (or anywhere else), with names of hospitals and doctors, are welcome but not pasted ads.

[al007]

I wish to make an observation

 

There are many kind caring people who contribute to the medical part of TV, and I wish to thank them all, they are all a big part in my recovery, (nothing guaranteed, I know but so far so good) but also a positive attitude helps considerably

 

And thank you to those with whom I have had PM message contact

 

God Bless

[huawei]

On 09/07/2017 at 6:19 PM, al007 said:

I wish to make an observation

 

There are many kind caring people who contribute to the medical part of TV, and I wish to thank them all, they are all a big part in my recovery, (nothing guaranteed, I know but so far so good) but also a positive attitude helps considerably

 

And thank you to those with whom I have had PM message contact

 

God Bless

If people who post on other forums showed the thoughtfulness and generosity that you have exhibited in explaining your experiences and conclusions plus the replies have also been constructive in their questioning..Thai visa would be a better experience.

 

One of the most informative and best discussion on Thai visa for a long time...

 

thank you.

[al007]

2 hours ago, huawei said:

If people who post on other forums showed the thoughtfulness and generosity that you have exhibited in explaining your experiences and conclusions plus the replies have also been constructive in their questioning..Thai visa would be a better experience.

 

One of the most informative and best discussion on Thai visa for a long time...

 

thank you.

Kind words, appreciated

 

Yes I have learnt a lot, in the process and by continuing to post continue that learning, even sometimes when I only post to help others, I learn something, Nancy was posting and suggesting multivitamins, and it reminded me mine do not work if I do not take them

 

Yes Thai Visa is also interesting, and I have had posts removed for being inflammatory, when that has not been my intention, only a few days ago, i suggested one of those being held in detention at immigration, left while he was free to go and regrouped in comfort and safety outside the confines of immigration detention, sound good advice I thought! but still makes me smile !

 

I do not suffer fools gladly and we all need to thank TV especially Sheryl, who has tolerance far beyond what I sometime do, the tasks of the moderators is not to be envied

[hot09]

Udon Thani have a new outpatient hospital. I make a MRI in august 2017 with contrast a pay 12.000 THB

[lopburi3]

Suspect you mean Udon has a new hospital - all hospitals have active outpatients departments here as that is where most doctors practice.  It might be a help if you can provide the name of this hospital.  Thanks.

[hot09]

[Sheryl]

Not a hospital - an imaging center. Been there for some time.

 

Stand alone imaging centers are less expensive source of CT scans, MRI etc.  For non-contrast MRI they are fine. However I advise caution in getting MRI with contrast outside of a hospital. A small minority of people have serious adverse reactions to the dye which can be life threatening.

[SantiSuk]

... and at the other end of the scale Bumrungrad in Bangkok might charge in the order of 25,000 baht - or at least they did for a 'Chest (Spiral) (CT) scan with Visipaque contrast in June 2016. Basic scan 13,250, Radiologist 2,500, Doctor's fee (they insist on a brief session with a relevant doc even if you are just buying a scan for later examination by your existing specialist) 6,300 for the contrast and the balance is nursing etc charges.

 

Just for info if anyone is shopping around. [My UK insurer was happy - substantively more expensive than that in the UK (where my lung specialists monitor my bronchiectasis)]

[nontabury]

15 hours ago, hot09 said:

Udon Thani have a new outpatient hospital. I make a MRI in august 2017 with contrast a pay 12.000 THB

Is that a 1.5T or. 3T machine.

Do UDon Thani have competant staff who can actually read the results from an MRI?

1 ask this, as from my limited knowledge, many radiologist think they can read the results,when in fact the cannot. And this applies to other countries as well as here in Thailand.

[al007]

2 hours ago, nontabury said:

 

1 ask this, as from my limited knowledge, many radiologist think they can read the results,when in fact the cannot. And this applies to other countries as well as here in Thailand.

 

So very true, I have TWO written and signed reports, from TWO different establishments in Issan, and both gave me the OK when there was evidence of TWO different cancers on TWO different  scans, some consultants also read the reports and found nothing wrong, I had a similar bad experience on a colonoscopy, again missing cancer

 

Both establishments concerned had no professional indemnity insurance

 

I was ill at ease with the results, but chose not to challenge, because the answer was what I had hoped for, stupid me, fortunately I did persist and went to India six months later where the true situation was uncovered

 

Defamation laws in Thailand protect this incompetence unfortunately, naming specific doctors and establishments would quickly improve the situation, or put them out of business

 

It also brings into question the value of expensive annual medicals, where again I can show major things missed like blood in stools, despite me asking and asking again, and accepting do not worry this is normal

 

YES be wary and careful, remember it is easy to upload results to Google drive so a specialist in many part of the world can give a second opinion, and of course when seeking that second opinion, do not give the written report you also get, when you have two different opinions then ask the other why, and stand back, and as a minimum seek a refund if the original is wrong

 

Despite the above I have found some very competent professionals at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok

[hot09]

There is a center connected to a day clinic. Open 24 hours

[bubba]

17 hours ago, nontabury said:

Is that a 1.5T or. 3T machine.

Do UDon Thani have competant staff who can actually read the results from an MRI?

1 ask this, as from my limited knowledge, many radiologist think they can read the results,when in fact the cannot. And this applies to other countries as well as here in Thailand.

Also, if we are talking about prostate imagining, do they have the capability to perform multiparametric MRI, which includes dynamic contrast enhancement?

[nontabury]

48 minutes ago, bubba said:

Also, if we are talking about prostate imagining, do they have the capability to perform multiparametric MRI, which includes dynamic contrast enhancement?

I made many enquiries regarding the availability of mpMRI in Thailand. Unfortunately there does’t seem to be any. India,Singapore and Korea amongst other Asian countries seem to be more advanced.

[impulse]

On 7/5/2017 at 12:15 AM, Sheryl said:

A urologist for the enlarged prostate. No reason at all to think it is cancer at this stage so certainly not an oncologist. Dr. Viroj at Bumrungrad is excellent and will not recommend surgery etc unnecessarily. 

 

If you have not had a colonoscopy in past 10 years then shopuld have one as a routine measure. GI specialist or in some hospitals you can book it directly as a check up procedure.

  

Due to lower back pain, I recently went through a colonoscopy, an MRI of the spine, and a CT of the abdomen with contrast, all showing clear according to the reports. I do have spine issues, but mostly wear and tear.  And some diverticula (sp?), but they say that's not an issue.  That was all done at Samitivej.

 

But the scary input here from Al007 and my experience with another Thai hospital where they missed my heart problems for 3 years running, along with increasing lower back/ abdomen pain have me wondering if I need to go further, or elsewhere.  Any suggestions?  Should I get the tests repeated, or is there any benefit (and is it even possible) to send the results to someone else for them to have a look?

 

I'm in China now and tempted to get a second opinion here, but I have spent too much time in the hospitals here visiting other people to trust them any more than I trust Thai hospitals. 

 

Edited October 11, 2017 by impulse

[bubba]

23 minutes ago, nontabury said:

I made many enquiries regarding the availability of mpMRI in Thailand. Unfortunately there does’t seem to be any. India,Singapore and Korea amongst other Asian countries seem to be more advanced.

If you mean MP MRI for prostate, I know Bumrungrad does 1.5T with endorectal coil, as I had that done 18 months ago there. Unfortunately, they do not have the more modern and definitive 3T MRI and I am not aware of any in Thailand. 

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

  

Due to lower back pain, I recently went through a colonoscopy, an MRI of the spine, and a CT of the abdomen with contrast, all showing clear according to the reports. I do have spine issues, but mostly wear and tear.  And some diverticula (sp?), but they say that's not an issue.  That was all done at Samitivej.

 

But the scary input here from Al007 and my experience with another Thai hospital where they missed my heart problems for 3 years running, along with increasing lower back/ abdomen pain have me wondering if I need to go further, or elsewhere.  Any suggestions?  Should I get the tests repeated, or is there any benefit (and is it even possible) to send the results to someone else for them to have a look?

 

I'm in China now and tempted to get a second opinion here, but I have spent too much time in the hospitals here visiting other people to trust them any more than I trust Thai hospitals. 

 

Likely no point in repeating the tests unless significant time has passed since they were done. Having someone else look at the results might be advisable and certainly can't hurt and if the pain is worsening you need to be seen again anyhow.

 

In Thailand in my experience radiologist reports of scans aren't worth much and the specialists do their own readings, often not even bothering to look at what the radiologist has written. Hence the importance of always getting the actual film to take with you.

[impulse]

7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

In Thailand in my experience radiologist reports of scans aren't worth much and the specialists do their own readings, often not even bothering to look at what the radiologist has written. Hence the importance of always getting the actual film to take with you.

 

That kind of worries me, because I get the sense that the doctor and I are both seeing the images for the first time during the <10 minute follow up appointment when he pulls the results up on his monitor.  Maybe that's a false impression, but it seems that he's glanced at the report before I walk in, then doesn't spend more than a few minutes looking at the images with me. 

 

When you say film, does the DICOM output count, or is there a higher resolution film that I didn't get with the DVD?

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

The DVD is fine.

 

If it is your impression that the specialist you saw gave only a cursory look, that in itself would be reason to see a different specialist.

[bubba]

If you are interested in a second, expert opinion regarding a prostate MRI, there is a radiologist in the USA (Dr. Joe Busch) who specialises in that and is very highly regarded. He also has a service for reviewing your data (upload it to Dropbox and they download it at their office), and then he will consult with you by phone or Skype. I have been told that he typically spends around 45 minutes doing talking with you regarding his impression and advice and the consultation is very thorough. His fee for this is US$300

 

http://drcradiology.com/Radiologists/buschjoe.html

 

Try googling Dr. Busch and prostate MP MRI and you will see many discussions regarding his expertise and approach.

Edited October 11, 2017 by bubba
added a line

[impulse]

28 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The DVD is fine.

 

If it is your impression that the specialist you saw gave only a cursory look, that in itself would be reason to see a different specialist.

 

Thanks for the input.  Gotta say, I've never felt like the doctors here spend any time looking at the pictures outside of the short time I'm in with them.  That's in probably 20 or so times I've had imaging done in almost 7 years.  Hopefully, I'm wrong.  But they seem to barely look at the report before I get there, and fire up the images and we look together.