Ep. 330 Establishing a Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Practice with Dr. Hiren Patel

How can reconstructive urologists improve quality of life for cancer survivors beyond the initial cure? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. George Koch interviews Dr. Hiren Patel about building a comprehensive survivorship practice that addresses the long-term needs of patients following genitourinary cancer treatment. They discuss moving beyond post-prostatectomy ED and incontinence to include management of radiation sequelae, immunotherapy effects, and urethral strictures, as well as the role of patient-centered communication, care coordination, and technology.

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction04:26 - Redefining Survivorship11:29 - Why Survivorship Practices Matter17:53 - Workup and Aligning Care21:05 - Managing Active Cancer Scenarios27:20 - Building a Survivorship Program30:12 - Growing Referrals and Optimizing Workflow39:24 - System Support and Research Gaps44:04 - Tech Advances in Reconstruction48:50 - Single-Port Retroperitoneal Case59:55 - Tips, Tricks, and Wrap-Up

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More about this episode

The conversation covers patient expectation setting, logistics of establishing a survivorship clinic, aligning care with patient goals, and multidisciplinary collaboration with oncology and primary care. Dr. Patel highlights strategies to reduce ER visits and system burden, the importance of continuity, and advances such as single-port robotic retroperitoneal ureteral reconstruction. The episode concludes with practical tips on trust-building, workflow optimization, and advocating for survivorship programs within larger health systems.

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