Testimonials

Larry Musgrove

When I was told I had prostate cancer my initial reaction was ok I have to find the best treatment option. After looking at all options iI decided on surgery, the next step was finding the right surgeon. After much research I found Dr Samadi. I knew I had the right man when on my first phone consultation he gave me his personal cell phone number and said “I am now your Doctor and we are going to war.” Two months after surgery I was completely continent and ten months after surgery I was able to achieve and maintain erections. My surgery was one year ago and my PSA is at zero. If you have prostate cancer Dr. Samadi is the man. Call him and put yourself in his capable hands.

Ron N

After two years of observing my PSA level it jumped from 3.5 to 4.5 in one year I underwent a biopsy which confirmed prostate cancer, stage 2, Gleason 7 (3+4). A further MRI confirmed the diagnosis and the presence of cancer.

I consulted in Israel with an experienced professional in each of the possible treatments – Robotic surgery and Radiation and Hormone therapy. I was debating between the different treatments and was very concerned about the potential side effects specifically incontinence and loss of sexual function.

The research was unpleasant and I felt that this was a wild market with every doctor providing different statistics and promoting himself.

After much consideration, I decided I would proceed with the Robotic surgery but I will find a surgeon that had performed this operation thousands of times. The possible downsides seemed too significant for me to just flow with the system and accept whatever doctor was designated to me

I found out about Dr. Samadi by chance while researching and reviewing online and contacted his office and sent them my test results. I was surprised that Dr. Samadi himself called me and discussed my case and the materials with me. We scheduled a meeting and he came to his office specially to meet my wife and I on a Sunday. He examined me and walked me through the process and answered all my questions. I decided that he would be my doctor.

We scheduled a date for the operation at a time that was convenient for me and I showed up on that morning at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. There is a wing of the hospital that is reserved for Dr. Samadi’s patients that looks more like a luxury hotel with private rooms. I stayed there after the operation for a day and a half (which was very pleasant considering the circumstances) and then moved to a temporary apartment. After 9 days I arrived at Dr. Samadi’s office for the removal of the catheter, and after two weeks I was back in Israel.

To summarize – I was totally continent immediately upon removal of the catheter and my sexual function returned within a very short period. Yesterday – at 6 weeks following the surgery my PSA is undetectable.

There are some that would say that I was lucky and fell into the good side of the statistics, but I think I helped my luck considerably by choosing Dr. Samadi. You may be lucky with another surgeon as well, but Dr. Samadi’s skill level and exceptional experience ensured me the best and most professional treatment – with no regrets later that I should have performed this procedure elsewhere.

One last word – Dr. Samadi’s accessibility by messaging or phone is extraordinary especially for a famous surgeon. This disease and the therapy dictate a stressful and disheartening period. The ability to communicate with Dr. Samadi in real time and receive responses in short order was reassuring and comforting and definitely out of the ordinary compared to other surgeons.

Ron N

Stephen Leff

In May 2014 I went to Dr. Samadi because I was having issues with my prostate. He did an exam and found a reason to have me get a biopsy. The results were negative, but my path to urinate became obstructed and I needed a Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) as soon as possible. I had the procedure and spent a few weeks recovering and the outcome was very favorable.

Segue way on October 2017; needless to say I had issues with my bladder that lead me to make an appointment to see Dr. Samadi. He did a cystoscopy and discovered that my path to urinate was partially obstructed. He said that because my prostate was so large it was not possible to remove enough tissue in 2014 without adverse health issues.
So, on November 13, 2017 I had another TURP. But, this time he was able to remove enough tissue to ensure a complete return to normal function with little or no possibility of a recurrence of urinary occlusion. The surgery was a huge success. I was feeling excellent by early afternoon and had a huge dinner with my wife in the hospital! By the way, the rooms and the food are world class. The only medicine needed outside of intravenous antibiotics was 5 mg of Valium to control any bladder spasms. I had a good night sleep and left the hospital in the next day. It is now 16 days from the surgery and I am back at work and starting to train at the gym again.

Understand that Dr. Samadi is an extremely skilled surgeon and a truly compassionate doctor. He visited me the evening of the surgery and the following morning to check on my condition. His team came to visit also and were incredibly caring and efficient.
One needs to realize that I had a surgical procedure of great import and was feeling great a week later. I suffered for years with an enlarged prostate that caused a huge amount of discomfort and today I am symptom FREE! In a world of so much chaos and turmoil, to find a doctor like Dr. Samadi is remarkable thing. Skill, compassion and a great love of what he is doing is hard to find.

Stephen Leff
P.S.: Forever grateful!!!

Donald LR, age 65

Taking the Scare out of Prostate Cancer

I am a sixty-five year old male who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. My tests scores indicated that this was not something that should wait but needed to be taken seriously and attended to quickly. I consulted with two leading Urologists in this field at major NYC hospitals, who came highly recommended by my doctor. Both doctors presented me with options for dealing with the prostate cancer that did not include prostate surgery. As I continued to do some research, I learned about the success of robotic prostate surgery, but now needed to find a trusted surgeon as the side effects of becoming incontinent and impotent could be permanent and devastating to a man. I decided that robotic prostate surgery would offer me the best outcome for removal of the prostate, being cancer free, with the least amount of side effects. I was warned that this surgery could not guarantee that I would be cancer free and could render me impotent and incontinent. The thought of being impotent at age 65 was very frightening to me, as frightening as having to deal with cancer.

In my research I came across Dr. David Samadi, Chair of Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital, who seemed to be the most experienced robotic surgeon in the country. I consulted with Dr. Samadi regarding the other options offered to me. Dr. Samadi explained that the options were considered new and experimental. He recommended robotic surgery to remove the prostate, which was quite enlarged and recommended that I did not wait but scheduled the surgery within a month of my visit. The case would be difficult due to my being overweight, but he assured me that he would personally conduct the surgery and would be there for me through the recovery process.

Being recently divorced and going through prostate surgery alone became even more frightening, as I had no life partner and now lived by myself. On the day of the surgery I was met at Lenox Hill Hospital at 5:30 AM by Dr. Samadi who escorted me into the OR. My closest living relative, a female cousin, accompanied me and was told to wait in my room as I went into the OR.

Upon completion of the surgery after 2-1/2 hours, while I was in recovery, I was told by my cousin that Dr. Samadi called personally to say that the surgery was successful in removing the cancer. The private room on the executive floor of the hospital, where Dr. Samadi’s patients and their families are made to feel very much at home, was equipped with a small refrigerator for beverages, cable televisions, and pull out beds for relatives spending the night. Each room had a robe and slippers with toiletry supplies ready for the patients and menus for visitors to order breakfast, lunch or dinner.

As I was wheeled toward my room from recovery on a gurney, I was told to stand and walk with assistance into the room. This is how Dr. Samadi began my recovery after surgery with confidence and reassurance. Thereafter, I walked the hall and was released the following afternoon. I was released to my home with a catheter to be removed in a few days and some minor discomfort. Other than that I felt well enough to go home.

My follow up visit with Dr. Samadi the following week showed that there were no side effects from the surgery – I was not incontinent or impotent as I had feared. I feel that I was given a new lease on life, being cancer free and not experiencing any of the devastating side effects that would make me feel less than a man. Healing from cancer requires a surgeon’s expert skill, along with some nurturing care. I was able to receive both at Lenox Hill.
Donald LR.

Domenico and Maria L. Luvera

Dear Dr. Samadi,
Today my husband, Domenico, is celebrating 12 years of his successful prostate cancer surgery done by you and your team.
Both of us want to say thank you again because you were not only the brilliant surgeon that performed the procedure, but also the person that gave us hope that everything was going to pe OK.
Domenico always remembers that from the first moment that he met you, he was convinced that you were the right doctor to take care of him.
We are always following your continued success and consider you and yours, part of our family.

Respectfully yours, love,

Domenico and Maria L. Luvera from Rochelle Park, NJ 

Winston Stewart, age 70

Dear Doctor Samadi,
I write to convey to you two simple, but important words. They are, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU for agreeing to see me on Friday, September 8.
THANK YOU for putting together such a warm, gracious and patient-centered team to receive the members of my party and myself upon our arrival.
THANK YOU for the great respect that both you and your staff demonstrated for the invaluable asset we call time.
THANK YOU for relating to me with such kindness, and frankness mixed with good humor.
THANK YOU for agreeing to do the surgery, and for emphasizing that it will involve a lot of work.
THANK YOU for applying to the procedure your giftedness and very high professionalism expressed in such a beautiful frame of humility.
THANK YOU for deciding to perform the surgery on the day that marked the beginning of a very holy period on the Jewish calendar.
THANK YOU for putting together a surgical team, comprising people who are highly skilled, warm, gracious, understanding and appreciative of good humor. I will never forget their kindness.
THANK YOU for sharing with us in prayer and for asking me to lay hands on and pray for the instrument that you would use to perform the surgery.
THANK YOU for bringing to bear upon the challenging procedure all your mental and physical energies, giftedness, high level of training and experience as well as a strong sense of dependence upon God.
THANK YOU for not damaging my “sense of humor” nerve.
THANK YOU for coming to see me at 6:20 on Friday morning.
THANK YOU for your parting words, “we will be friends for a long time.”
THANK YOU for expressing a desire to visit our church. 
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Wishing you the very best,

Winston Stewart from Hempstead, New york

Bryant H., age 53

I am 53 years old and still in love with my wife of 32 years. We have five children and one precious daughter-in-law. I am the pastor of a church in Alabama. Our youngest child left for college and within a week of her departure I was told that I had prostate cancer.

My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 12 years ago, so I have been diligent about getting my PSA checked every year. The score had almost doubled in one year. My primary care doctor sent me to the urologist immediately. My urologist set an appointment for me to have an MRI, which indicated large lesions one on each side of the prostate. A biopsy confirmed cancer and we began exploring options. I decided on surgery after several weeks of agonizing over the potential side effects of incontinence and impotency. We met with a very good surgeon in Alabama who had performed over 3000 robotic procedures. The problem was when we discussed the fact that I had previous abdominal surgery. When my wife asked what would be done if they were not able to get through my scar tissue she was told, “we would close him up and come out to discuss other treatment options.”

The next day my wonderful wife contacted Dr. Samadi by email. She had been researching things “behind my back” and was very impressed with Dr. Samadi’s technique and stats. The very next day, a Saturday, Ann in Dr. Samadi’s office called to set up a phone call with Dr. Samadi on Sunday. On Sunday Dr. Samadi called me. He too asked me about previous abdominal surgeries and said, “Don’t worry, I am confident that I can take care of this for you.” He was true to his word and he took care of it.

I am now two weeks out from surgery. The cancer is gone and I have experienced tangible proof that impotency will NOT be a problem and continence has improved measurably every day.

Dr. Samadi’s statistics and the SMART Technique are NOT hype! He personally did my surgery from start to finish. He met with us at 6:30 the morning of surgery, personally walked me back to the operating room, introduced me to his team.

While I was in recovery, Dr. Samadi walked up to my room to speak to my wife and daughter in person. He then came to my room that evening to check on me! What a wonderful physician and gifted surgeon!

Everyone, without exception, treated my wife, and me as if we were the only people for whom Dr. Samadi was caring. The office team: Ann, Rosy, Esther, Lena, Aida and everyone was outstanding in attentiveness, compassion and professionalism.

The wing at Lenox Hill is first class. The nurses: Camille, Carrie, Samira…oh what a blessing!!!!! And Renee at the front desk was my personal cheerleader as I did my laps up and down the hall. The food that my wife ate was excellent in both preparation and presentation!

Thank you everyone!!
Bryant H. from Alabama

Paul, age 62

Two years ago, I underwent radical prostatectomy surgery performed by Dr. Samadi. For all the men & women who fear the surgical side effect, I urge them to see Dr. Samadi.

He’s not only a brilliant surgeon, but he’s an available and compassionate person with whom you can trust your life and health. I strongly recommend that if anyone is facing with prostate cancer, please don’t be afraid. Give a call to Dr. Samadis’ office and meet his excellent team ready to support your special needs.

I am grateful for everything and feel healthy because I have returned to a completely normal life.

Gratefully,
Paul from Long Island

David Elliott, age 64, prostate cancer survivor

Reflecting on life, I have come to realize just how precious it is, and how in a split second, it could change drastically and not for the better.  After all, “we are just visiting here.”

I am in the autumn of my career in the telecommunications industry, with nearly 46 years of service.  Over the course of my career, I have worked side-by-side with many wonderful people.  Unfortunately, many have passed on, mostly from cancer, and way before their time. Their pictures hang in our reporting room where we gather every day, in memory.  I, a cancer survivor, realize how fortunate I am to have had the winning combination of faith, as well as you, as my doctor.  While my lab results are of the utmost importance, you have always stressed the importance of family in the recovery process.  You are never too busy to take the time to ask how I am doing, and to check in on my family as well.  As you are aware, I come from out of state and look forward to my well visits.  I was thrilled to see you in the September issue of New York Magazine, Castle Connelly’s Top Doctors.  I now can put a face with a name and tell my friends and family “this is the man who saved my life.”  Thank you for giving me a second chance.

Gratefully,
David Elliott

Bernie, age 79, diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer

At age 79, I was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and referred by my urologist to Dr. David Samadi. Though leery of my status as a robotic surgery candidate, weeks later I sat before Dr. Samadi for an appointment I will never forget. With a reputation that precedes him, Dr. Samadi was described to me as a “magician” who “should wear a cape when he enters the room.” It felt imperative that he operate on me; my life depended on it.

During the appointment, my wife Marlene by my side, it was clear that Dr. Samadi saw me as a whole person, not just a 79 year old with aggressive prostate cancer. We talked about my lifestyle, my exercise routine, my sexual behavior and my overall health. I left that appointment with a surgery date on my calendar and a strong optimism about the procedure ahead.

Throughout the entire process Dr. Samadi’s team was remarkable. Tressa and Anna walked us through surgery preparation and invited us to call with any questions. We had questions, we called and they were always answered with warmth, understanding and respect.

The big day, June 27th, finally arrived with an early start. During the procedure, the anesthesiologist was by my side and Dr. Samadi was seated a short distance away at the robot. Though very anxious, I was quickly put at ease by Dr. Samadi’s entertaining bedside manner. In the OR he shared that he and his wife had just heard the song, “That’s Amore” the night before. As he began to sing, the anesthesiologist and I joined in and before I knew it the surgery was over and I was in recovery.

My surgery required an overnight stay in the hospital where my wife and I were given a private room. I had very little post-operative pain and was walking within hours after the procedure. My discomfort was easily managed with Tylenol. The most uncomfortable part of my recovery was the catheter that stayed with me for eight days. Even still, I was able to cook for my family and recover comfortably at home. Shortly after my catheter was removed I experienced a small bump on my road to recovery, a urinary tract infection. After a second catheter for less than a week I was incident free.

For about a month and a half after surgery I experienced some minor incontinence that was easily managed by occasionally wearing a pad for men, mostly during the night. My wife and I resumed sexual activity and though things are somewhat different, there is every indication that it will soon be a normal enjoyment. I am exercising regularly with light workouts three to five times a week.

During my recovery, Ann, one of Dr. Samadi’s assistants, suggested I buy Marlene some jewelry to show my appreciation for her dedicated post-op care; I took her advice. Just six weeks after surgery I got a present of my own – a near-zero PSA level.

Marlene and I are now looking forward to living our normal, happy and very busy lives. We are forever grateful to the “magician” Dr. Samadi, his life-saving robotic surgery and his willingness to look beyond my age and treat me as a whole patient.