Back to full speed after prostate cancer

“I’m a little bit of a science nerd,” said Greg Sutliff.

So, when the 52-year-old energy efficiency director learned he had prostate cancer, he had plenty of questions for Alan Iverson, MD, his urologist at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento.

Dr. Iverson answered with pragmatism and empathy.

“I appreciated his matter-of-fact approach,” said Sutliff. And based on the information Dr. Iverson provided, Sutliff decided to move ahead with surgery to remove his prostate.

A team of experts under one roof

As a Kaiser Permanente member, Sutliff benefited from the organization’s comprehensive approach to cancer care.

“We have physical therapists, we have radiation oncologists, we have surgeons — all under one roof,” said urologic oncologist Jared Whitson, MD.

A specialist in laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Whitson used the minimally invasive technique to perform Sutliff’s prostatectomy. “Some of the instruments are actually robotic, wristed instruments,” he explained. “Incisions are much smaller, pain is much less, and recovery time is usually 2 to 3 weeks shorter.”

Now back to the things he enjoys most — from doing yoga to playing basketball with his son — Greg Sutliff considers himself “a very lucky person.”

“I got the best care I could have gotten.”

Learn more about cancer care at Kaiser Permanente.