Guestbook

Dear PD Dr. Salomon,

I would very much like to thank you and your surgical team for the successful operation, as well as all those on Ward 4 who were responsible for my care afterwards. I felt that I was in really good hands at the Martini Clinic and absolutely recommend it.

Everything is run on a very high level and very professionally.

Simply fantastic!

Once again, thank you to everyone!

Dear Martini Clinic team – that sums you up.

Special thanks to Professor Steuber and the whole of the surgical team.

I am glad that you exist.

Please take part in medical trials. It may well be that I have profited from my predecessors.

The success of the operation (nerve-sparing on both sides, open) was quickly noticeable: discharge without a catheter on the 6th day after surgery, the almost immediate and complete return of continence, and the knowledge, histologically confirmed: the tumor had been completely removed!

I am, of course, most thankful to PD Dr. Salomon, who, in the preceding consultations, dealt sensitively with the fears and expectations of his patient, and who then performed my operation “as he would wish to be operated on himself” (I fully believe him!).

But I also owe my rapid recovery to an exceptionally motivated team on the ward: the cleaning personnel and the nurses and doctors give their care in a polite, friendly and approachable way, so that their freshly operated patients (as well as the accompanying partners) feel like guests in a sophisticated guest house.

It is obvious that the Martini Clinic is based on a, not only medical, comprehensive care concept; a concept that is supported wholeheartedly by all the very motivated staff.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you all for your professional support following my operation on the 19th April, 2016. I really appreciate your daily efforts to provide me with the maximum help following the operation, especially as I was surely a hyper-sensitive and difficult patient.

But it was not only the professional, perfect care – it was also the very personal attention, the conversations and your fundamental approach that pervaded, which delighted me. The team worked as one marvellous unit!

Your work cannot be appreciated highly enough, and it is one of the absurdities of the health system that people such as yourselves – and I believe my knowledge of these things allows me to make a judgement – are underpaid.

The operation itself, carried out by Prof. Graefen, who is, as one would say, “a master of his art”, was such that the catheter was removed within a week, and since then I have had no problems or complaints. It couldn’t have gone better. Once again, my sincere thanks with regard to this and to the whole team of doctors.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you all for your professional support following my operation on the 19th April, 2016. I really appreciate your daily efforts to provide me with the maximum help following the operation, especially as I was surely a hyper-sensitive and difficult patient.

But it was not only the professional, perfect care – it was also the very personal attention, the conversations and your fundamental approach that pervaded, which delighted me. The team worked as one marvellous unit!

Your work cannot be appreciated highly enough, and it is one of the absurdities of the health system that people such as yourselves – and I believe my knowledge of these things allows me to make a judgement – are underpaid.

The operation itself, carried out by Prof. Graefen, who is, as one would say, “a master of his art”, was such that the catheter was removed within a week, and since then I have had no problems or complaints. It couldn’t have gone better. Once again, my sincere thanks with regard to this and to the whole team of doctors.

I (55 years old) was on a yearly control at Aleris in Trondheim, Norway in January 2016. The PSA had increased from 2,5 to 4,6 since last year. A new PSA test two weeks later showed the same level of PSA. The next step was than to take an ultrasound, also at Aleris in Trondheim. They did not see anything on this check. We then decided to take an MR at Aleris in Oslo, which has the only private Cancer Diagnosis Centre in Norway. They saw something on the MR, and took a biopsy the same day. After a short period of time I had a meeting with oncologist Marius Normann at Aleris, and together we decided that a radical prostatectomy by the da Vinci method at Martini-Klinik was the best solution for me.

It was no hurry, and I “booked” a date for the operation which was best for me and my employer on the 13th of April 2016.

The evening after the operation, Professor Alexander Haese, told me it had been possible to preserve all important functions. The catheter was removed the day before I left the clinic, and in this respect my situation has remarkably improved from day to day. It was Hamburg Marathon the same weekend and I wanted to take a walk to see all the people running for “life”.

I don’t think you want to be so long way from the toilet the first day after removing the catheter, Alexander told me. I did not listen on that ear and walked slowly for almost two hours without any pain and any need for any trip to the toilet. Now, 10 days after the operation, I am in good shape again. I take a “long” walk each day and am happy with the improvements from day to day. I am able to do my work as a business controller in a large IT company and look forward to recover slowly, but be in as good fit as possible the summer holidays of 2016. I plan to take part in the Hamburg Marathon in 2017. Wonderful city. To be in good shape before surgery is a smart “decision”.

The 21st of April, I received a telephone call from Alexander: the cancer had been entirely removed and no need for extra treatment. Only 10 days after the surgery, I can confirm that there will not be any problem with bladder control or erection.

I thank Professor Alexander Haese and his team for the excellent medical work and for being there for me with a smile and laugh when I most needed it. I focused as little as possible on cancer and all possible results from the surgery. The best way for ME to handle the situation was with smile and much laughing. What can I do? With the absolutely best to operate on me, I was sure this was going to go as well as possible.

One of the best, was perhaps that one felt that everyone really cared about you and had plenty of time to talk to you and make certain that this would go well.

It was good for me to have people like Julia, Olaf, Marianne, Jasmin, Dimitra ++ to talk to and laugh together with. Thank you for all the advices (curious and asked a lot), always smiling and many good hugs. Love you all. I miss you all. ( I really do). You are fortunate to have a job that means so much to many.

I recommend the Martini-klinik, without exception.

It began in 2007 with a PSA value of 5.6, a period of uncertainty, suppression and fear of prostate cancer.

2008 - a PSA value of 6.7 and the first biopsy with a negative result, with an indication for regular monitoring.

2013 - a PSA of 9.9, I was not ready for an operation, but I had already heard of the Martini Clinic.

In August 2015, my wife insistently reminded me of my prostate check-up, at which the PSA was 13.2. My search for the right method led me to the HIFU technique or radiation therapy as “good” alternatives to removal of the prostate.

My very pleasant first contact with the Martini Clinic prompted me initially to have an MRI at the University Medical Center Eppendorf on the 02.09.2015.The result was positive and I therefore had to undergo a biopsy.

The biopsy took place on the 27.10.15 at the Martini Clinic. After the unpleasant experience with my last biopsy in 2008, I am very thankful to Mrs Linse and Mr. Kühne for their very kind treatment. Of the 17 punch samples, 2 were positive. The Gleason score of 3+4 meant that an operation was necessary.

Prof. Dr. Haese carried out the operation on the 01.12.15 using the Da Vinci method. It was possible to spare the nerves and the result was very good. All cancerous tissue was removed; only the tissue surrounding the ureter was no longer intact, but thanks to Prof. Haese, the result is now very good. I also thank him for his sympathetic consultations and the comprehensive information he gave me.

Unfortunately, due to the state of the ureter, I had to wear a catheter for 4 weeks, which was then very gently removed on the 04.01.2016, accompanied by a lot of useful information.

In conversations I still get enthusiastic about the whole team at the Martini Clinic, and I can only recommend that anyone in a similar situation go there.

4 months have passed and my continence is almost perfect. I hardly have to get up at night, and the urge to urinate has eased.

My urologist in Kassel is also satisfied with the overall result.

Many thanks to the whole team, and please keep your typical Hamburg “calm friendliness”.

Jürgen H.

Dear Martini Clinic staff,

if there were an award for patient satisfaction, you would win it.

Every day you all conduct your lives according to the principle

“Say what you do and do what you say.”

This is based on a clinic/patient philosophy that is without equal.

My thanks go to the staff of the prostate consulting hour, the team on Ward 4, and to Dr. Tilki’s surgical team.

I was treated excellently by all the staff from my first day on Ward 4 until my discharge,

Many thanks and greetings,

Gerhard Thom

Dear Martini Clinic Team,

I am deliberately addressing this message not only to Professor Dr. Haese, but to the whole TEAM. I very much want to share my experiences at the clinic with the your next patients.

Grade

Team 1

My Professor 1

Treatment 1

Consultation 1

Result 1

In short, I could find nothing to mention here that would deserve a Grade 2.

Thank you for all your efforts, your knowledge and your patience, thank you.

From the 11-17 of February I was a patient at the Martini Clinic. I would like to express my highest recognition of the personnel and facilities on Ward 1.

Apart from the pleasantly small rooms (only single or double bedrooms), the facilities are attractively fitted with a balcony, TV/radio and a specially equipped room for refreshments for patients and visitors. I would like to make a special mention of the performance of the team that treated me. My greatest thanks go to Dr. Michel, my attending physician. As a football fan, I would put it like this: Messi’s performance on the pitch is the equivalent of Dr. Michel’s performance in the operating theater. Thanks to his medical and surgical expertise, no problems arose, either during the operation or the postoperative reconvalescence. In the first phase following the operation, I constantly felt I was cared for all-round and kept informed at all times in a professional manner. The matter of fact involvement of the patient in the treatment and healing process was very welcome. The demeanor of the clinic staff towards the patients was at all times friendly, patient and helpful.

All in all, I can only highly commend the clinic facility and the staff, and I wish the doctors and all of the whole Martinic Clinic team “doctor’s luck” and continuing success in the future.

Anyone confronted with (prostate) cancer finds themselves in an exceptional physical and psychological situation. The team at the Martini Clinic team is dedicated to dealing with this exceptional situation and to an unconditional fight against cancer. This fight is carried out in a most professional way, involving the best surgeons with wide operative experience, who operate according to the latest scientific findings, and with highly qualified, friendly and highly motivated carers, who are always available to the patient.

My thanks go to the whole team, who were a great help to me; one can therefore only demand: “Create more Martini Clinics!”

Dear Martini Clinic Team,

I was a patient on Ward 4 of your Clinic from the 24.03. to the 29.03.2016. I had to undergo an operation on the prostate as I had prostate cancer. Dr. Salomon performed the operation. Everything went well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Martini Clinic team for everything. You are a “super team” and it is a “super clinic”. I will definitely recommend you.

Warmest regards

Andreas Flejszer

Dear Martinis

Two months ago I had by prostate removed, and since then I have been talking in glowing terms about my stay at the Martini Clinic. I am quite sure that under these, understandably adverse, circumstances, there was no better place for me (or my prostate). The attention and friendliness of the nursing staff, the readiness of the doctors to provide information and their empathy were exemplary, far beyond the norm. So apart from the unavoidable darker side of my stay, there was a lot of light. My sincerest thanks for the professionalism and humaneness, and I wish all the “Martinis“ the very best for the future.

My urologist decided to carry out a biopsy in the spring of 2013, due to variations in my PSA levels. One of the biopsy tissue samples was positive (gs 3+3); for the time being, there was no reason for concern. Two years later, 6 samples were positive, but the cancer was still not aggressive. However, I decided I didn’t want to watch and wait for further developments. My urologist had already informed me about the Martini Clinic, and I had contacted Professor Heinzer for his appraisal of my results. The question was: radiation therapy or an operation; and if the answer was an operation, then which type? Professor Heinzer gave me a lot of his time during the three consultations I had with him, and he was a great help with my decision-making. I decided on a radical prostatectomy by the da Vinci method. I was treated at the clinic from the 09.02.to the 16.02.2016. The evening after the operation, Professor Heinzer told me it had been possible to preserve all important functions, and today (18.02.2016), I received the long-awaited telephone call with the results of the histological tests from the pathology department: the tumor had been entirely removed!!

The catheter was removed while I was at the clinic, and in this respect my situation has improved from day to day. Considering the operation lasted 4 hours, I am now considerably fit again.

I thank Professor Heinzer and his team for their excellent work and for taking a great burden from me.

I also wish to very much thank the ward doctors and the excellent nursing staff on private ward 3, who were very helpful, friendly and competent. They made my stay much easier due to their uncomplicated and positive manner.

Conclusion: I recommend the Martini Clinic, without exception.

As a Norwegian patient replied when I asked him if it was not possible for him to get treatment in Stavanger: “Yes, but if I can choose between a surgeon who performs 60 operations a year, and another who carries out 200, then my decision is clear”. I fully agree with him!

On the recommendation of my urologist and as a result of my own research on the internet, I decided on the Martini Clinic. After a professional and understanding preliminary consultation, the doctor taking a lot of time for me, a radical prostatectomy was decided upon. Dr. Salomon performed the operation, sparing the nerves on both sides, and now, a few days after removal of the catheter, I have no problems with continence. It was not possible to give me a hundred percent clearance after the examination of the fine tissue, but I hope the PSA results will be positive at the next check-up. My sincere thanks go to Dr. Salomon and the whole team of doctors and nurses, as well as to the service personnel, for their constantly friendly and competent treatment and care. Should I need further treatment – which I hope is not the case – I will definitely deliver myself into the tried and tested, capable hands of the staff at the Martini Clinic.

Best regards

Thomas Schreier

Weighed down by doubts and misgivings, I had decided to undergo treatment at the Martini Clinic. A preliminary consultation that took place with Dr. Salomon in the middle of December strengthened my decision; however, I was still quite fearful of the operation.

In the meantime, I have successfully completed the Martin Clinic “program”: I have been at home for a week, the operation went well, the catheter was removed during my stay at the clinic, and altogether, I feel well again.

After the operation, the well thought-out treatment concept, from the useful tube in the bath robe to the supportive advice and procedures on discharge, were very helpful and constructive. I found the friendly atmosphere and the readiness to help extremely supportive. I would especially like to thank Dr. Salomon and all the clinic team, who were friendly and competent during the whole of my stay. They were always ready with a patient answer to every question and a helpful solution to each problem, day and night.

I made exactly the right decision in undergoing the operation at the Martini Clinic, and I highly recommend its treatment concept to all those in a similar situation.

Eight months after my operation, I would like to personally thank Professor Huland and the Martini Clinic team via this guest book. As a physician who has spent a lifetime carrying out surgical operations, and who knows what complications can occur (and which unfortunately did so in my case), I would like to report that, in the end, everything has turned out for the best.

I feel very well, and for the fourth time since the operation my PSA level is a negligible >0.01; I hope it remains that way. I can really recommend the Martini Clinic to all patients, and I am very happy that I decided to have Professor Huland perform the open surgery.

I have been inside many clinics, but never during my 50 years of medical practice have I come across the professionalism I experienced at the Martini Clinic. It has nothing to do with the “luxury 4-star hotel feeling”, as often described in entries in the guest book. The real luxury is the staff that work at the clinic. The nurses and medical personnel work to such a degree of perfection that is hard to equal. I felt very well looked after and “cared for” in the true sense of the words. Not to mention Professor Huland. This doctor is a real phenomenon: professional, humane, friendly, not at all arrogant, not a “god in white”, and his personality immediately inspires confidence, giving one the impression of complete competence. At our first meeting, his medical skills fully convinced me, and I was not disappointed.

Once again, my thanks to you, Professor Huland, and to the whole of the Martini Clinic team!

Dear doctors, dear nurses and carers, dear psychologists,

It is my sincerest wish, before the year 2015 comes to an end, to send you a few lines via your guest book.

This year, I was successfully operated on at your clinic, and I would once again like to express my thanks. Apart from the professional competence at the clinic, it is most important to me to mention the very personal manner in which I was admitted and accepted at the clinic.

This was already evident in my first telephone contact and in the preliminary consultation with Professor Graeffen. Also, I do, and did not take the fact that you made it possible to have the subsequent MRI and biopsy on one day, as I had to travel from near Frankfurt, for granted. Thank you!

With my questions and fears, I felt taken seriously at all times, and I took back gratefully on the medical, nursing and psychooncological competence and help.

I experienced all the people I met during my stay as exceptionally authentic. Each one gave and made use of his/her talents, according to the words of Paul in the New Testament “As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.“

May God bless your services to your fellow men.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas and all the best in 2016.

J. H.

Professional excellence, surgical expertise at the highest level, professionalism, empathy, dedication and passion – this is my personal impression of the Martini Clinic team.

Due to my having consistently attended medical check-ups over the years (I am 56 years old), the prostate tumor diagnosed some weeks ago was, at the time of the operation, at a relatively early stage. I had, so far, not experienced any greater complaints that disturbed my physical well-being. However, the diagnosis of cancer brought about a deep psychological crisis, as I had witnessed my father die of prostate cancer. A further, more severe factor that frightened me was the uncertainty as to what effect the treatment of the tumor would have on my sexuality or my male identity, and thus how it would directly affect the partnership with my wife.

After exhaustive consultation with my urologist, I decided on a radical retropubic prostatectomy, as this surgical method, developed and practiced at the Martini Clinic, appeared, in my opinion, to have several advantages over the alternative radiation therapy. In particular, I was convinced by the possibility of preserving the vessel and nerve structures responsible for continence and erectile function, as long as the rapid tissue analysis performed during the operation showed that the tumor had not spread outside the prostate capsule. The examination of the fine tissue after surgery allows the doctors to evaluate the tumor with regard to further treatment strategies, which, considering my uncertainty was also of decisive importance.

The operation itself was without complications; the outer nerve tissue was spared on both sides. The catheter was removed 6 days after the operation, whereupon I immediately achieved the second degree of continence (while lying and sitting down, as well as walking up and down). I had a sensational experience on the fourth day after removal of the catheter, when my erectile function turned out to be good. After the successful operation, I look forward with great confidence and new courage to the postoperative follow-up treatment at a rehabilitation clinic.

Deciding on the Martini Clinic during the most serious crisis in my life was surely one of the best decisions I have ever made. My immeasurable thanks go to the whole team on Ward 4 (anesthetists, ward doctors, nurses and catering personnel), whose care and friendliness was sheer overwhelming. My surgeon, Professor Dr. Schlomm, has earned an outstanding place in my hall of fame of the persons who have played an important role in my life.

I had high expectations, based on the recommendation of a Swiss urologist and positive feedback from previous patients on the Clinic web site.

My expectations were exceeded. I was operated on 4 weeks ago, using the da Vinci method.

Case history: for years, my PSA values had been rising. In 2014, the PSA value was 5.02, but the biopsy was negative.

Then, by the middle of 2015, the PSA value had risen to 5.69. The biopsy results showed a prostate tumor.

Histology: pT2c, Gleason 4+3=7.

On the 23.09.2015, I visited Professor Steuber’s prostate consulting hour.

Date of the operation: 12.11.2015.

The parting comment of my local urologist was “As to potency, there is no chance of preserving it - no matter what you might read in internet forums. I wouldn’t perform nerve-sparing surgery in your case. There is no point in travelling to Hamburg”.

There were no complications during the operation. Good news on the following day. The nerves on both sides had been spared during the operation.

I had little experience of hospitals. My last hospital stay was 40 years ago, when my appendix was removed. I was therefore slightly fearful and uncertain ahead of the operation.

There was no need.

The procedures at the Clinic are perfectly organized, from A to Z – from consultation on admission to removal of the catheter – everything is managed with precision.

Discharged on the 18.11.2015. I was already continent the day after the catheter was removed.

The next day I received a telephone call with preliminary information on the pathology results, which were the best possible: none of the tissue samples showed any abnormality.

You also need a little luck.

Once again, many thanks for the professionalism and the friendliness of the whole team.

Many greetings from Stuttgart.

Otto Bawidamann