Patient Stories
Many of our patients have experienced the advantages that interventional radiology has to offer through a wide range of minimally invasive procedures. These procedures greatly decrease risk, pain, and recovery time. As a result, people come to us from across the state, throughout the country, and around the globe. Our patients truly appreciate what we offer. Here are some of their stories.
Yoku’s Story
Yoku Shaw-Taylor’s lifestyle was severely compromised due to the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and so he underwent a prostate artery embolism (PAE) procedure in the Washington, DC area. When his symptoms returned, Yoku turned to Mount Sinai, where underwent the same procedure, but with advanced equipment and methods. Today, Yoku is much improved and relieved that he isn’t struggling BPH symptoms anymore. Read his full story here.
Norman’s Story
Norman Solomon was a rare patient who started experiencing BPH at the early age of 28. Now 69, his research on treatment options brought him to Mount Sinai. Rather than risk surgery, he chose the minimally invasive procedure, PAE, which is an same-day, out-patient procedure. A year after the procedure, Norman described the procedure “completely life changing.” Read his story here.
Heather’s Story
When Heather’s arm became swollen, she thought perhaps she would just tsleep on it. But the next day, when it became three times its normal size, she raced to Mount Sinai. Doctors found a clot in her right shoulder, and an interventional radiologist performed both catheter-directed therapy to break up the clot and a balloon angioplasty. “He really went above and beyond, even fighting the insurance company to make sure I was on the best medication,” Heather said. Read her full story here.
Irene’s Story
Irene has a rare blood disorder called essential thrombocytosis which causes too much clotting. She has had many complications and procedures, including several miscarriages, and a stay of almost three months in Intensive Care after finally giving birth to a daughter. When a stent failed in her esophagus, the interventional radiology team treated it with an advanced technique—a percutaneous mesocaval shunt—which is only offered at Mount Sinai in the U.S. Read Heather’s full story here.
Andrew’s Story
Eighteen months of pain and searching for answers led Andrew McNamara to Mount Sinai, where an orthopedist finally diagnosed the problem with Andrew’s spine. Orthopedics referred Andrew to the interventional radiology team, who performed a microwave ablation on the T8 left transverse vertebrae in his back. Now, finally able to manage his daily activities and sleep through the night, Andrew is relieved to be free of “the pain that seemed like it would never end.” Read Andrew’s story here.
Cheryl’s Story
When Cheryl woke up one morning with a sizeable lump on the back of her head, she never thought she had Stage IV liver cancer. But when she had the lump removed, surgeons found liver cells in the tumor, meaning liver cancer had metastasized to the tumor. Her local medical team referred her to Mount Sinai, where the interventional radiology team took it step by step along a complicated journey, and two years later, Cheryl just needs monitoring and follow-up. Read Cheryl’s story here.
Loren’s Story
Loren’s uterine fibroids caused her stomach to be so distended that she looked as if she was six months pregnant. When her female gynecologist told her that the only option was a hysterectomy, she was distraught. However, a friend recommended that she try Mount Sinai, where the interventional radiology team recommended uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure that only required an overnight stay. “It was astounding,” said Loren, how much the fibroids shrank over six months. Read Loren’s story here.
John’s Story
Even though John went to a renowned cancer center, John was frustrated after two years. He wasn’t getting results, and he felt he was not treated as an individual. That’s when he was referred to the interventional radiology team at Mount Sinai, and he was impressed by the difference in the way he was treated. “The individualized and skillful treatment by the team is unmatched.” Read John’s testimonial here.
Cicelia’s Story
The pain and discomfort from uterine fibroids were interfering with Cicelia’s work and active lifestyle. While surgery is often recommended, Cicelia found out about uterine fibroid embolization, which is a minimally invasive procedure. Cicelia has called the decision to have uterine fibroid embolization the best decision of her life. Today, she’s pain-free and even her clothes fit better. Read Cicelia’s story here.
