Regional One Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Ava Saidian and Dr. Nikhil Gopal, both fellowship-trained urologic oncologists, to our team of expert providers.
Dr. Saidian and Dr. Gopal treat prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, penile and adrenal cancers.
As specialists, they provide patients with the most advanced level of care, which can lead to better outcomes and quality of life.
Regional One Health continues to elevate the level of cancer care available to Mid-South patients with the addition of two urologic oncologists, who bring the highest level of expertise to the community as specialized, fellowship-trained surgeons.
Ava Saidian, MD and Nikhil Gopal, MD use laparoscopic, robotic and traditional surgery to treat prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, penile and adrenal cancer. At Regional One Health, they collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes medical oncologists, urologists, and other specialists to give patients access to comprehensive care.
“Our focus is practicing oncology in a very contemporary way,” Dr. Saidian explained. “We want to give the people of Memphis access to the most cutting-edge treatment options available, and our number one priority is doing what’s right for each individual patient.”
Dr. Saidian said it’s important for patients to be aware of risk factors and symptoms of urologic cancer, and to seek care from a specialist if they have concerns or are diagnosed with cancer.
She said the main lifestyle-based risk factor for urologic cancer is smoking. Many other risk factors are things patients can’t control – for example, older men and African-American men are at higher risk for prostate cancer, while genetics can play a role in kidney and bladder cancer.
Patients with urologic cancers experience various symptoms based on their specific diagnosis.
Blood in the urine can be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer. Sometimes, the amount of blood is too small to see, and it’s caught by the patient’s provider in a urine sample.
“Our focus is practicing oncology in a very contemporary way,” Dr. Ava Saidian explained. “We want to give the people of Memphis access to the most cutting-edge treatment options available, and our number one priority is doing what’s right for each individual patient.”
For testicular and penile cancer, the patient typically sees or feels a lump. With adrenal and kidney cancer, the first sign often isn’t a symptom, but an incidental discovery of a tumor when the patient has an imaging scan for another reason.
The only form of urologic cancer where routine screening is available is prostate cancer. A blood test measures the level of Prostate Specific Antigen, and patients with high levels may need additional testing. Average-risk men should have the test annually starting at age 50.
Despite the challenges in managing risk and detecting urologic cancer early, Dr. Saidian said many patients have good outcomes when they receive the type of specialized treatment her team delivers at Regional One Health. Treatment options vary based on the type and stage of cancer.
For bladder cancer, surgical treatments include removal of the tumor or removal of the bladder to address the cancer and prevent recurrence. Patients may also require chemotherapy or radiation.
Kidney cancer patients usually have surgery as a first step, but may also be treated with medical and radiation oncology. Based on the stage of the cancer, surgeons may remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, the entire kidney, or the kidney, adrenal gland and lymph nodes.
Prostate cancer that hasn’t spread can be cured by removing the prostate gland and surrounding tissue, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy. When cancer has spread, patients often have medical oncology treatments such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
With testicular, penile cancer, and adrenal cancer, surgery is the most common option. Typically, doctors remove the affected testicle for testicular cancer patients, the tumor and surrounding tissue for penile cancer patients, and the adrenal gland for adrenal cancer patients.
Many urologic cancer surgeries can be performed as minimally-invasive procedures using laparoscopic or robotic techniques, Dr. Saidian said. These procedures involve smaller incisions, so patients can go home sooner – in some cases the same day – and have an easier recovery.
Surgery is one of the most common treatments for urologic cancers. Our providers also collaborate with medical oncologists, urologists, and other experts to provide comprehensive care.
Patients who require traditional surgery can expect to stay in the hospital a little longer.
Because treatment is tailored to each patient’s specific diagnosis and needs, Dr. Saidian said it is essential to educate patients and involve them in decision-making.
“We talk about all of your treatment options, because it’s very disease-specific and patient-specific,” she said. “It’s something that will be a decision we make as a team, and that includes the patient, their family, their referring providers, and other specialists.”
Dr. Saidian takes a compassionate, patient-focused approach not only to surgery, but to helping patients navigate their treatment journey.
After a biopsy, she lets patients know the results as soon as possible rather than waiting until the next office visit. She always makes sure patients have a direct means of contacting her so she can respond quickly to questions and concerns.
She wants patients to have a chance to process their diagnosis, do research, and ask questions so they’re prepared to discuss treatment options when she sees them in person. She encourages patients to bring a support person to help with the discussion on next steps.
“I try to treat everyone like they’re my family member and develop a personal as well as a clinical relationship with patients,” she said. “I consider it a privilege that you’re allowing me to care for you, so I want to give you all the resources you need to have a good outcome.”