Burke Dunlap’s Prostate Cancer Journey
Dr. Erlaine Bello is my primary care physician. Due to her thorough expert examination, she discovered that I had a nodule on my prostate. The Urologist that Dr Bello referred me to be examined felt the nodule on my prostate. The Urologist ordered an MRI which showed that the prostate nodule was cancerous. Later, the Urologist performed a biopsy that revealed that the cancer had a Gleason 9 which is very aggressive. The Urologist ordered a bone scan within three days which I am very appreciative of his efforts.
Due to Dr Bello’s compassionate heart and commitment to her patients, she wanted to schedule an appointment to visit her to review the results of the bone scan. I did not want to know if the cancer infected my bone’s until I was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr Bello wisely said wouldn’t you want to know if the cancer did not metastasized to your bones? I replied that she was correct and thanked her for her level headed thinking. The next morning Dr Bello called me with the fantastic news that the cancer did not metastasize! I was in tears when Dr Bello told me the news.
Dr. Bello made a tremendous effort to have me admitted into the Mayo Clinic. She said that due to MDVIP’s connections with top rated hospitals in the United States that I could be admitted into the Mayo Clinic.
Dr Bello had contacted UHA’s administration and asked them if they would be able to provide some support for the medical coverage. Since UHA unfortunately only has service agreements with hospitals across the Hawaiian Islands. Due to Dr Bello’s great efforts the UHA administration wrote a letter that helped defray some of the costs of the medical treatments at the Mayo Clinic.
I was incredibly blessed that the prostate cancer was successfully removed through a Radical Prostatectomy. After one year after the radical prostatectomy, the prostate cancer is in remission.
The Urologist at the Mayo Clinic told me that due to Dr Bello’s early detection of the aggressive cancer nodule upon my prostate, she should be credited for it not metastasizing. Dr Bello saved me from undergoing years of painful medical treatments such as Chemotherapy and Radiation.
In essence, Dr Erlaine Bello expert medical care and diligent efforts to have me admitted to the Mayo Clinic were the major reasons why my prostate cancer is in remission today. I am greatly blessed to have Dr Erlaine Bello as my primary care physician.