Contact: Will Sansom, 210-567-2579

Thanks to lifesaving surgery by the UT Health Science Center’s new Urologic Oncology Team, Wes Toudouze overcame cancer and is planning to marry his fiancée, Nicole LaPrade, in 2011.
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SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 20, 2010) — Wes Toudouze, 23, of San Antonio was studying for a degree in finance at Texas A&M University when he received a stunning diagnosis — testicular cancer. He underwent surgery but lab results brought more unwelcome news. The cancer had spread to lymph nodes in Toudouze’s abdomen, necessitating a second, highly intricate surgery.

For his specialized care, the Toudouze family turned to the newly formed Urologic Oncology Team within the Department of Urology at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. The team sees patients coming to the university’s two medical practices — UT Medicine San Antonio and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at the UT Health Science Center. Abdominal retroperitoneal lymph node resection is one of the many complex surgeries performed by the team’s five fellowship-trained urologic oncologists and two urologic oncology fellows.

Related link: Urologic Oncology Team

Wesley’s story
Toudouze, a former Churchill Chargers quarterback who led San Antonio in total offense in 2004, saw the first warning signs in spring 2009. Pain and swelling in his testicle did not resolve with antibiotics. “Up until that point I had not really considered cancer, but I was starting to get nervous because I had no idea what it was,” he said.

In College Station an ultrasound revealed an irregular lump. His family immediately called George Best, M.D., a San Antonio urologist and close friend of the Toudouze family. Dr. Best confirmed the diagnosis and Toudouze had surgery. Then came the lab tests.

The good news was that the cancer had not progressed past the abdomen and was in early Stage 3. Testicular cancer, if caught early enough, is one of the most treatable of all cancers. Medical oncologist Vijay Gunaganti, M.D., scheduled Toudouze for four rounds of chemotherapy over three months. The last day of chemotherapy was Nov. 24, 2009.

Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., performed Wes Toudouze’s abdominal lymph node surgery.

Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., associate professor and director of robotic surgery and the urologic oncology fellowship at the Health Science Center, performed Wes’ abdominal lymph node resection. He is chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology and holds the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Distinguished University Chair. Dr. Parekh has performed more than 500 robotic technology-assisted surgeries, besides complex open procedures to remove urologic cancers. He is one of the few urologic oncologists in the world who routinely performs robotic surgeries for prostate, bladder and kidney cancers.

“Dr. Parekh explained it was a very complicated surgery, as complicated as he does,” said Wes’ father, Wilson Toudouze.

Wes Toudouze added, “Dr. Parekh had done the surgery many times before and his confidence really calmed my nerves. From the moment that he walked in to talk to me I knew I was in good hands. His care for me was truly amazing.”

The surgery took place Dec. 12, 2009, at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center in San Antonio. After a long holiday break, Wes was able to return to Texas A&M for the spring semester to finish his degree in May. He and fiancée Nicole LaPrade plan to marry in 2011.

Subspecialty expertise
Urologic cancers include kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular cancers. Many surgeries can be performed using a robotic system that enables the surgeon to see the surgical area in high magnification and move instruments very precisely. Prostate cancer is the most common urologic cancer, striking 1 in 6 men in the United States.

Cancer of the testis is rare, and one of the biggest challenges in performing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is the preservation of the delicate sympathetic nerve fibers, Dr. Parekh said. These fibers are involved in seminal ejaculation.

“There is a huge need for this expertise in this region,” Dr. Parekh said. “We are blessed with one of the most formidable teams of fellowship-trained urologic oncologists in the country. Our team wants to expand our presence and reach as many people as we can. We offer the most comprehensive cancer care and tailor the treatment options to the individual. Our physicians do the most challenging urologic cancer surgeries and welcome referrals.”

The Health Science Center team has performed more than 1,000 oncology procedures in university-affiliated hospitals since 2006. Pre- and post-operative care takes place in the Medical Arts and Research Center (MARC), 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, the clinical home of UT Medicine San Antonio.

For a urology appointment at the MARC, call 210-450-9600.

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UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors — all faculty members from the School of Medicine — UT Medicine is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas, with expertise in more than 60 different branches of medicine. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located in the South Texas Medical Center at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and there are clinics and physicians at several local and regional hospitals, including CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, University Hospital and Baptist Medical Center. Call 210-450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.UTMedicine.org for a complete listing of clinics and phone numbers.