Uterine Fibroid Embolization

September 3, 1999

Hello Everyone:

I am an Interventional Radiologist with 14 years of experience.

I practice in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, a small city in the eastern part

of the state.

Last June (1999), I performed my first uterine fibroid embolization.

My fifth is scheduled for next week. Technically my procedures have been

successful. Clinical results have so far been encouraging.

I presented this new procedure to many local gynecologists,

and have received a fair reception. As you would expect there has been

a mix of interest and skepticism.

I have " listened in " to the group over the last month. Listening to

your concerns/ questions has helped me a great deal to anticipate my

patients concerns.

Does the group have any suggestions as to how to promote embolization as an

alternative? At least one gynecologist has agreed to help promote the

procedure.

Thank You,

G. Tillman ,MD

tillmanbailey@...

______________________________________________________

September 3, 1999

Dear Dr. -

As far as promoting UAE, I think that women need to first be educated about

fibroids: how common they are, how hysterectomy is really overkill, etc. A

surprising number of even well-educated women still lay their health in the

arms of their doctors. If a woman like Oprah was to do a segment on the

abuse of hysterectomy I think there might be a call to arms. I mean, why cut

out a body part when you can keep it.......Barbara in San Diego

September 3, 1999

Dear Dr. -

As far as promoting UAE, I think that women need to first be educated about

fibroids: how common they are, how hysterectomy is really overkill, etc. A

surprising number of even well-educated women still lay their health in the

arms of their doctors. If a woman like Oprah was to do a segment on the

abuse of hysterectomy I think there might be a call to arms. I mean, why cut

out a body part when you can keep it.......Barbara in San Diego

September 3, 1999

The change has to occur within the gynecological community. A good

portion of the women I am aware of who are seeking/have had UAE have

discovered the procedure on our own. The information is available to

the general public, for anyone resourceful enough to use the internet

and is becoming more available in popular publications.

Even when the patients are informed, it is often a slow process to get

the gynecologist on board - and, heaven forbid, the gp who must

ultimately recommend the procedure since it is one the gynecologist

can't directly perform.

My suggestion is for IR's to contact gynecologists who are associated

with non-profit or salary based practices (i.e. no income directly lost

if someone other than the gynecologist performs the procedure) and

educate them about the procedure. If they become convinced of its

efficacy, and carry it to the wider gynecological community it has a

better chance of taking off. It's hard to argue you ought to be

performing a hysterectomy when your peers who have no monetary motive

to promote one procedure over another say it's unnecessary.

This procedure is unlike any other I've encountered - it often involves

decisions by physicians in three different specialties (Gyn, IR, GP/FM)

in order to get one procedure approved. Until the widespread success

of the procedure itself makes any argument against it futile, I suspect

the road to obtaining a UAE will remain difficult.

original article:/group/uterinefibroids/?start=851

> Hello Everyone:

>

> I am an Interventional Radiologist with 14 years of experience.

> <snip>

> I presented this new procedure to many local gynecologists,

> and have received a fair reception. As you would expect there has been

> a mix of interest and skepticism.

> <snip>

>

> Does the group have any suggestions as to how to promote embolization

as an

> alternative? At least one gynecologist has agreed to help promote the

> procedure.

>

> Thank You,

>

> G. Tillman ,MD

> tillmanbailey@...

>

> ______________________________________________________

September 3, 1999

The change has to occur within the gynecological community. A good

portion of the women I am aware of who are seeking/have had UAE have

discovered the procedure on our own. The information is available to

the general public, for anyone resourceful enough to use the internet

and is becoming more available in popular publications.

Even when the patients are informed, it is often a slow process to get

the gynecologist on board - and, heaven forbid, the gp who must

ultimately recommend the procedure since it is one the gynecologist

can't directly perform.

My suggestion is for IR's to contact gynecologists who are associated

with non-profit or salary based practices (i.e. no income directly lost

if someone other than the gynecologist performs the procedure) and

educate them about the procedure. If they become convinced of its

efficacy, and carry it to the wider gynecological community it has a

better chance of taking off. It's hard to argue you ought to be

performing a hysterectomy when your peers who have no monetary motive

to promote one procedure over another say it's unnecessary.

This procedure is unlike any other I've encountered - it often involves

decisions by physicians in three different specialties (Gyn, IR, GP/FM)

in order to get one procedure approved. Until the widespread success

of the procedure itself makes any argument against it futile, I suspect

the road to obtaining a UAE will remain difficult.

original article:/group/uterinefibroids/?start=851

> Hello Everyone:

>

> I am an Interventional Radiologist with 14 years of experience.

> <snip>

> I presented this new procedure to many local gynecologists,

> and have received a fair reception. As you would expect there has been

> a mix of interest and skepticism.

> <snip>

>

> Does the group have any suggestions as to how to promote embolization

as an

> alternative? At least one gynecologist has agreed to help promote the

> procedure.

>

> Thank You,

>

> G. Tillman ,MD

> tillmanbailey@...

>

> ______________________________________________________

September 4, 1999

Dear Dr. ,

I would suggest contacting the hospital's public relations department if

they have one and suggest getting the message out to the general public

that your hospital does this procedure or contact a local paper about a story.

If you have noticed, embolization has featured on some recent news programs

as well as articles in women's magazines. But I'm sure women who have

wanted it done have not thought it was done locally. If you have been

reading messages from the group. You will realize that most of the women

sought out embolization rather than the gyn suggesting it, so it would seem

logical to get the info out there so the women can ask their gyn about the

procedure locally. Or I would assume they could contact you and you and

their gyn could work something out.

Just a suggestion - publicity for this procedure, I think, would be a good

thing.

heidi

>Does the group have any suggestions as to how to promote embolization as an

>alternative? At least one gynecologist has agreed to help promote the

>procedure.

>

>Thank You,

>

>G. Tillman ,MD

>tillmanbailey@...

>

>______________________________________________________

>

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September 4, 1999