09/29/2022

My name is Gail Houdek.  I am a registered nurse who has had the privilege to be Dr. Malviya’s nurse for 32.5 years. Dr. Malviya is an excellent physician, surgeon, and gynecologic oncologist. He is a very caring, brilliant man. In working with him, and seeing the outcomes of his surgeries and treatment plans, I can honestly say that I would trust him with my life. When I needed surgery (and my gynecologist had retired), I was thrilled when he offered to do it. He has operated on 2 of my sisters as well; one of which had stage 3 ovarian cancer (diagnosed in 1989), and because of Dr. Malviya, she is alive and well to this day.

A gynecologic oncologist is necessary for the treatment of women’s cancers; specifically, cancers of the cervix, ovary, fallopian tube, uterus/endometrium, vagina, vulva and primary peritoneal. These types of surgeries are beyond the scope of regular gynecologists. With cancer surgery, hysterectomies, which may be called “radical or modified radical”, attempts are made to cut enough healthy tissue around the cancer in order have the cancer “contained”, or with negative margins of resection. This is especially important to make sure that the ureters, or kidney tubes, are protected from tumor involvement. Lymph nodes are also removed in order to stage the cancer. If cancer is advanced, a tumor “debulking” is done; (taking out as much cancer as possible) in order for chemo or radiation to have less tumor to kill. GYN oncologists also manage chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Dr. Malviya excels in all of the managements of GYN cancers. He explains the procedures, will draw diagrams to help explain the procedures. He will give other options if available. If surgery is not recommended, that chemo or radiation is indicated, he will explain that. If a combination of surgery and chemo or radiation are recommended, he will explain that. Not all of our patients have cancer. Some may have pre-cancerous changes or other problems that can be managed as outpatients. Some patients are referred to him because patients have medical conditions that make them high risk for surgery.  He also operated on patients with benign conditions if it was too difficult for the gynecologist to manage. He can and does successfully manage those patients. He would also go to assist other gynecologists in surgery if they had problems, or if the patients were found to have cancer. Often, he would have to leave an office full of patients to do this. The patients understood for the most part; they may have been one of those patients that he had to leave the office for.

Every patient gets a full exam, including a pelvic and rectal exam with EVERY visit. Follow up is everything. This is necessary because cancers that start in the pelvis, in many cases, will first recur in the pelvis. The rectal exam can also detect any abnormalities in an area called the “cul-de-sac” which is located between the rectum and the vagina, where tumor may recur. Rectal exam also tests for blood in the stool. He always insisted that patients write down their medication list at EVERY visit, so he could review them. If they didn’t comply, he would very firmly tell them how important this list is. They can ask any questions regarding their care, or about any other concerns they have. They will ask his opinion about procedures they have scheduled with other physicians. They know they can tell him anything. They get as much time as they need during office visits. Unfortunately, this creates longer wait times on office days, but most say that he is worth it; he “saved their lives”. When he goes out of town or out of the country, he provides a calling card that HE pays for, so that doctors who are covering for him, or for any of us that have questions can reach him. How many doctors do that? He never forced a patient to have surgery or treatment against their will. If a patient refused surgery or treatment, he respected their decision and was still available for them.

I think that one of the reasons his patients loved him is because they knew that he would not give up on them. They wanted to live; and he always tried his best to help them do that. If nothing more could be done, he would tell them that, and he always followed them for Hospice care. He communicated well with the patients, their families, and their doctors. Patients were sent copies of their office notes, and test results. He would also send this to all of the patient’s doctors.

I was there through it all. I helped him do this for 32.5 years. I am very proud of him, and admire him. I consider him a friend. He even looked out for me when I had gastric surgery. I loved our practice and patients. I am proud that I could assist him. I recommend him to everyone.