Professor Harvey is extremely attentive and knowledgeable, assisting in uncovering an underlying problem that had been missed by other professionals. Throughout my journey he and his team have been accommodating in scheduling treatments and appointments and with each visit I have always felt welcomed. I was referred to Professor Harvey by another Dr who spoke of him in very high regard and I can say with ease that being in Professor Harvey's care has brought me huge comfort
Posted Date : 10/03/2021
Anonymous
Professor Harvey and his team are simply fantastic. I found the entire process, from the first consultation through to the operation and post-operative care to be very comforting and totally exceeded my expectations. Professor Harvey was realistic in terms of explaining what he could do for me from both an appearance and breathing perspective. I have been totally blown away at how well the process has turned out and the end result – I can quite honestly say that I dont think it could have turned out any better. Thank you
Anonymous
The year was 2013. My holiday of a lifetime had been marred by my nose running incessantly and producing an excessive amount of mucous.
After a visit to my ENT Specialist I had two large polyps removed however, during the operation the Dr noticed some tissue at the back of my nose which he thought did not look right. Even though this was well out of his area and in no way related to the polyp operation he took a sample and ordered a biopsy. In going the extra mile and taking the tissue sample the Dr had effectively saved my life.
Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
The next step was to attend the Cancer Clinic at St George Hospital where I endured seven weeks of Radiation Therapy five days a week. It was the most uncomfortable experience as a taut mesh mask had to be fitted over my face and head to ensure that nothing could move during the radiation. The side effects of the treatment were horrific.
I developed a completely ulcerated mouth and throat which bled every night. I lost my senses of smell and taste and also my saliva which meant I had trouble swallowing anything. My mouth became very dry and food would turn into a big furry ball. I could not breathe through my nose and my tongue and lips swelled up, ulcers covered my gums, I could no longer talk and developed a cough. I was given morphine for the pain. My neck and back became inflamed and unbearably itchy and I began to lose my hair. My weight plummeted to 60kgs. I had no energy and could not walk far. I still could not breathe through my nose. I lived on “Ensure” a thick, milky drink with a large dose of protein in it. I was tired, very weak, grey looking and sad. I was virtually at the end of my tether.
Soon I could not even swallow “Ensure” and was fed through a nose tube for eight hours a day which gradually decreased until my mouth and throat started to heal.
Nine months after the Radiation I began to get better. I regained some taste and smell and produced a very limited amount of saliva. I still could not breathe through my nose.
The tissue in my nose was too damaged to have further treatment and no one was prepared to operate as there was no guarantee that with the large amount of scar tissue and the very thin skin in my nose that the blood would clot.I was told there was nothing more that could be done for me, however, my specialist advised that if there was anyone who may be able to help me it would be Professor Richard Harvey.
By this time it was 2018, five years after my cancer diagnosis. I still could not breathe through my nose and my senses of smell and taste had deserted me. I slept with tightly rolled up tissues
in my nose which had to be changed throughout the night as my nose ran all night as well as all day. My saliva was minimal. I had lived with this condition for so long that I had virtually given up hope of ever recovering and being normal again.
On arrival at Professor Harvey’s clinic in September 2018 I was attended to by his team of polite, caring and efficient professionals before consulting with him.
Professor Harvey listened intently to my story and immediately said he would try to help me. He was very positive and explained that I would require an operation which he was willing to do if I agreed to take the risk. In November 2018 Professor Harvey operated on my nose. I had complete faith in him.
The operation was a success and in a short period of time I began to smell and taste again. I was thrilled to be able to breathe through my nose again which was something I had never been able to do for my entire life. I was most impressed when Dr Harvey called me on the Sunday after my operation to see how I was. What other top surgeon would do that?
From time to time after the operation my nose was touchy so throughout 2019 Professor Harvey persevered with his treatment and I faithfully did everything he advised me to do.
By May 2020 I was a different person. I could eat properly and more importantly enjoy my food. I had forgotten how good it is to be able to taste different flavours as I had grown so used to everything tasting bland. I had developed more saliva although it was not the same as pre cancer saliva and my mucous levels were under control. I continue to wash my nose out thoroughly every night with a special solution, use a gel to stop my teeth from decaying and a dry mouth toothpaste.
I do not snore anymore and am no longer embarrassed by having to blow my nose frequently during social occasions, in fact, I hardly ever have to blow my nose at all.
At last I have my life back.
To me this is a miracle and I thank Professor Richard Harvey. He gives hope to patients who believe they have insurmountable problems and does not give up on anyone. He is the most caring, kind, understanding and brave surgeon who, even though he is at the top of his field has kept the common touch. I doubt I could have found a better surgeon anywhere in the world.
Greg G
Anonymous
Just wanted to add another voice to the glowing reviews for Prof Harvey. I have had recurring nasal polyps and asthma for the past 8 years, to the point where I couldn’t breathe out of my nose or smell anything, constantly snored, slept badly, etc. I have had sinus surgery in the past with poor results (the polyps just grew back straight away), and was dead against the idea of any more surgery. On recommendation I drove from Canberra to see Prof Harvey, who recommended I try a biologic treatment (mepolizumab) and have surgery.
The biologic improved my condition significantly – it seems to be a great treatment for some chronic patients. I wasn’t sure about the surgery but decided to give it a go after Prof Harvey told me about his less invasive process, and explained the structural change that would occur post-surgery (basically creating a proper nasal passage that lets me use my steroid washes way more effectively).
I had the surgery a few months ago, and as promised, the recovery was much more swift and easy than previously. The results have been amazing – I can smell, taste, breathe, exercise, sing, and just live a happier and more fulfilling life. Prof Harvey’s holistic care – using a combination of the biologic treatment, steroid washes and surgery – has been a wonderful change from the various doctors I’ve seen in the past. He also has a very clear, friendly and practical manner, giving me confidence that I understand the rationale behind every step of the treatment plan.
Highly recommend!
Anonymous
Prof Harvey is simply the best if you have any ENT issues. He and his team are friendly, caring and professional. Before and after my surgery Prof Harvey thorough explained the procedure and expected results. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge.
I would highly recommend Professor Harvey as an extremely capable, experienced and very qualified ENT Specialist in whom a patient can have great confidence. Others in my family and friends circle have been lucky enough to have Prof Harvey as their specialist and we all can’t express how thankful we all are. When you’ve had ENT issues for years, and Prof Harvey fixes it, you realise that you really had no idea about how good it is to breath normally!
Anonymous
As an individual that works professionally as a musician and recording artist, nothing is more important to me than my vocal health, and the stability and maintenance of all other physical factors that influence or affect my singing. For as long as I can remember, I have always had issues with my nose – difficulty breathing through both nostrils that worsened and became easier periodically with no real understanding of why this was happening. To make matters worse, I would also suffer extreme bouts of hay-fever daily, accompanied by excessive sneezing, a runny nose and a scratchy throat. I tried many alternative treatments like ‘Rhinolight Phototherapy’ to name one, all to no avail – and I’m sure that anybody that sings or uses their voice heavily can understand how these factors affected not just my day-to-day, but my line of work overall. I had to learn to sing alongside such symptoms, which brought on a dependancy for antihistamine pills and nasal sprays, of which always resulted in a very short-term fix. Every GP I saw seemed to tell me I had physical issues within my nasal passage, and most insisted that I have surgery. After hearing incredible things about Prof. Richard Harvey I ignored all of this prior advice, and I put myself on the waiting list to see him. Doing so was one of the best things I ever did for myself, and for my voice.
First of all, Prof. Harvey confirmed that there was indeed nothing structurally wrong with my nose, of which instantly negated almost everything I had been told by various GP’s and the prospect of surgery altogether – which was a humongous relief for me. Then we discussed his strong inkling that most of my symptoms and overall difficulty breathing could have simply been a long term buildup of inflammation from my incessant hay-fever attacks and dust mite allergy (and he was 100% right!) Prof. Harvey then enlightened me on the process of immunotherapy and I started my course of Acarizax that same day – and have not experienced one single symptom listed above since.
I have been cured of all of my symptoms – all without the surgery that I was told by GP’s and various other doctors that I needed, when it fact, I didn’t. I could not recommend or hold an ENT to a higher regard. Prof. Richard Harvey is an incredible doctor, and a wonderful person. I urge anyone who is on the fence for surgery or other intense treatments to make an appointment with Prof. Harvey and explore other less-invasive, and in some cases, more effective options. He is simply the best in Sydney, if not the country!