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Prostate Cancer Surgery - 3 Forms Of Prostatectomy

There are many forms of treatment available for prostate cancer but one of the most common treatments for early stage cancer which is confined to the prostate gland is prostate cancer surgery known as the prostatectomy.

The prostatectomy, which essentially involves the removal of the prostate gland and thus the cancerous cells contained within it, can be performed as open surgery or can be performed either laparoscopically or robotically.

Open surgery is the traditional form of surgery in which an incision is made in the lower abdomen to allow access to the prostate gland which is then removed using standard surgical techniques. This form of surgery is often used when the prostate is particularly large or where there is a suspicion that cancer may have spread to tissue immediately surrounding the prostate gland which may also need to be removed.

One problem with open surgery (and indeed laparoscopic surgery) is that the removal of the prostate gland can also damage nerves, muscles and other tissue in the region of the prostate gland leading to problems with sexual function. Recently however surgical techniques have been developed to minimize such damage and a growing number of surgeons are now skilled in nerve-sparing techniques.

In the case of laparoscopic surgery a number of small incisions are made in the abdomen to allow for the access of a series of long thin instruments which are used to provide lighting for and video of the area of the prostate gland, as well as access for the surgical instruments used to remove the prostate gland.

The latest surgical technique which is coming into increasing use is nerve-sparing robotic surgery using the da Vinci system. Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery but requires a team of two highly skilled surgeons. The first surgeon operates beside the patient in the normal manner, while the second surgeon sits at a computer controlled console and manipulates the robotic operating arms.

The advantage of robotic surgery is that it allows for the use of extremely delicate instruments, the movement of which can be very precisely controlled. This degree of precision can lead to little or no damage to the nerves, muscles and other surrounding tissues, as long as the procedure is carried out by a highly skilled and experienced team of surgeons.

The main advantage of prostate cancer surgery is that it is a one-time procedure which, as long as the cancer is confined to the prostate gland, can often provide a complete cure for the condition. It's main disadvantage is that it can cause impotence and incontinence.

Surgery For Prostate Cancer: Risks And Complications

Your doctor may recommend surgery as a prosate cancer treatment. Operation is likely to be a less complicated if your prostate cancer is in its early stages of development. In this case, your surgeon may just remove the cancerous section of your prostate gland. However, there are cases where prostate cancer surgery treatment does not go according to plan. As with every type of surgery, there is always the possibility of complications.

One possible complication is that if the nerves that control the penis become damaged during prostate cancer treatment. If this complication happens, you may develop impotence. You should discuss this possibility with your doctor. Be sure that your partner is also aware of the risks as you will need to talk over this issue with her.

Two other possible consequences of surgery for prostate cancer may also develop. They include incontinence and urinary leakage. Incontinence is when you do not have much control over passing urine. Urinary leakage is where you have some control but not totally. So you dribble a little either before or after voiding your bladder. These two symptoms often disappear after a few weeks; however, there are cases where they may not.

Surgery for prostate cancer is a painful procedure. You are likely to experience a great deal of discomfort after the operation. You need to be prepared that you will need to have the help of nurses and loved ones with toileting. However, you should not get overly distressed with this as it is really a very small price to pay for becoming cancer-free.

There are a number of surgery options for prostate cancer treatment available and the one you choose will be specific to your case. You need to discuss them over carefully with your oncologist before choosing a one.

More often than not, your entire prostate gland will be removed so that there is little chance of the cancer returning some time later. The surrounding lymph nodes will also be removed as this is the first place that the cancer would have spread to. Removing your prostate gland can help to reduce or stop the spread of cancerous cells throughout your body.

A radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate gland. However, your surgeon can enter the body through the abdomen or through an incision made between the scrotum and the anus. In some cases, where the cancer is confined to a specific area of the prostate gland, he may suggest key-hole surgery or laparoscopy for removing only affected sections of the gland.

Going through surgery for prosate cancer treatment can cause you much emotional as well as physical pain. You should try to focus your energies on getting better and to be positive in the light of your experience.

Important Information on Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer is one of those cancers which grow very slowly and are not easy to diagnose. It is a critical illness for men over fifty years of age, so it is of prime importance that men in the susceptible age group get regular check-ups so as to prevent the trauma of prostate cancer surgery. One of the early signs, apart from urinary problems, is an enlarged prostate, which can be manually felt by the physician. A simple blood test is usually a guide as to whether the patient has prostate cancer or not. If the doctor can clinically diagnose an enlarged gland, he will ask for an ultrasound test. Depending on the findings, the patient may have to undergo prostate cancer surgery.

Prostate cancer surgery is nothing to be frightened of as surgeons do it routinely.

Different Kinds of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer surgery may be routine for the surgeon, but there are many different types of surgery which can be done to remove the prostate gland. But it is important that the cancer is localized and not spread. Among the common surgery for prostate gland removal is the radical retropubic prostatectomy whereby the prostate gland is removed through a small cut in the abdomen. However, surgery may not be the first resort, depending on the stage the cancer is caught. Sometimes radiotherapy may be the first option. It is important to discuss all options and treatments before going in for prostate cancer surgery.

Prostate cancer surgery is not always done through an abdominal incision. Another type of prostate cancer surgery is called perineal prostatectomy where the cancer is removed via the perineum. Then there is laparoscopic surgery. What kind of surgery is done depends a great deal on how far the cancer has spread, because if the enlargement is too big it can affect the surrounding nerves and tissues and surgery has to be very precise not to cause further damage. Since prostate cancer surgery can cause adverse complications like impotence or incontinence, it always better to take an informed decision and explore all options. Sexual arousal, ejaculation, urine and bowel control can all be affected by the prostate gland.

Sometimes the enlarged prostate gland can cause urinary problems, especially when the urethra is blocked by the enlargement. In such cases the problem causing part can be excised and the rest heals on its own. But this is not necessarily a cure for prostate cancer, which is a more serious problem.

Prostate cancer surgery may not always be needed; sometimes the cancer can yield to radiation therapy. In the first place, regular medical check-ups are important to rule out any problems, especially with the prostate gland. However, if prostate cancer does occur, then different treatment options must be discussed with the medical practitioner or oncologist.

The information provided in this article, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.

Experience Really Is Important When It Comes To Prostate Cancer Surgery

With most things in life it is true to say that the more practiced and experienced you are the better your performance and this is most certainly true with prostate cancer surgery.

One of the biggest problems with cancer is that, in spite of the best efforts of your surgeon, it has a bad habit of recurring in a number of cases. In the case of prostate cancer following the total removal of the prostate by radical prostatectomy recent studies show that, while the chances of a recurrence are around 18 percent where surgery is carried out by a fairly inexperienced surgeon, this figure falls to under 11 percent in more experience hands. So just what do we mean by 'experienced hands'?

A recent study examined just under 8,000 prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy surgery in the United States between 1987 and 2003 involving no fewer than 72 surgeons from 4 major academic cancer centers around the country.

The study showed that there is a very steep learning curve when it comes to carrying out prostate surgery and that it takes considerable practice to master this particular surgical technique. Indeed, the study revealed that it was not until surgeons had carried out at least 250 operations that a marked improvement in recurrence rates was evident.

So just what can we learn from this study if we are faced with the possibility of having to undergo prostate surgery?

First and foremost it is very important that patients select a surgeon who regularly undertakes this form of surgery. Indeed, it may well be advisable to select a surgeon who specializes exclusively in prostate surgery, or whose work revolves largely around such surgery. In most general settings surgeons will perform such surgery infrequently, perhaps as rarely as just once a year, and this is simply insufficient to provide them with the expertise necessary to provide you with the best possible change of a low recurrence rate.

Against this background therefore your first choice should undoubtedly be that of a specialist cancer treatment center and a surgeon whose work involves exclusively, or very largely, prostate surgery.

The study also showed however that there is a marked improvement in recurrence rates not merely for specialist cancer centers, but also for teaching establishments. This is because, within an academic setting, a great deal of emphasis is placed on supporting mechanisms to assess the outcome of procedures and to provide feedback in an effort to create an environment in which continuous improvement is seen. This is not always the case in non-academic environments. Also, academic centers tend to attract people who are particularly interested not just in the outcome of their work but in correcting their errors and improving their technique.

So, should you find yourself in the position of needing prostate surgery then you would be well advised to elect to have surgery with an experienced and practiced surgeon who works in a specialist cancer center housed within a major teaching facility.

Prostate Gland Cancer Surgery Is An Option For Older Men

Although surgery is often recommended as a cure for prostate gland cancer, many men are currently denied this option simply on the grounds of age and most surgeons will not carry out prostate surgery on men over the age of seventy. But things may be about to change.

In a recently published study death and complication rates were examined for more than 11,000 men who underwent prostate cancer surgery in Canada between 1990 and 1999, including a number of men over the age of seventy. Indeed, the oldest man in the study group was seventy-nine.

The study, which concentrated on the thirty days immediately following surgery, found that mortality did increase slightly, but not significantly, with age and that overall the mortality rate was about 0.5 percent. In total, fifty three men in the study group died within thirty days of surgery and a further 2,246 experienced a variety of complications.

The study also found however that there was a clear link between mortality and pre-existing medical conditions, in particular a history of stroke or heart disease. Heart problems also accounted for a significant number of those men who experienced post-operative complications.

So does this mean that we should consider dropping this seemingly arbitrary age barrier when it comes to prostate cancer surgery?

Well, although there is some discussion over whether or not the study group results would be repeated in a more ethnically diverse group, such as that likely to found in the United States, the answer would appear to be yes. In essence, those expressing caution on grounds of ethnicity are effectively suggesting that a higher proportion of Black men in the study group might have changed the results. However, although prostate cancer is more prevalent amongst Black men, the true difference in the rate of prostate cancer seen in Caucasian and Black men may have a surprising cause.

Whether or not you should have prostate cancer surgery should have far more to do with your health and a lot less to do with your age. Regardless of age, if you have an aggressive cancer, but are otherwise in good health, then surgery may well be a good option. On the other hand, if your cancer is not particularly aggressive and you have other medical problems, such as a heart condition, then it may be safer to consider alternative radiotherapy or hormonal treatments.

It should not be forgotten too that there are some general complications resulting from surgery which do increase with age and there are also long-term complications such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction which must also be considered.

In all cases you should of course consult your doctor and be guided by him on the treatment that is best to meet your own medical circumstances. If, however, your doctor simply says that you're too old for surgery to be an option then it might be worth questioning this advice, or even getting a second opinion.