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Prostate Surgery Breakthrough Helps Get Sexual Function Back Faster - Nurse's Report

If you're facing any type of prostate surgery for any reason including an enlarged prostate gland, severe chronic prostatitis or prostate cancer you may want to know about a new robotic procedure. Current prostate surgery procedures and techniques leave the patient wishing they could improve faster and regain or get their sexual function back faster.

Of course if you can keep your prostate as long as possible that may be the best road to take. Prostate glands are not removed as much as they were in the past. There is a lot of watchful waiting with the prostate depending on the prostate problems and whether it's an enlarged prostate (BPH) or full-blown prostate cancer which is usually slow growing.

Men can live a lifetime with prostate problems and even prostate cancer without having surgery. But sometimes your doctor will tell you that there isn't really much choice. Of course you can always get a second opinion too.

But if you're in line to get prostate surgery you may want to check out this new technique called AIR (Athermal Intrafascial Robotic prostatectomy.) It was developed at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

This robotic technique saves more than 90 percent of the tissues around the prostate gland. The surgical robotic techniques that are currently used save only about 50 percent of the tissues. So this means that after six months the potency level is at 91 percent compared to 67 percent using the older robotic method.

All this means the AIR prostatectomy helps prostate patients regain their sexual function faster. Into also helps men get control of their bladder faster so there is less incontinence.

If you're facing prostate surgery soon or anticipate that you'll be having a prostatectomy in the future, you should check with your doctor or surgeon about the possibility of having this procedure. It's relatively new so you may have to do some research to find a surgeon in your area who is familiar with it and can perform it.

Again if you can avoid having surgery and have good alternative treatments or options that may be the best approach. Make sure to check with your doctor, urologist and/or surgeon to see if there are any alternatives or natural treatments or alternatives to your prostate surgery. Otherwise you may want to consider the Athermal Intrafascial Robotic prostatectomy so you can improve faster and get your sexual function back faster.

An Article About Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that affects the prostate, and prostate cancer is actually the most common cancer among men everywhere. It results in an enlarged prostate and various other unfavourable side effects as well, such as pressure on the urethra, and pain in the affected area.

You also need to be aware that in some situations, there are no signs or symptoms at all that are presented when a person develops prostate cancer. This is why, even if you are not showing any symptoms at all, you need to make sure that you get in to see your doctor on a regular basis so that they can test for the disease. Only if caught early on enough will you be able to get successful treatment and get rid of the cancer completely. If not, the prostate cancer can end up being potentially harmful, even life threatening.

There are a few different options that your doctor has in terms of treatment including prostate surgery. If your case is particularly serious, then you may even need to go through with prostate cancer surgery. This is only considered as being a last resort, when other treatment methods have been tried and failed, because as with all procedures, there are risks involved with this type of surgery.

Weighing the risks and benefits is what your doctor is going to have to do before they can properly decide on whether or not prostate surgery is going to be right for you. This surgery, also known as radical prostatectomy, is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the prostate gland and the surrounding tissues.

Obviously after this a man would be sterile and unable to have children and so this is the main reason why doctors never rush into this surgery and instead want to make sure first that there are no other, better treatment options that could be used in your case. They will need to also consider other aspects and make sure that you are otherwise physically well enough to go through with the surgery.

Prostate Cancer - Is Surgery the Best Cure?

It's important that men today learn as much as they can about prostate cancer, and the types of surgery and cures for this condition. Prostate health probably isn't discussed as much as it should be due to the sensitive nature of the topic. But it's a very important topic that all men need to know about.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be faced with the decision of whether or not to have surgery. This can be a very tough call to make, especially when your cancer is caught early and there are other options that might work.

Recent studies show that prostate cancer surgery on men before the age of 65 clearly saves lives. It has been known to cut the eventual death rate by more than half.

However, for men over 65, the results from prostate surgery are less certain. Many prostate cancer patients fall into the over 65 category and it's difficult to tell if they will be affected in the same way by the surgery.

Prostate cancer often develops so slowly that in someone over the age of 65, there may be no point in having surgery to remove it, especially if the person has other health problems and risks. To determine this, the doctor will need to know your entire medical history and also your rate of cancer growth.

Types of Prostate Surgery

When considering prostate surgery, what do you need to know?

A radical prostatectomy is a procedure in which the entire prostate gland is removed along with the nearby lymph nodes. This is done in prostate cancer cases and under the treatment of general anesthesia. When the prostate gland is taken out, a catheter is put in until the area heals.

There are some short term risks for this type of surgery but they are very low for otherwise healthy men. You will usually need to stay in the hospital for 2 or 3 days and the catheter may need to stay for 2 or 3 weeks. After a month, you can typically return to work and other normal activities you enjoyed before the surgery.

Bladder control usually returns in the weeks after the surgery and there is a mild amount of pain associated with this prostate surgery. If all the cancer was removed during your surgery, you will be cured.

Impotence or Loss of Sexual Function

For obvious reasons, many men worry about impotence or loss of sexual function with this surgery. How well you recover will depend on different things such as your health before the surgery, genetics and your age.

Incontinence and impotence are sometimes risks that come from prostate cancer surgery. The numbers of men that suffer from this are low. If the nerves are cut during the surgery, impotence can occur but this is also rare. The nerves can typically be salvaged unless the tumor is not too large.

If you are under the age of 50 when you have prostate cancer surgery, you can typically expect to recover without any long term loss of sexual function. If you are over the age of 70, it is expected there will be some loss of sexual function, although this is not always the case.

Prostate Cancer Cure

There is no real "cure" for prostate cancer other than removing the cancer through surgery. However, due to advances in treatment and detection, the survival rate of people with prostate cancer is increasing. The best cure however, is prevention. The more you learn about prostate health and procedures to scan for early signs of prostate problems, the better your chances of preventing prostate cancer in the first place.

Men need to understand the importance of taking their prostate health seriously. Get regular exams and have your prostate checked, especially if you are over the age of 50. See your doctor if you show any signs or symptoms that you may have a problem with your prostate. Early detection may be key to avoiding prostate cancer surgery.


Understanding Prostate Cancer Surgery

The last thing you want to think about is prostate cancer surgery. With the thought of all the uncomfortable tests and then the surgery itself, which takes organs from your body, scares many people. You never want to think about it or imagine it could happen to you.

The surgery itself is irreversible and over time, the affects this has on ones life will become known. Although the side effects are not life threatening to speak, but if complications arise from other health problems it could be. Men experience a sexual performance problem and in some cases and will need counseling.

What is Prostatectomy
This type of procedure consists of removing the entire prostate gland along with nearby tissue that may have cancer cells that have spread to them. The two methods used are perineal and retro public.

The retro public method requires removal of the prostate through a small incision right below your belly button and about an inch above the penis. The other procedure, perineal is done with an incision between the rectum and the scrotum. This way sounds more painful than the retro public method.

Before the prostate cancer surgery, a catheter is inserted in your bladder through the tip of the penis. While the catheter is in place, all urine is drained from the bladder during the surgery and your recovery. Usually two weeks past before having the catheter removed.

Once they remove the catheter, you might experience some problems with urinary control for days, weeks and sometimes months. Not all men experience this unfortunate condition. An exception would be sometimes when you lift things or cough you might notice a little incontinence.

Another side affect that results from prostate cancer surgery, the inability to perform sexually, happen if nerves on both sides of the prostate become damaged during the surgery. If you have this problem before surgery, the affects will become more apparent after the surgery. In addition, you need to know if you do obtain an erection, orgasms may be hard to achieve and in some cases, loss of bodily function control during an orgasm may result.

Another newer method of prostate cancer surgery done with robotics’ helps to limit the sexual effects as well as the urinary problems. This procedure is called laparoscopic surgery. This new procedure might not be an option with your doctor, but he or she may refer you to another doctor for this procedure.

Before deciding on what surgery you want to have, you need to consider all the side effects and whatever way you decide, needs to rid your body of cancer. Testing and early prevention also helps determine what type of prostate cancer surgery you need.

Pre-Surgical Preparation and Its Effect on Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Even though the prostate is notoriously difficult to remove, there are some things you can do beforehand to speed up recovery after prostate cancer surgery. Over the years, doctors have come to recommend these preparations more and more. If your doctor does not discuss these things with you, it is still important to ask about them.

For many years, meditation has been considered the arena of quacks and charlatans. Nevertheless, new studies reveal that the ability to relax plays a crucial role in speeding up recovery after prostate cancer surgery. In addition, patients that learn to focus also develop the ability to manage their pain more effectively. This is especially important in assisting with recovery after prostate cancer, as well as from the procedure itself.

Along with fears of the blood banks harboring contaminated blood, there is also an overall growing shortage of blood available for transfusion. As small and unimportant as the prostate is in the overall scheme of things, a great deal of blood may be lost during the surgery. If you have two pints of blood drawn prior to the procedure, you will effectively be donating to yourself. This will make it much easier for your body to adapt to the new blood, and thus speed up recovery after prostate cancer surgery.

As may be expected, your health condition prior to undergoing surgery will either help or hinder your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. While you may not have enough time to take up weight lifting and high impact aerobics; Pilates exercises, Tai Chi, and walking can all boost your sense of well being, as well as speed up your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. In addition, before surgery, it is also important to eat foods that will supply your body with the proteins and other nutrients that will help you heal faster. You may want to check with your doctor to learn about which foods will work best.

It may also be helpful to you to understand what side effects you will have to contend with during your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. As an example, the last thing you want to do is wind up with constipation, and not have stool softeners available. Since urinary incontinence is often a part of recovery after prostate cancer surgery, you will also want to get some undergarments and pads designed to manage this effectively. By having an open and frank discussion with your doctor about this, and other concerns, you will be able to purchase whatever supplied and medications you need before the surgery. This will help you have peace of mind, as well as reduce stress after you get home from the hospital.

Today, doctors are becoming more aware that their treatments occur at a specific point in time. This time point is not at all divorced from all that goes on beforehand. Thus, pre-surgical preparations are becoming a vital aspect of determining speed and completeness of recovery after prostate cancer surgery. If your doctor does not initiate a discussion about these things, you may want bring them up on your own.

Should I Have Prostate Surgery?

For a few men the arrival of middle age brings with it increasing urinary difficulty caused by an enlargement of the prostate gland. Instances of urinary difficulty increase with age so that by the time that most men reach retirement there's a better than 50/50 change they'll be experiencing difficulties and, if they're lucky enough to reach the age of 80, then they'll almost certainly run into difficulty as prostate problems affect about 90% of the male population by this age.

While enlargement of the prostate is extremely common it is also a benign condition that is confined to the prostate gland and for many men it will develop very slowly over a period of years. There are a variety of symptoms, almost all associated with problems in passing water, and these can range from the quite mild which are really not too bothersome and which you can certainly live with as just another sign of the ageing process, to more severe symptoms which are sufficiently annoying to warrant treatment.

In addition to the common problem of an enlarged prostate, which will affect almost all men at some point, a significant number of men will also develop prostate cancer which, while it starts life in the prostate gland, can eventually spread throughout the body and is an extremely dangerous condition and the second most common form of cancer death in the United States today.

An enlarged prostate and prostate cancer are two quite separate conditions and, despite what you may have heard, an enlarged prostate does not cause prostate cancer. The two conditions can however exist side-by-side and one problem with prostate cancer is that the symptoms of an enlarged prostate can mask the presence of a growing cancer.

The first step therefore is to call in and see your doctor as soon as you start to experience any sort of problems passing water and get him to establish the root of the problem.

If you consult your doctor at the first sign of trouble and he diagnoses prostate cancer then it is very likely to be at early stage of development and confined to the prostate gland, in which case your doctor will almost certainly suggest prostate surgery. In this particular case, unless there is a very good reason why you should not have surgery (such as the presence of other medical conditions that you place you at risk from surgery) then the answer to whether or not you should have prostate surgery is invariably going to be "yes".

There can be no question that the best way to deal with cancer is to remove it altogether and, when it is confined to the prostate gland, the easiest and best way to do that is to have it surgically removed.

If, however, your doctor diagnoses nothing more than an enlarged prostate the question of whether or not you should have surgery become a bit more complicated and you will need to discuss your options with your doctor.

There are a range of treatments available for an enlarged prostate including drug therapy and non-surgical treatments, as well as several different surgical treatments and each has its own advantages, disadvantage and risks.

The major difference in the case of an enlarged prostate is that the vast majority of treatments are not designed to cure the problem but are aimed at reducing symptoms so that it does not unduly interfere with your quality of life.

The question of whether or not you should have prostate surgery is very much dependent upon the cause of your problems. If you have prostate cancer and prostate surgery is the recommended option then, unless there is a good reason for deciding otherwise, you should almost certainly accept your doctor's recommendation. If, however, prostate surgery is being considered for an enlarged prostate, then there will be a range of other options open to you and you will need to make a very personal decision, in consultation with your doctor, about whether or not prostate surgery is the choice you feel would be most appropriate.

The Risks Behind Prostate Cancer Surgery

It certainly isn't an understatement to say that there's a lot of fear surrounding cancer. So, there should be no wonder as to why many prostate cancer sufferers are quick to agree to whatever treatment options are available to them. One of these options is prostate cancer surgery. On the surface it seems like a perfect treatment for sufferers; it's fast and it removes the source of the problem... the infected prostate. Yet, what are the risks behind surgery? Many sufferers go on the operating table without knowing the risks, then get overwhelmed if the worst does happen to them. Well, before you consider such procedures, continue reading on to discover all of the risks behind prostate cancer surgery.

1. Pain

Pain is one of the most obvious problem caused by surgery. This is because all surgical procedures, even the most basic will be somewhat painful. Granted, the doctors and nurses will provide morphine or other painkillers, but these are only but so effective. There will be periods where you will just have to feel the discomfort, and it will be far from pleasant.

2. Risks of Anesthesia

When it comes to the risks behind prostate cancer surgery, many may not even think of anesthesia. But anesthesia can carry complications, with the most major being blood clots, heart attack or a stroke. Granted, these complications tend to be rare, but still need to be thought about since they do happen.

3. Bleeding

Excessive bleeding is another one of the risks that you need to know about. Prostate cancer surgery is especially prone to such a risk because the prostate gland contains many blood vessels. If a person bleeds too much, they may need to get a blood transfusion, a process that carries even more risks, despite how routine it is.

4. Incontinence

Incontinence is one of the risks of surgery because the procedure negatively interferes with the muscles that control urinary flow. Incontinence can cause urine to leak when a man coughs or laughs and/or it can result in an excessive urinary urges along with an abnormal flow.

5. Impotence

One of the risks behind prostate surgery that negatively affects a man's romantic/sexual health is impotence. This occurs because the procedure damages or removes nerves that are vital for arousal. However, usually the body can regenerate these nerves after a few months, though for some men it may take up to two years before they regain normal erectile functioning.

6. Penis Shrinkage

Penis shrinkage that is strange yet potentially devastating for some men. Many patients notice a 15 percent decrease in the length of their genitalia after undergoing prostate cancer surgery.

7. Sterility

Lastly, prostate cancer surgery can make a man permanently sterile, since the procedure cuts the vessels between the urethra and the testicles. Although the man can technically still produce sperm, he will not be able to ejaculate it since the connection has been severed.

Radical Prostatectomy For The Treatment Of Prostate Cancer

A person suffering form prostate cancer will be left with surgery as his last option. The whole idea of undergoing surgery for the removal of an organ from your body will be a little difficult to handle and go through. But one must consider this option, as it is the most effective way to deal with prostate cancer.

The nature of such a surgery is permanent, anything that may be done cannot be reversed - the worst thing about all this is the side effects that you may experience and this is not a minor matter and may get complicated and may be later on considered as a health disorder by itself.

Prostate cancer surgery is a radical prostate surgery method. This surgery involves the removing of the whole prostate gland and the tissues that are found nearby. There are two methods of surgery that are followed- retropubic and perineal.

The retropubic procedure is where the surgeon removes the prostate gland by making a cut in the lower part of the abdomen. That is the area below the navel and to an inch above your penis. The perineal procedure is where the prostate is removed through a cut that is made between the anus and the scrotum.

In the process of the prostate cancer surgery, the doctors insert a catheter into the bladder through the penis. This is done for the purpose of draining urine during the recovery period and this is placed for a period of two weeks after the surgery.

Once the catheter is removed the patient experiences urinary problems for weeks and maybe for even months before regaining control back and feeling normal. Some may find it difficult to control the urine while coughing or while lifting heavy things.

One of the side effects of prostate cancer surgery is impotency. The nerves present on both sides may get damaged during the course of surgery. Men having problems getting erections will only find it more difficult after the prostate cancer surgery.

Some people who have undergone prostate cancer surgery will experience side effects such as loss or reduction of orgasm and may urinate involuntarily during orgasm.

Prostate cancer surgery has a lot of side effects and these vary from individual to individual. The positive aspect is the removal of the cancer and the negative aspect is coping with health problems that crop up because of the side effects that are a result of the surgery.

There have been new techniques that have developed in the field of prostate cancer surgery. They are laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery. The tools used are more accurate and also cause fewer side effects that affect the basic functioning of men.

Whatever technique you may opt for, it is very essential to take time to understand, carefully think and make a choice and decide if this is the road to a prostate cancer free life.

You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It

Prostate Cancer. Those two words strike fear, dread, and panic in a man's heart, cutting to the soul and psyche of any man over the age of 45. While the diagnosis of prostate cancer is not a death sentence and has a very high rate of cure, the standard treatment radical prostectomy has some serious side effects without any guarantee of a cure.

Incontinence, rectal wall damage, infection, and impotence are some of the very real permanent consequences of this "gold standard" procedure. You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It offers readers information and hope for a new treatment protocol for prostate cancer - Proton Beam Therapy.

Robert Marckini, author and prostate cancer survivor, has created an informative, well researched discussion of an alternative treatment format for prostate cancer. Proton Beam Therapy, a form of external beam radiation therapy, uses proton beams rather than photon beams to provide more localized treatment of the tumor site. Its advantage over standard X-ray/photon radiation is the significantly diminished exposure of healthy tissue to radiation.

Proton beams can be so precisely aimed that it delivers more radiation to the tumor site with little or no "collateral" damage to surrounding tissue and organs. This significantly diminishes possible side effects and quality of life issues faced by those who undergo other treatment options. The disadvantages of proton treatment are minimal; treatment is eight weeks of treatment - five days a week, some possible changes in sexual potency, and the cost is quite expensive compared to other available treatment plans, however, Medicare and most private insurers cover proton therapy.

Marckini's investigation into various treatment plans led to a very personal exploration of the standard and experimental choices available. Some single path treatments, others involving a combination of techniques and procedures, exposed him to a world of medicine he never knew existed.

Surgery, while the most common treatment plan, is still major surgery and not necessarily the best option for most men. Laparoscopic surgery is an option as well. While recovery time is considerably shorter, the complications and side effects can be significant. With a 60-80% chance of impotence from either surgery choice, men become very concerned about the possible outcomes and like the author, seek viable alternatives. Various forms of external radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and hormone ablation therapy are available, and widely used, sometimes in conjunction with other treatments.

The more Marckini read, the more he felt certain that proton therapy was the choice for him.. He located Loma Linda University Medical Center and began a very serious investigation of their treatment. He went so far as to survey those who had completed Proton Beam Therapy at LLUMC. The overwhelming response was no problems with incontinence and bladder control and only minor issues related to erectile dysfunction (and those were responsive to standard ED medication).

For obvious reasons, Marckini chose proton beam therapy to treat his cancer and has never regretted his choice. As a direct result of his personal quest for clear, easy to understand, and frank information on treatment options, You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It was born.

In a single, easy to use, easy to read format is the type of information that Marckini wished had been available to him at his diagnosis. Compared to other texts on the topic, none of them come close to being as all-inclusive in providing solid information, checklists, guidelines, and a frank discussion of treatment option advantages and disadvantages.

The Few Types Of Prostate Surgical Options

The prostate is a very important part of the male body, and its most major function is that it makes up a fluid which activates the sperm as they are being ejaculated. If it is established that you are afflicted by prostate cancer, then prostate cancer surgical procedure is an option. Anything can happen during surgery and it is terrifying that you have to go under the knife as your body has developed cancerous cells. Anyone will feel that it is unjust for them to have prostate cancer but on the other hand, you can think that there is still surgical method to cure you of the disease.

Count your blessing and be glad that treatment such as prostate surgery is available. Understanding of prostate cancer surgery will help you to overcome any fear that might arise. Prostate surgery is carried out to remove cancerous cells but it is a possibility that cancer still remain and other follow up treatments are necessary.

Chemotherapy is essential to destroy all reminding cancerous cells and make you healthy again. There is a possibility that prostate surgery can remove and cure you of cancer but deep inside you, if you are armed with a positive mindset, the survival rate is higher. The wonder of a positive attitude can help you deal and cope better with prostate cancer. Seek your network of close friends and family to help you overcome the disease; with their support, the path to overcoming cancer is fraught with less difficulty.

Knowledge of prostate surgery is essential whether it is to you or those close to you. An awareness and understanding of prostate surgical procedures will assist you in coping if you or your love one is afflicted with prostate disease. When something goes wrong your prostate, whether mild or serious; surgery is an option.

Differing kinds of surgical methods are available and one of them is radical prostatectomy, in which the whole prostate together with a few of the surrounding tissue is taken off. The surgery calls for a cut either in the scrotum area or the abdomen through a tiny tool that is positioned within the prostate all the way through the urethra.

The other kind of surgical procedure is called cryosurgery and it entails the destruction of the cancer by chilling the cells. Side effects do and can occur with surgery; nevertheless the positives outweigh the negatives. Also lasting and severe side effects are less with the introduction of new surgical procedures. Being fully aware and alert to the surgical procedure can help you to deal and cope better.

If spotted early, prostate cancer surgery can be avoided as other form of treatments might remove the cancerous cell before surgical procedure is required, but in spite of progress in medical science, sometimes the only available option to get rid of cancer from your body is surgery.

Even though prostate surgery is a recognized procedure, the worry about scars, the healing period is there. But fret not as medical advances can lessen these troubles. If there is a need for surgical procedure, robotic prostate surgery is an option as it is done with minimal scars and the recuperation period is shorter. Instead of hands and scalpel, sensors are linked to the doctor's hands that assist it to activate robotic arms. Magnification is provided by cameras and magnifiers. The benefit is the robotic arms are lean and trim, in turn create tinier puncture in the prostate, resulting in fewer scarring and shorter recuperation period. Due to the design of the robots, concentration is necessary and it can be tiring for the doctor. As it is still new frontier technology, doctors are still learning and compared to traditional surgery, it is relatively difficult techniques that take practice. Benefits of such a surgery are immense but not many surgeons are practicing it.

Prostate surgical procedures can also lead to prostate incontinence but with proper care, it can be cured with the passage of time. With time, regaining full control and your self-esteem can be achieved. Prostate surgery incontinence with the progress of medical technology and the introduction of robotic micro-surgeries is little by little banish to history as it is achievable to get rid of the prostate glands with no disturbances to the nearby muscle tissue.

Prostate Surgeries - Treatment Options

Prostate surgeries offer men with prostate cancer an option that will allow them to live an active and comfortable life. Surgery is the oldest cancer treatment around, but it can only help men who have localized prostate cancer that has not metastasized and spread throughout the body. Sometimes the removal of the entire prostate gland is required. Radical prostatectomy may also remove some of the seminal vesicles, surrounding nerves, and veins. Occasionally part of the urethra may also need to be removed. If this is necessary, the man may experience penile shrinkage.

Types of prostate surgeries

There are four kinds of surgeries that are commonly used to treat the prostate gland. Some of them use pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), others do not. They may require an overnight stay after the procedure is done and there could be issues afterwards, such as erectile dysfunction and urination problems. All of them, however, have been useful in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Retropubic surgery includes an eight to ten centimeter incision in the lower abdomen and is considered open surgery. This type of surgery includes the PLND technique and spares the nerves in the body. This surgery has been used since the 1940s, but there is a tendency for the patient to lose a considerable amount of blood. Doctors began to veer away from this type of surgery in the 1980s when better techniques were discovered.

Perineal surgery involves making a four centimeter incision in the muscle and exterior skin located between the man's scrotum and anal sphincter. This procedure has also become less popular unless complications arise and require a larger incision.

Laparoscopic surgery and robotic techniques are the most commonly used techniques today. The doctor will insert a tube-like instrument into the abdominal cavity using a few small incisions. The laparoscope is inserted into the body and allows the doctor to see what he is doing as he removes the prostate gland through one of the other incisions. The robotic version of this type of surgery is done in the same way, except the doctor will use robotic arms to do the work in the body. He controls the arms from a console while watching the proceedings on a monitor. Both techniques are performed in virtually the same way.

Cryotherapy is the newest type of prostate surgery that is being used. It is used when patients do not respond to radiation treatments. A small incision is made in the man's body and the prostate gland is frozen, destroying the malignant cells by dehydrating them, changing the pH levels, or preventing the flow of red blood cells to the organ. It also helps stimulate the production of anti-bodies in the body that will help fight the destruction of the tumor.

Possible side effects of prostate surgery

Considering the delicate area of the surgery and what the prostate gland does for sexual functions, there could be side effects after the surgery. Sexual potency may be affected due to the diversion of blood flow and the way the nerves are stimulated, making an erection difficult to get or maintain. If the procedure is one of the nerve-sparing techniques, men may find that they will regain erectile function much sooner.

Prostate surgeries that use the cryotherapy technique are much less invasive and usually only requires a one day or one night stay. If the initial freezing of the cells does not work the first time around, it can be repeated without any adverse affects to the patient. Unfortunately the procedure is so new that there is little information on the long-time results. No matter what type is used, it should be always be done by a qualified surgeon and their staff.

Restoring Sexual Function After Radical Prostatectomy Surgery

Radical prostatectomy is major surgery that removes the entire prostate gland plus some surrounding tissue. It is carried out on patients having prostate cancer.

For the incision, doctors have two options:

1. it can be made through the abdomen and under the pubic bone, exposing the entire surface of the prostate, or
2. through the perineum, the skin between the scrotum and the anus.

For the full recovery the patient needs up to 12 weeks and, in 80 per cent of cases, radical prostatectomy can lead to impotence.

Impotence means you cannot have an erection and it is more likely if you're older. The severity of the impotence depends on the type of surgery, stage of cancer, and skill of the surgeon.

If the nerve-sparing technique is used, recovery from impotence may occur within the first year following the procedure. Recovery of impotence after a non-nerve-sparing surgery is unlikely, but possible.

The incidence of prostate cancer is very high in the Middle East, and more and more patients are looking to be cured not just oncologically, but also to obtain a sexual quality of life after surgery.

Sildenafil (Viagra) has been found to help restore potency on average in about a third of patients, but some men may recover better than others. In one study, about 80% of younger men potent before surgery and having then bilateral nerve sparing procedures responded to the drug. Viagra is unlikely to be effective for men who had unilateral or no nerve sparing procedures.

Middle East doctors are to prescribe Viagra to men recovering from prostate gland surgery, as the drug has been shown to speed up the recovery process. The fact that Viagra can restore sexual-function so soon after surgery is welcome news. In terms of sexual function, for prostate cancer sufferers this is fantastic.

Robotic Prostatectomy - The Best Option in Prostrate Cancer Treatments

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men. The prostate is the gland in the male reproductive system which produces seminal fluid. Walnut-sized, located in front of the rectum just beneath the bladder, the prostate is susceptible to disease when malignant cells form in its tissues. It is thought that diets high in red meat, dairy products, and bad cholesterol; as well as exposure to toxins in the environment and other lifestyle choices; play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Conversely, diets consisting of raw vegetables and fruits which are high in antioxidants help in preventing cancer of the prostate. Diets rich in fish, with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, can also help to prevent cancer.

Prostate cancer also seems to run in certain families; and there appears to be a genetic predisposition, since men of African descent exhibit the highest prostate cancer risk, whereas men of Asian heritage exhibit the lowest. Prognosis for prostate cancer treatments and the various treatment options available depends upon the patient's health and age, the stage of the disease, and the Gleason score. With early detection and new advances in technology, prostate cancer patients can return to active, productive lives after treatment.

The basic prostate cancer treatment options are surgical removal of the prostate; radiation of the cancerous prostate by either external beam, or by radioactive implants; and hormonal or cryosurgery. The most popular treatment choice in the United States is robotic prostatectomy. This robot assisted surgical treatment removes the cancerous prostate with minimally invasive surgery.

The main benefits of robotic prostatectomy are that the prostate cancer can be removed without leaving cancerous cells behind. Additionally, the majority of patients quickly return to normal sexual function and urinary continence as compared with traditional treatments. Robotic prostatectomy has a higher survival rate than radiation and other treatments, and the patients live longer. There is also a reduced risk of long term complications, quicker healing, less discomfort due to the minimally invasive nature of the treatment.

The Illinois da Vinci surgical robot option for prostate cancer treatment offers the patient major surgery performed through small incisions which result in much less pain, shorter hospital stays, quicker return to everyday activities, and a better clinical outcome. It should be borne in mind that the surgery is not performed by the robot, but only assisted by the robot. Every step of the procedure is observed in great detail by the surgeon on the robot's monitor; and performed by the robot's arms which respond to the movements of the surgeon's hands.

Is Surgery The Cure For BPH And Your Enlarged Prostate?

Is surgery the answer to BPH and your enlarged prostate? There are alternatives...

Quick: Name three things you would rather do than have surgery. The odds are pretty good that you're having a tough time with that request. Not because you can't think of at least three things you'd rather do than have surgery, but because there are just too many choices.

Even the least painful and invasive surgical procedure isn't much fun. For sufferers of Benign Protastic Hyperplasia (BPH), the most common surgery is called transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). Basically it involves removing part of the prostate through the urethra, either through the use of electric cauterization to destroy the tissue, or through dissection. In recent years certain doctors have pioneered a new form of the procedure using lasers.

Although though the procedure is usually effective, and as surgical procedures relatively non-invasive, there are certain cases where real problems can result.

One example is if you're taking anti-coagulant drugs such as warfarin. These may need to be discontinued prior to surgery.

Aside from TURP, a number of new methods for reducing the size of an enlarged prostate have been developed in recent years. Unfortunately, these procedures haven't been in use long enough for their safety or side effects to become firmly established.

In any case, these procedures are all trying to accomplish the same thing, i.e. remove or destroy the part of the prostate that is causing the problem, without damaging what's left.

The methods include transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP), visual laser ablation (VLAP), transurethral microwave thermo therapy (TUMT) and transurethral needle ablation (TUNA). Aside from their stated objectives, these procedures have one thing in common. They don't sound like much fun.

It should be noted that surgery to correct prostate problems is usually only considered after other treatments have failed. In many cases, herbal remedies or certain drugs can be used to alleviate symptoms. As with any course of treatment, consultation with your physician is the first step in determining what's right for you.

The Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon

Treatment for prostate cancer is one of the most rapidly developing areas in medicine, providing men with a wide and sometimes confusing range of treatment options.

While our scientific understanding of the disease is marching forward, the culture of the doctor patient relationship in the UK is changing more slowly.

Some patients remain reluctant to ask their doctor many questions.

Others may grill their doctor a little more, but steer clear of the question I see as the most important of all: how many of these procedures have you carried out?

In America for example, patients are well practiced in researching treatment options then asking doctors about their experience and outcomes. Much of this data is widely available on the internet.

However in the UK, this approach remains rather alien. I do see a growing number of patients who have found my clinic through their own research, rather than a GP or consultant referral.

But patients rarely ask how many procedures I have carried out. This is possibly due to a sense of respect; a perception that it may suggest a lack of trust.

Yet it is so important. Your ability to perform a procedure safely, effectively, with the optimal outcome for your patient is based, to a very significant extent, upon your experience of that type of surgery.

The number of procedures undertaken by individual surgeons varies dramatically. A surgeon may be trained and skilled to perform a particular operation. That does not mean that he or she is the best surgeon for you.

Prostate surgery is a field in which experience can make a critical difference to outcomes. The removal of a prostate (prostatectomy) is technically very challenging because there is a functional aspect to it.

You are not only removing a tumour; you must do as little damage to the nerves which control erections and the muscle which holds and releases urine.

Having undertaken more than 800 prostatectomies, I know the benefits this experience brings to my work in terms of outcomes for patients.

I was one of the first surgeons in the UK to carry out keyhole prostatectomy in 2003; a far less invasive procedure with reduced bleeding and risk of complication. I have now completed more than 400 keyhole prostatectomies.

I have also been able to develop my nerve-sparring techniques, reducing the margins between the removal of the tumour and the erectile nerves.

This kind of precision work is dependent upon the surgeon continuously using and developing his or her skills by undertaking a large and regular case load.

To set this into a broader context, the recent publication of cardiac surgery statistics is a major development for the public scrutiny of surgery.

However, this is only one, relatively small field, where poor performance of surgeons can, in some cases, contribute to death.
In prostate surgery post-operative mortality is almost non-existent. But there are very significant differences for patients in terms of the quality of life they can enjoy after surgery.

You are dependent upon the skills of your surgeon to not only remove all the cancer cells, but in doing so, cause as little damage as possible to the adjacent erectile nerves and the bladder.

You are most certainly within your rights to ask your surgeon how many procedures he or she has completed and whether your operation can be undertaken as keyhole and nerve-sparing surgery.