Prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer that occurs in old age. About 50% of men in their 80’s will be harbouring this cancer and will never show any symptoms due to it. These patients will never need treatment as well. However, there is a distinct set of young prostate cancer patients who would benefit from treatment. These are younger and fit patients with longer (more than 10 years) life expectancy. These prostate cancer patients need surgery called radical prostatectomy to attain a cure.
There 3 ways in which radical prostatectomy can be performed: conventional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery or robotic surgery. Open surgery is difficult as the prostate is located deep in the pelvis and reaching it is very difficult. Patients generally have a long hospital stay, blood loss, pain, etc.
Robotic surgery has brought about a lot of difference in the management of prostate cancer. It is less traumatic and the functions are better maintained after surgery.
We are concerned about the urinary and sexual functions after Prostate Cancer Surgery. As prostate is deep down in the pelvis conventional open surgery is to be very difficult. Thus the results were equally poor. Robotic prostatectomy results are far better in comparison to open surgery. Often we are able to discharge the patients within 2 days of surgery. This is wonderful when compared to open surgery which requires more than 7 days.
Today more than 60% of the prostate cancers in the USA are operated by robotic surgery. However, it’d be interesting to note that surgical robot (da Vinci) was invented for heart surgeries. However, it ended up being used for urological cancer surgeries. As it is said Robot was aimed at the heart but hit the prostate.
Radical prostatectomy surgery is responsible for most of the cures of prostate cancer.
You can read more about prostate cancer treatment on my website (link)