| There is an increasing demand for a minimally invasive | | | | to the study, men who elected a robotic radical had a |
| radical prostatectomy as a prostate cancer treatment | | | | 40 percent increased risk of scarring that interfered |
| option. Laparoscopic surgeries such as the robotic da | | | | with organ function. This is a complication that could |
| Vinci radical prostatectomy have recently come under | | | | require additional corrective surgeries to be performed. |
| scrutiny because of an increased need for correcting | | | | Increased Need of Additional Hormonal Drug Therapy: |
| complications stemming from the surgery. This should | | | | Six months after surgery open prostatectomy patients |
| cause every prospective patient to ask himself if this is | | | | typically need additional hormonal or drug therapy |
| the right surgery for him. | | | | about ten percent of the time. Patients who elect the |
| The robotic surgery has been aggressively advertised | | | | minimally invasive robotic radical prostatectomy |
| and has thus has quickly become a popular prostate | | | | typically need the same treatment one-quarter of the |
| cancer treatment solution. The surgical procedure | | | | time, a dramatic increase over open-surgery patients. |
| went from consisting of 12.2 percent of all radical | | | | Radical Prostatectomy Options and Risk: |
| prostatectomies in 2003 to 31 percent in 2005. | | | | It is important for a man diagnosed with prostate |
| New Review of Minimally Invasive Radical | | | | cancer to consider all potential treatment options. If you |
| Prostatectomy Surgery: | | | | are considering a prostate cancer radical |
| The robotic radical prostatectomy has been chosen | | | | prostatectomy, or another form of prostate cancer |
| by many patients because the surgery is less invasive | | | | treatment, selecting the best treatment option should |
| and patients typically require less than two days stay | | | | be based on a variety of factors including: |
| in the hospital post surgery as opposed to four days | | | | - The growth rate of the cancer |
| for patients who had and open prostatectomy. | | | | - Rate that the cancer is spreading |
| Questions still remain about the outcome of robotic | | | | - Determination if the cancer is curable or incurable |
| radical prostatectomy operations. Published in May, | | | | - Age of the patient |
| 2008 Dr. Jim C. Hu looked to examine the outcome of | | | | - General health of the patient |
| minimally invasive radical prostatectomy procedures. | | | | - Benefits versus potential side effects associated with |
| Favorable Initial Review: | | | | the different treatment options |
| Initial reviews of laparoscopic surgeries look favorable. | | | | When you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, the |
| Dr. Hu's study revealed a 27 percent lower risk of | | | | most important thing to do is to become educated |
| complications during or shortly after the surgery. | | | | about various prostate cancer surgery options. Learn |
| Patients receiving a robotic radical reported fewer | | | | about the potential outcomes and associated |
| immediate problems including bleeding, breathing and | | | | complications. If you are considering a robotic radical |
| cardiac problems among others. The minimal invasive | | | | prostatectomy make sure you are considering all the |
| surgery also resulted in a hospital stay that was more | | | | facts, including the long term risk potential from this |
| than half as short as a typical hospital stay of an open | | | | option. Finally, discuss different treatment options with |
| prostatectomy patient. | | | | your physician and work to determine a treatment that |
| On the surface this looks like a potential advancement | | | | is best for you. |
| within the radical prostatectomy community, however | | | | Questions about Prostate Cancer Surgery: |
| the study reveals some serious potential concerns | | | | There are a variety of prostate cancer surgery |
| after the men return home. After a longer period of | | | | information resources available online. Educate yourself |
| time has elapsed the minimally invasive radical | | | | about your options. Ask questions. Talk to your |
| prostatectomy begins to look less favorable. | | | | urologist and determine which method of treatment is |
| Increased Potential Long Term Risk: | | | | going to be right for your health condition. For too |
| The long term effects of a da Vinci radical | | | | many men there is only one opportunity to defeat |
| prostatectomy are being put into question. According | | | | prostate cancer. |