Prostate Cancer Surgery: A One Time Procedure

Prostate cancer has many different treatments though prostate cancer surgery is without any doubt one of the best options; especially, when the prostate cancer is still in its infancy. The medical term for prostate cancer surgery is prostatectomy and this is a procedure that helps surgeons remove the prostate gland as well as any cancerous cells within the prostate gland. There are two ways to perform prostate cancer surgery: either as open surgery or as laparoscopically/robotically.

By Tradition

By tradition, prostate cancer surgery involves needing to make an incision into the lower region of the patient’s abdomen from where it is easy to gain access to the prostate gland which can then be surgically removed. Such type of surgery is generally used only when the patient has an exceptionally large prostate or when doctors suspect cancer that in turn needs to be surgically removed.

However, open prostate cancer surgery is not without its risks as in the process of removing the prostate gland there is danger of damaging the muscles, nerves as well as surrounding tissues close to the prostate gland, and this in turn, can lead to sexual dysfunction. However, new techniques have become known to surgeons who are now able to perform prostate cancer surgery with lower risk and so, surgeons now use techniques that will ensure that no damage is done to the nerves, tissues or muscles.

Laparoscopic surgery involves making a few tiny incisions in the abdomen and then, thin as well as long instruments are inserted into these holes in order to light up the prostate gland which is then videographed after which instruments are inserted in order to facilitate removal of the offending prostate gland.

As far as latest prostate cancer surgery techniques go; the one that is used most often is da Vinci system which also uses robotic means and requires a pair of surgeons to complete the task. The first of two surgeons needs to do the normal operation while his partner uses a computer to maneuver the operations of a robotic arm. There are several advantages to using robot controlled surgery; especially, when it concerns performing truly delicate maneuvers.

Prostate cancer prognosis depends to a large extent on the stage as well as grade of cancer rather than on the actual treatment. Getting prostate cancer surgery done is advantageous in that it only involves having to undergo only a single treatment; though of course it also presupposes the fact that the cancer is only in the prostate gland and has not spread to other parts of the body. Not having prostate cancer surgery done or leaving prostate cancer untreated can lead to incontinence as well as impotence.