SAN ANGELO, Texas — Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. In fact, about one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetimes.
Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. Nearly two-thirds are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 67.
Prostate cancer may not cause signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms, such as: trouble urinating; decreased force in the stream of urine; blood in the urine; blood in the semen; swelling in the legs; discomfort in the pelvic area; and bone pain. (Untreated prostate cancer often spreads to the bones.)
While prostate cancer can be a serious disease, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.5 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, at some point, are still alive today.
The key to success is working closely with your physician to determine the best course of treatment for you. There are several acceptable options, including: surgery, radiation, cryoablation of the prostate, and watchful waiting.
The surgery used to cure prostate cancer is a prostatectomy, which involves the complete removal of the prostate. In the past decade, surgeons across the country have begun to use robot-enhanced laparoscopic surgery to increase the successful outcome of this delicate procedure. In fact, 85 percent of the prostatectomies conducted today use this procedure.
Now, with the installation of the da Vinci Surgical System, patients at San Angelo Community Medical Center can enjoy the benefits of this state-of-the-art technology. It is also being used with great success by SACMC’s gynecologists for a variety of procedures. Patients who have undergone a robot-enhanced laparoscopic prostatectomy generally experience an earlier return to work, less postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, less blood loss, and less scar tissue in the urethra, which is the tiny tube that transports urine from the body.
From a surgeon’s perspective, the benefits are equally clear. A traditional laparoscopic prostatectomy is difficult because the prostate is located deep in the narrow confines of the pelvis. Traditional laparoscopic surgical tools are straight and rigid, and surgeons have often compared using them to working with chopsticks. Manipulating these tools through five tiny incisions with a limited field of vision has made the laparoscopic prostatectomy a much less practical option.
The robotic system provides all the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, while directly addressing its challenges. First, the system utilizes very high-resolution cameras that feed real time images into a computer monitor increasing visualization. The surgeon is seated at the computer console and from there controls sensitive instruments, attached to robotic arms, that offer a wider range of motion than even the human wrist. The instruments mirror the movement of the surgeon’s hands and fingers, giving them even more control and the ability to better spare nerves and tissues. Because of this precision, patients generally regain urinary control and erectile function more quickly.
It’s important to understand that the robot is a tool that enhances the surgeon’s capabilities, but does not replace the surgeon. The da Vinci System does not involve automation or artificial intelligence. Every movement and every decision rests with your surgeon.
As always, at SACMC, we believe that the best medical care is built on personal relationships between patients and physicians. Of course, the relationships and the outcomes are enhanced when committed physicians are equipped with the best tools.
This article is not intended to replace medical advice from your physician. Consult your physician if you have any questions. Brian Bradley, M.D., is an urologist with West Texas Medical Associates and an independent member of the active medical staff at San Angelo Community Medical Center.
Soruce:http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2013/apr/01/prostate-important-to-check-regularly/
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