Re: Robotic Prostatectomy

[Guest guest]

Here is a link about robotic surgery from the Henry Ford Hospital. http://www.henryfordhealth.org/body.cfm?id=41144Mick juanitamackey wrote: My husband was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. We are looking into all optional treatments. Does anybody know anything about robotic prostatectomy being done at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan? There was an article in December 12, 2005 Newsweek about it. God rewards those that keep on keeping on. Stay positive. Think positive. Pray positive. And talk positive.

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[Guest guest]

I am sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. ABOVE ALL

DO NOT PANIC AND RUSH INTO TREATMENT. The cancer

has probably been growing in his body for several years. It will

not kill him overnight. Take the time to learn all his options

A laparoscopic prostatectomy is still a radical prostatectomy

and may have all the same unpleasant side effects.

You did not say how old your husband is or any of his diagnostic

statistics such as his clinical diagnosis, his PSA, his Gleason

Score and any other stats. Has his PSA been taken before?

Has he had a biopsy? Have you had a second opinion on the

biopsy? All of these things should be considered before

making a decision.

I had my prostate removed in 1992- but we did not have as many

options at that time. I would not choose surgery today. I believe

that seed implants, HDR, ( brachytherapy) is a much better option

for moderate cancer that seems to be confined to the prostate.

If the diagnosis appears that it may have escaped the prostate,

then external radiation and hormone ablation may be the better

choice.

No matter what therapy one chooses, there are always some side

effects, No matter who does it or how it is done, removal of the

prostate has side effects, some more pronounced and unpleasant

than others.

You are wise to do a lot of research. One reason not to have surgery

is because sex will never be the same after the prostate is removed.

It and the seminal vesicles manufacture almost all of the ejaculate.

During orgasm, the prostate squeezes down and forces the semen

out. This is a part of the pleasure of an orgasm. You may still be

able to have an orgasm, but it may take a lot more stimulation.

Many men who have surgery are impotent afterwards. There are

nerves on each side of the prostate that control erectile function.

These nerves are difficult to see and quite often they are severed

or severely damaged.

Another side effect of RP is that many men lose some length and

girth afterwards. Several studies have been done on this subject.

Go to www.google.com and search for Loss of Penile Length and

Radical Prostatectomy. Before my surgery, I had 7 1/4 inches. Now

I can barely manage 6 inches when using my Vacuum Erection Device

(VED)

Many men are also incontinent afterwards because the primary

bladder valve is intimately connected to the prostate. It is very

often damaged and some men are completely incontinent. Some

of these men have to have an Artificial Urinary Sphincter implanted

in order to control their urinary output. Some men learn to use

the secondary valve below the prostate by doing Kegel exercises.

But even if they do learn to control normal urinary functions with this

valve, when they try to have an erection or sex, this valve will open

and they will have leakage. This valve has always opened during

sexual activities and no amount of Kegel exercises will cause it

do otherwise. Since the primary valve is not involved in brachytherapy,

there is little or no incontinence.

The impotence rate is also very low. Some men will still have an

ejaculate, though it may be less in volume. Some men are

even able to father children after brachytherapy. After a RP, one may

be able to have sperm aspirated from the testes and used to

impregnate a woman. But it is a difficult procedure, is expensive and

may not always be successful. If a man thinks he may want to father

children after a RP, he should consider banking some of his sperm

I wish you all the bestAubrey Pilgrim, DC (Ret.)Author of A Revolutionary Approach to Prostate Cancer-Read the original book for free at: www.prostatepointers.org/prostate/lay/apilgrimRead the new edition for free at http://www.cancer.prostate-help.org/capilgr.htmDr. E. Crawford is co-author of the revision

My husband was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. We are looking into all optional treatments. Does anybody know anything about robotic prostatectomy being done at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan? There was an article in December 12, 2005 Newsweek about it.