What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that affects or develops in the prostate. A prostate cancer surgeon, also knows as a urologist operates on the patient to treat cancer. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in the male body that produces, nourishes, and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers.
Many types of prostate cancer progress slowly, are limited to the prostate and do not cause serious harm. Some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may require little or no treatment, while other types of prostate cancer are invasive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer is diagnosed early that is still limited to the prostate and is more likely to be successfully treated.
Symptoms
Prostate cancer that has advanced more may begin to show signs and symptoms such as:
- Trouble urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Losing weight without trying
- Erectile dysfunction
- Blood in the semen
- Bone pain
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
Operations for prostate cancer
- Radical retropubic prostatectomy
In this laparotomy, the surgeon incisions in the lower abdomen from the navel to the pubis, as shown in the photo below. During surgery, general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia and sedatives are given. If cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes, the Prostate Cancer Surgeon will say these lymph nodes. Some may be removed by lymph node dissection. If cancer cells are found in any of the lymph nodes, the surgeon may not continue surgery. Cancer is unlikely to be cured by surgery, and prostatectomy can cause serious side effects. After removing the prostate, a catheter is inserted into the penis to empty the bladder while under anaesthesia. After removing the catheter, you will be able to urinate yourself. You may be hospitalized for several days after surgery, and your activity will be restricted for several weeks.
- Radical perineal prostatectomy
In this laparotomy, the surgeon incisions the skin between the anus and scrotum (perineum), as shown in the picture above. Perineal surgery is less painful than retropubic prostatectomy and is easier to repair. After the operation, under anaesthesia, insert a catheter into the penis to empty the bladder. After removing the catheter, you can urinate yourself. You may be hospitalized for a few days after your surgery, and your activities will be restricted for a few weeks.
- Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
At the end of one of the instruments, there is a small video camera that enables the Prostate Cancer Surgeon to look inside the body. Laparoscopic prostatectomy has several advantages over open radical prostatectomy, including less blood loss and pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and less time for the catheter to remain in the bladder. The frequency of serious side effects of LRP, such as erectile dysfunction and continence problems (urinary incontinence), seems to be about the same as with open prostatectomy.
- Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
In this approach, also known as robotic prostatectomy, laparoscopic surgery is performed using a robotic system. However, there seems to be no difference between robotic radical prostatectomy and other approaches to the side effects that men suffer most, such as urine and erection problems. For surgeons, these can provide better manoeuvrability and moving instrument accuracy than standard LRPs.
It is very common to undergo procedures in case of prostate cancer. With the advancement in medicine and technology, these procedures have become better and safer. Even though there is no on-the-paper cure of cancer, the methods and treatments suggested and given by Miramar’s Prostate Cancer Surgeon to retard its growth and treat it better have become more effective and efficient.