PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT: SIDE EFFECTS OF ROBOTIC SURGERY

Radical prostatectomy is major surgical intervention performed under general anesthesia. A prostatectomy removes the entire prostate gland along with some surrounding tissue. The goal of radical prostatectomy is to remove the cancer entirely and prevent its spread to other parts of the body. Surgery usually takes 2 to 4 hours. Patients require hospitalization for 2-3 days, assuming there are no complications.

Over the last several years, many hospitals have begun offering robotic surgery to remove the prostate. During robotic surgery, the surgeon operates the “robot” from a location outside the operating room. This procedure is less invasive than traditional surgery. It may be associated with less blood loss than traditional open surgery, however the need for a transfusion is still a risk.

While robotic surgery has been heavily marketed throughout the world, there has been recent evidence revealing that complications associated with this form of surgery are actually higher than with traditional open prostatectomy (non laparoscopic). These complications include incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

Robotic Prostate Surgery May Mean Big Trade-off

Study: Less-invasive Prostate Surgery May Mean Higher Risk Of Incontinence, Sexual Problems

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There is another minimally invasive option

Cryotherapy is an effective, minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer with lower rates of urinary incontinence compared to surgery. Blood loss is virtually unheard of. Impotency may be a side effect of cryotherapy. Be sure to discuss this and other potential side effects with a physician experienced in cryotherapy. Click here for more information

Cryotherapy is typically performed on an outpatient basis (the patient can leave the hospital the same day) and typically only requires one treatment.

Cryotherapy is covered by Medicare in all 50 states and by most major insurance companies.