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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options:
Radical Prostatectomy
Radical prostatectomy is the most studied and established prostate cancer treatment. The prostate is surgically removed during an operation that takes between one and three hours. After removal, the prostate is examined by a pathologist to confirm the cancer was localized (completely contained within the prostate). If not, your doctor will know immediately and appropriate additional therapy can be prescribed. Usually, a patient spends 2 – 3 days in the hospital after radical prostatectomy, and returns to normal daily life within a few weeks. The foundation of robotic radical prostatectomy is the same as radical prostatectomy – complete surgical removal of the prostate. The difference is how the procedure is done. Robotic radical prostatectomy uses an advanced robotic surgical system. It allows for a single large incision to be replaced by a few ‘key hole’ incisions approximately the size of a nickel. Special cameras and surgical tools are inserted and guided to the prostate. The surgeon operates the equipment from a control station. During the procedure the surgeon sees a magnified image of the prostate which makes the procedure very accurate. Depending on physician experience, this procedure takes 2-5 hours. A patient will usually spend one night in the hospital and will return to normal daily life within about a week.
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