da Vinci Prostatectomy: Introduction

This section provides an overall picture of a rapidly changing and highly important area of men's health—prostate cancer and its effective treatment. A wide variety of information has been assembled here to aid patients, their families and their friends to quickly access vitally needed perspectives on the care of the prostate, including breakthroughs in minimally invasive approaches to prostate surgery.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in males in the United States. Sixteen percent of American men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. For a large majority of these men, treatment for prostate cancer results in positive outcomes and a return to good health.

With greater awareness of the high incidence of the disease, it is now being found earlier and mortality rates are declining. This fact, coupled with new medical treatment options, provide new promise for victims of prostate cancer. The vast majority of these patients will go on to live active and productive lives after treatment. Your urologist will explain the range of options available to you to treat the disease.

da Vinci ® Prostatectomy

da Vinci® Prostatectomy provides access to the internal anatomy through five small incisions. The surgeon is empowered to perform a very precise, nerve-sparing operation with the da Vinci ® Surgical System. For the patient, da Vinci ® Prostatectomy may result in more complete eradication of cancer, retention of bladder control and potency.

Is robotic prostatectomy superior to standard prostatectomy? Should you change doctors if your urologist does not do robotic prostatectomy

If you are happy with your doctor and have established a relationship the answer to the second question in my opinion is "no." But robotic prostatectomy does appear to offer some significant advantages, at least in the short term. While time in the operating room may be longer, hospitalization is generally one day rather than 2 or 3, the incision is smaller and less painful, the chance of needing a blood transfusion is now low with either procedure, but rare with robotic surgery.

With robotic surgery people are able to return to full activity sooner and urinary continence returns, if lost, more quickly. Visibility is improved and it is hoped that nerve sparing for potency, when indicated, will be better, but this has not been proven. We also hope that improved visibility will improve the completeness of cancer removal, but this too remains to be proven. Both operations are good, and you should talk to your doctor to decide which is best for you.

> About da Vinci
...... Video
...... Glossary

> Prostate Cancer
...... About Prostate Cancer
...... Causes
...... Screening & Testing
...... Prevention

> Treatment Options
...... Observation
...... da Vinci® Prostatectomy
...... Other Surgery Options
...... Hormonal Therapy
...... Radiation Therapy