The prostate is a male reproductive gland that produces a fluid found in semen. Located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, the prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder.

 

Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland and may spread to surrounding structures. While most men with prostate cancer have no symptoms, physicians can find prostate cancer during a regular checkup, using a combination of a blood test called a PSA and a digital rectal exam (DRE).

 

Nearly one in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. With greater awareness, prostate cancer detection is on the rise and mortality is declining. Moreover, better treatments are allowing more men to return to active and productive lives after treatment.

If the you have an early diagnosis of prostate cancer, there is usually a range of treatment options. These may include conservative management, radiation therapy with either external bream or brachytherapy therapy, cryosurgery and prostatectomy, which is the surgical removal of the prostate. Your treatment options will depend on a number of factors, including the stage of the disease, your age and health or personal preference.

 

 

 

Referred to by many as robotic surgery for prostate cancer or robotic prostatectomy, da Vinci prostatectomy is more accurately a robot-assisted, minimally invasive surgery that is quickly becoming the preferred treatment for removal of the prostate following early diagnosis of prostate cancer. In fact, studies suggest that da Vinci prostatectomy may be the most effective, least invasive prostate surgery performed today.

 

Though any diagnosis of cancer can be traumatic, the good news is that if your doctor recommends prostate surgery, the cancer was probably caught early. And, with prostatectomy done using robotics, the likelihood of a complete recovery from prostate cancer without long-term side effects is, for most patients, better than it has ever been.

 

da Vinci prostatectomy is performed with the assistance of the da Vinci surgical system, the latest evolution in robotics technology. The da Vinci enables surgeons to operate with unmatched precision and control using only a few small incisions. Recent studies suggest that this procedure may offer improved cancer control and a faster return to potency and continence along with these other potential benefits: 

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient- and procedure-specific. While prostatectomy performed using the da Vinci surgical system is considered safe and effective, this procedure may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.