Weighing Your Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer now have many treatment options available to them, including radiation, surgery, and drugs that stop the growth of the prostate cancer.

With so many choices, all of which have their own benefits and risks, choosing the best prostate cancer treatment can be difficult. The most appropriate therapy will depend upon the size and aggressiveness of the cancer, as well as whether it has spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, multiple treatments are used.

Watch and Wait: Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer

Improved screening and detection of prostate cancer means that many cancers are found long before they are likely to pose a serious threat.

When theprostate tumor is very small or slow-growing (early stage), many men opt to “watch and wait,” an approach known as active surveillance.

This doesn’t mean do nothing. Your prostate cancer will be monitored regularly for changes in its size or growthusing:

exams
blood tests
imaging (such as MRI)
follow-up biopsies.

Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Radiation can be used to kill prostate cancer cells. Improved methods have allowed doctors to use higher doses of radiation, but with fewer side effects. The two main types are:

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT).X-rays are aimed at the prostate cancer from outside the body.
Radioactive material implants(Brachytherapy). Thisinvolves placing radioactive material (or “seeds”) inside the prostate gland.

Prostate Surgery

During prostate surgery, the prostate gland is removed (radical prostatectomy), along with any nearby lymph nodes (part of the immune system) that have become cancerous.

While any surgery has a risk of complications, minimally invasive techniques, such as robotic prostatectomy using the da Vinci® Surgical System, combines the latest robotic and surgical techniques. Prostatectomy performed using the robot has many benefits, such as:

less pain and blood loss
fewer complications
shorter stay in the hospital
faster return to your normal activities.

Success of this procedure depends on both the skill and experience of the surgeon, as well as the technique used.

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Hormone therapy blocks or reducesthemale hormones, such as testosterone, that fuel the growth of prostate cancer. Side effects include decreased sex drive and loss of muscle mass. This treatment can involve:

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which blocks the production of testosterone using either medicines or removal of the testicles (the place where testosterone is made).
Anti-androgens, medicines that keep the prostate cancer cells from using testosterone.

Treatment Options for Advanced Prostate Cancer

If the prostate cancer moves beyond the prostate gland (metastasis)—such as into the lymph nodes or other organs—doctors may use multiple types of therapies in order to treat this aggressive form of cancer.

In addition to hormone therapy, another treatment option is chemotherapy, which uses special drugs to slow or stop the growth of prostate cancer cells. These drugs are usually given in cycles, such as every 21 or 28 days.

The main side effects of chemotherapy are:

nausea and vomiting
temporary hair loss
drop in white blood cells which increases the risk of infection.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Robotic Surgery

Surgery procedures have come a long way from the past methods and they continue to advance on a regular basis. These days, surgery can be done with a precision that is hard for us laymen to comprehend, and one of the most precise methods of surgery in this day and age is robotic. Through robotic surgery, doctors and surgeons are able to reach the minutest areas where hands would never be able to go. Through robotic arms, the surgery itself is clean and precise. However, it is also a very new option, which means you may know little about it. Before you have any surgery done, you should always ask your doctor questions.

Below, you will find questions you should ask before you undergo robotic surgery.

Is Robotic Surgery the Right Choice for My Surgery?

Not all surgical procedures can even be performed through this cutting edge method. It may or may not be an option for you, depending on the condition that you have and the procedure that you need to undergo. You will need to talk to your doctor to determine if this is the right choice for you.

Are There Reasons Why the Procedure May Not be the Best Choice?

Even if you can undergo robotic surgery, you will need to understand that there may be reasons why it is not the best option. You could have some types of underlying medical conditions. There may be specific things that you and your doctor need to discuss. Be sure to understand what those things are to determine if you still want to undergo robotic surgery.

What Types of Risks are There to Robotic Surgery?

Of course, there are always risks to any type of surgical procedure. You need to understand those risks well before you have any surgery done. Talk to your doctor about the specific risks that may come along with robotic surgery as compared to the risks that come with other treatment options you may have.

What Type of Recovery Time Can I Expect from Robotic Procedures?

Often, the recovery time from a robotic surgery will be much shorter than other procedures, but this can depend immensely on the type of procedure you are undergoing. Be sure to discuss the recovery time you can expect from robotic surgery as opposed to other types of treatments.

How Long Will the Procedure Itself Take?

Robotic surgeries involve different time frames, when compared to other types of treatments and procedures. You will be under anesthesia during that time, and you need to know how long the surgery will take. Be sure to discuss the robotic procedure with your doctor and the time frames of it or any other surgical procedure you could consider for your condition.

Anytime you need to have a surgical procedure performed, you will need to ask all of the right questions. If you have the option of robotic procedure, then you will definitely need to understand everything about it before you undergo anything so that you can determine if it is the right choice for you.

Men’s Prostate Health Event – Dec. 12th in River Falls

Know Your Stats Conference - Dr. Gaertner, Dr. Knoedler

Dr. Gaertner and Dr. Knoedler have been invited to speak at the Dec. 12th Men’s Prostate Health Event in River Falls, WI. The event will be held at River Falls Area Hospital Conference Rooms. At the conference, Dr. Gaertner and Dr. Knoedler will present on the latest advancements in prostate screenings and other risk factors, options and treatments. The event will contain patient stories, presentations and videos.

One lucky attendee will with a $100 Cabellas gift card!

To register call 715-307-6060. Space is limited.

da Vinci Prostatectomy Chosen Most for Prostate Cancer Treatment

More U.S. men choose da Vinci Surgery than any other treatment for prostate cancer, and more and more men worldwide facing prostate cancer are choosing da Vinci Surgery.

Thanks to breakthrough surgical technology, Dr. Gaertner and Dr. Knoedler can offer a minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer – da Vinci Prostatectomy. Studies show that, compared to open surgery, experienced da Vinci surgeons achieve better cancer control – lower positive margin rates. Positive margin rates are a measure of cancer cells left behind – lower is better.

Recent studies show more patients have full return of urinary continence within 6 months as compared to patients having open surgery

Shorter hospital stay
Lower risk of complications
Lower risk of wound infection
Fewer days with catheter
Less pain
Faster recovery and return to normal activities

To learn more, check out our section on [da Vinci Prostatectomy].

“A Novel Modification of a Robotic Prostatectomy: Posterior Approach” by Dr. Robert (Bob) Gaertner

NCS: North Central Section of the AUA, Inc

As a leader in the urologic robotic surgery field, Dr. Gaertner was asked to present on new advances in the field of minimally invasive urologic surgery at the NCSAUA conference in October, 2012 in Chicago, IL. Dr. Gaertner presented on “A Novel Modification of a Robotic Prostatectomy: Posterior Approach” using his vast experience in the robotic surgery field to critically outline the pros and cons of surgical prostatectomy, energy based focal therapy, various forms of radiation therapy, as well as robotics in the treatment of LRPC.

This event, which attracts the best surgeons from around the country on an annual basis just had it’s 86th annual meeting. As a noted speaker at such an event, Dr. Gaertner is clearly known as one of the most renowned urologic surgeons in the country.

For more information about Dr. Gaertner, visit Dr. Gaertner’s bio page.

“Complications of Robotic Surgery” presented by Dr. Chris Knoedler at NCS

NCS: North Central Section of the AUA, Inc

At the NCSAUA 86th Annual Meeting, Dr. Chris Knoedler was asked to speak as a leader in the robotic surgery field on the “Complications of Robotic Surgery.” The North Central Section of the AUA’s annual meeting was held in Chicago, IL at the Swissotel.

Dr. Knoedler’s presentation was instructional to identify results of various laparoscopic and robotic approaches and techniques for benign and malignant urologic diseases and the benefits/risks of robotic surgery in these cases.

For more information about Dr. Knoedler, view Dr. Knoedler’s bio page.

da Vinci® Offers Minimally Invasive Option for Bladder Cancer Treatment

Cystectomy is traditionally performed using an open approach, which requires a large abdominal incision. Another approach, conventional laparoscopy, is less invasive, but limits the doctor’s dexterity, visualization and control, compared to open surgery.

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a breakthrough, minimally invasive approach – da Vinci^® Surgery. da Vinci Surgery uses state-of-the-art technology to help your doctor perform a more precise operation than conventional instrumentation allows.

da Vinci Cystectomy incorporates the best techniques of open surgery – including comprehensive cancer control – and applies them to a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach. da Vinci Cystectomy offers patients several potential benefits over open surgery, including:

Less risk of death
Less blood loss
Lower risk of major complications
Less narcotic pain medicine needed
Less use of IV feeding tube
Quicker recovery of bowel function
Shorter hospital stay

To learn more, check out our section on [da Vinci Cystectomy].

Outcomes Data Shows The Recovery From ED Procedures

Small delicate nerves responsible for erectile function run adjacent to the prostate. Trauma or injury to the nerves during surgery may result in impotence. Below is our post operative potency data of ALL healthy patients less the 70 years old who were capable of sexual penetration preoperatively.

Erectile Function Graph

Erectile function continues to improve with time. Two years after a robotic prostatectomy, 89% of this group of patients are capable of sexual penetration.

To see more data check out our section on [Erectile Function Outcomes].

3rd Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Golf Tournament

On August 13th Metro Urology hosted the 3rd Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Golf Tournament at Kilkarney Hills in

River Falls, WI. The mission of the Metro Urology Foundation is to provide educational opportunities where people living

with urologic conditions, and their families and friends, can join with others to increase their knowledge and understanding of the urologic conditions they live with daily.

To learn more about the event [Click Here].

Metro Urology A Sponsor of Dash for Dads Sept 22

The DASH FOR DAD is part of a national initiative designed to raise funds for prostate cancer research and community awareness. The race is part of the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge®, America’s Premier Men’s Health Event Series, taking place in 2012.
This year Metro Urology will be a proud sponsor of the event held in Minneapolis, MN.

To register, donate, or to learn more [Click Here].