Dr. Raghunath S.K
Prostate cancer One of the most common types of cancer in men affects the prostate gland, a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid and nourishes and transports sperm. The spectrum of prostate cancer varies from benign to severe forms. While some prostate cancers grow very slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, there are some that can be aggressive and deadly.
Early detection of signs and timely clinical intervention make prostate cancer treatable
The most common symptoms of prostate cancer are difficulty urinating, decreased urine flow, blood or semen in the urine, bone pain, weight loss, and erectile dysfunction. Although the symptoms are non-specific for prostate cancer, detection is usually done through a blood test, which is for PSA (prostate specific antigen). It is difficult to identify the severity of the disease by blood test alone. A variety of further evaluations are required to classify the disease. Severe ones spread quickly and require immediate intervention.
Likewise, non-severe ones can potentially be cured with early treatment. Thus, the role of early detection in prostate cancer is important. It is important to be aware of the early signs and seek immediate help. Cutting-edge technologies such as robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery are showing medical breakthroughs Oncology.
about all Robotic surgery For prostate cancer
The robot is a sophisticated surgical platform used by oncologists to remove cancerous tissue in the prostate gland with extreme precision. Unlike traditional surgery, robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is minimally invasive. This means that only one or two small incisions are made for the procedure resulting in less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, faster recovery and less hospital stay. Also, the robotic system provides a magnified, 3-D view of the prostatic area during surgery for surgeons, making it more convenient and accurate for them, enabling them to remove affected tissue without damaging surrounding nerves or organs.
Advantages of robotic prostate surgery
Less post-operative pain: In robot-assisted surgery, only a few small incisions are made while performing the surgery. As a result, there is minimal blood loss, reduced post-operative pain, faster recovery and less scarring.
It helps in speedy recovery: Robotic surgery ensures minimal invasiveness, avoiding large cuts and dissection, leading to speedy recovery. Post-operative complications are also less. This means a reduction in post-operative stay in the hospital and a reduction in total costs. Also, the patient regains bladder control quickly.
It is more technical, precise and accurate: it makes the surgeon better equipped and more precise so that maximum accuracy is achieved. Moreover, technically, the robotic arms move freely without any vibration.
Robotic surgery over conventional laparoscopic surgery
In traditional laparoscopy, the surgeon has to hold the instrument and view the surgical area through an endoscopic camera that projects an image onto a monitor while performing the procedure. This procedure has certain limitations of movement which can be overcome by robot assisted surgery. In robotic surgery, surgeons use control panels to move robotic arms and operate through small abdominal incisions with maximum freedom of movement that is greater than laparoscopy and human hands. Therefore, as opposed to traditional open or laparoscopic surgery, robotic arms allow better movement over traditional instruments.
Robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery requires well-equipped infrastructure, sophisticated technology, and the expertise of doctors who are well-versed in the system.
Dr Raghunath SK, Senior Consultant and Director, Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru.
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