Prostate Cancer

Oncology is a medical division that deals with the various types of cancer. Oncology is concerned with the identification of a type of cancer in a person, treatment therapies for cancer like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other modalities, follow-up care for patients suffering from cancer and palliative care for incurable malignancies.

                             Prostate Cancer Surgery In India

Prostate cancer is a common cancer affecting many men around the world. This kind of cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, especially the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer can cause pain, trouble in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse or erectile dysfunction. The prostate consists of many cell types, but about all prostate cancers develop in the glandular cells.

Prostate Cancer Pre-Procedure Requirement

• Undergo a physical examination, along with blood and urine tests.
• Also get the chest electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)-a test that records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle.
• Get an ultrasound that uses sound waves to visualize the inside of the body.
• If your doctor is concerned about a spreading cancer, bone scan or CT scan should also be done.
• Leading up to the procedure: Stop taking Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs up to one week before the procedure.
• The night before, have a light meal and don't eat or drink anything after midnight.

Prostate Cancer Surgery Procedure

In the more traditional approach to doing a Radical Prostatectomy, the surgeon operates through a single long incision to remove the prostate and nearby tissues. The surgeon makes a skin incision in your lower abdomen, from the belly button down to the pubic bone. If the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes, then the lymph nodes are removed from around the prostate and in case the nodes have cancer cells, it means it is improbable that the cancer can be cured with surgery. In Radical Perineal Prostatectomy, the surgeon makes the incision in the skin between the anus and scrotum (the perineum). This approach is used less often because the nerves cannot easily be spared and lymph nodes can't be removed. Laparoscopic approaches to radical prostatectomy use several smaller incisions and special surgical tools to remove the prostate. This can be done with the surgeon either holding the tools directly or using a control panel to precisely move robotic arms that hold the tools.

Prostate Cancer Post Procedure Advice

After the prostate cancer treatment, for most men treatment may completely eradicate the prostate cancer. Even though you may be relieved to finish treatment, but there may be lurking worry about cancer coming back. The follow-up care will include your doctor watching your improvement closely. Go to all of your follow-up appointments, talk about problems you may be facing, take physical exams, lab tests or imaging tests to look for probable remaining cancer or side effects due to the treatment. Your doctor's follow-up plan should include regular doctor visits and PSA blood tests, with digital rectal exams if your prostate hasn’t been removed. Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects that may last for a few weeks to months, but others can last a lifetime. Take medicines as directed by your doctor. Drink plenty of liquids as it will help to clear your bladder of urine and blood. Do not drive unless your doctor has given you permission to do so. Avoid energetic exercises for six weeks after surgery. Resume sexual activity only when able. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, or any other food or drink that might aggravate your stomach, intestines, bladder, or urinary tract.

Prostate Cancer FAQ's

• Q. What is the prostate gland?
  The prostate gland is a male sex gland. It produces a thick fluid that forms part of semen. The prostate is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
• Q. What is a PSA blood test? PAP?
  The PSA blood test is an important tool in helping to detect prostate cancer, especially when it is done along with a digital rectal examination (DRE).
• Q.  How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
  A biopsy diagnoses cancer.
• Q.  What is the best treatment for prostate cancer?
  The doctor will decide what is the best option for you after studying your case thoroughly. This will depend upon your test results and your biopsy.
• Q. What is robotic prostatectomy and when is it used for prostate cancer?
  Robotic prostatectomy is the newest and most advanced surgical option for qualified patients. In this minimally invasive procedure, the latest robotic-assisted technology is used to remove cancerous tissue and spares nerves surrounding the prostate that control bladder and potency.
• Q. What is staging the disease?
  Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and what parts of the body are affected.
• Q. How long does it take to regain urinary control (continence)?
  It has been reported that 80 percent of men regain continence after three months, 90 percent after six months, 93 percent after 12 months and 97 percent after 24 months. A small subset of men will regain complete urinary control immediately after the catheter is removed.
• Q. Are there surgical options to restore urinary continence?
  Permanent urinary incontinence is rarely encountered by men who undergo open or robotic surgery. In rare cases, stress incontinence may require surgical correction using either a male sling or an artificial sphincter.
• Q. How long does it take to regain erectile function?
  Unlike the restoration of urinary continence, the return of erectile function is typically a more protracted process. Very few men spontaneously regain erectile function immediately after radical prostatectomy. Erectile function typically begins to return between 3–12 months after the surgery.
• Q. What are the options for managing a recurrence of prostrate cancer?
  A ‘biochemical recurrence’ of prostate cancer is defined by an elevated PSA. The major challenge when this occurs is to determine the site of the disease recurrence. If the disease recurrence is localized (confined to the area of the prostatic bed), then salvage radiotherapy is likely to cure the disease. On the other hand, if the recurrence is due to systemic disease, salvage radiotherapy will fail, and hormonal therapy may be offered.
• Q. When should I call my doctor?
  Call your doctor if you have the following symptoms:
  • Fever over 101° F after the surgery
  • Rising pain or swelling
  • Redness or tenderness
  • Numbness