A Successful Procedure With Great Results
In February 2020, Dr. Lasser and his team at JFK University Medical Center performed a robotic radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System.
Everyone on the team at JFK was professional, friendly and reassuring, said Scott.
After the procedure, Dr. Lasser told Scott everything went smoothly. As expected, Scott stayed in the hospital overnight for observation before being discharged to recover at home.
I took almost no pain medication, and was back to work within two weeks, said Scott, a data analyst. Just a month after the procedure, I couldnt even believe I had any kind of surgery because I didnt feel any pain or discomfort.
Scott experienced lingering, mild sexual side effects for about a year after the procedure and took medication to help repair expected nerve damage resulting from the procedure. But nearly two years later, the side effects have completely faded, and he no longer requires medication.
I know that the side effects of treatment are a big concern for most men because I was concerned about them, too, said Scott. Dr. Lasser helped me understand the risk factors of each treatment option, so I knew what to expect.
For anyone considering robot-assisted surgery, Scott said that the robot is an amazing tool and with a highly trained and experienced surgeon at the controls, its a treatment option that can deliver remarkable results.
I Have Prostate Cancer: Do I Have To Wait 6 Weeks To Have My Surgery
One point that is debated among urologists is the time a patient has to wait between a prostate biopsy and surgery. While I was at Indiana my chairman taught me that time didnt matter. The changes after a biopsy should not affect surgery after several days.I took this with me to New Jersey and routinely perform robotic prostatetectomy within 6 weeks of biopsy. I havent had any problems with this and I have done surgery as soon as 2 weeks after biopsy. I would appreciate urologist or patient comments on this topic.Evidence based medicine affirms my position: Urologists and epidemiologists from the University of Iowa have studied this topic.
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Factors That Help Doctors Determine Optimal Treatment
After completing a breast biopsy and receiving your diagnosis, your doctor will order additional imaging and pathology tests to determine the size and characteristics of the cancer. These tests will establish the stage of your cancer and help guide treatment recommendations.
Breast cancer stages range from 0 to IV:
- Stage 0 Abnormal cells are located in the duct lining or sections of the breast. This is non-invasive cancer.
- Stage I Tumor is less than one inch in diameter.
- Stage II Tumor is between and 1 and 2 inches in diameter and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage III Tumor is larger than 2 inches and has spread to the auxiliary lymph node. You may experience dimpling, inflammation or color changes in the skin.
- Stage IV Cancerous cells have spread to other organs in the body.
Your physician will assign a cancer stage in combination with the Tumor, Node, Metastasis Classifications. In addition, as prognostic factor such as ER, PR and HER2 status will be included. These factors help to determine what is driving the cancer and play a large role in determining treatment recommendations.
The TNM staging system for breast cancer is an internationally accepted system used to determine the disease stage and is attached to the stage numbers.
- T The size and extent of invasion to nearby tissue
- N Whether the cancerous cells have spread to the surrounding lymph nodes
- M If it has spread to other organs in the body
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Physical Emotional And Social Effects Of Cancer
Cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional, social, and financial effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer.
Palliative care focuses on improving how you feel during treatment by managing symptoms and supporting patients and their families with other, non-medical needs. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive this type of care. And it often works best when it is started right after a cancer diagnosis. People who receive palliative care along with treatment for the cancer often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report that they are more satisfied with treatment.
Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional and spiritual support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to get rid of the cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.
Learn more about the importance of tracking side effects in another part of this guide. Learn more about palliative care in a separate section of this website.
You Have Plenty Of Time To Make Decisions
Making good decisions is the most difficult part of having breast cancer. You will feel pressed for time to learn everything and start your treatment as soon as possible. Time is usually on your side. You must work with your team to learn everything about your cancer and treatment options. We created the Breast Cancer School for Patients to quickly teach you to be your own expert in breast cancer. You will make better decisions being your own best advocate.
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Prostatectomy Offered At Mercy To Treat Prostate Cancer
The Urology Specialists of Maryland at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions and diseases of the male reproductive organs. Our doctors offer prostatectomy, the removal of the prostate, as a treatment for conditions such as enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
Will My Treatment Be Paid For By Insurance
Cancer treatment is expensive. After a prostate cancer diagnosis, request a full description of your medical benefits from your insurance provider. Bring that with you to your first appointment. During your first visit youll spend some time with the Virginia Oncology Associatespatient benefits specialist. They will know how to help you with gaps in coverage for prescriptions or other concerns that many patients have related to paying for cancer treatment.
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How Prostate Cancer Spreads
- The cells escape into the bloodstream, initially by invading small blood vessels around the tumor, then traveling to larger blood vessels that enable the cells to circulate around the body .
- The cells are filtered through the bodys lymph system although some are captured in lymph nodes, others may travel elsewhere in the body.
- The cells migrate along the length of a nerve, escaping from the prostate into adjacent soft tissue .
How Soon Can We Detect This
One of the main advantages of surgery over radiotherapy for prostate cancer is that following prostate removal, the PSA should be very low , which we can of course detect with blood tests. If metastasis occurs, because the metastatic cells originated in the prostate and therefore make PSA, the PSA level in the blood starts to rise. Once it has reached a given threshold additional or salvage treatment will be discussed.
A PSA level of more than 0.2 ng/ml defines biochemical recurrence. At this stage the cancer is still much too small to be seen on scanning. If it can be seen on a scan it is termed clinical recurrence, which generally does not occur until the PSA level is more than 0.5 ng/ml. Symptoms, such as bone pain, dont usually occur until the PSA is more than 20 ng/ml.
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You Should Expect To Be Walking Soon After Your Procedure
Learn about detection, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and. If prostate cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the chances of survival are. Learn what to expect if you have prostate cancer. Recognize these common warning signs of prostate cancer. Is still being carried out into when it should be used after surgery. Surgery is a common treatment used to try to cure most prostate cancers. You should expect to be walking soon after your procedure. The inflammation and punctures need to heal. This type of surgery is done less often than in the past. Your surgeon should be able to tell you how many operations they’ve done, . If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, learn all the essential information needed to understand this condition and what to expect from treatment. Find out more from the experts at webmd. A radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node .
Surgery may be a treatment option for men with localised prostate cancer. Your surgeon should be able to tell you how many operations they’ve done, . If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, learn all the essential information needed to understand this condition and what to expect from treatment. The inflammation and punctures need to heal. Is still being carried out into when it should be used after surgery.
The Importance Of Communicating With Your Health Care Team
Good communication with your doctor will help improve the quality of the care you receive. Its a good idea to bring a list of questions to the appointment and write down the doctors responses. In addition, if possible, bring someone with you to any appointment another set of ears can help reduce confusion. For more information on talking with your doctor, read CancerCares booklet titled, Communicating with Your Health Care Team.
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Addressing Health Care Disparities: Q& a With Leeann Medina
In this guest Q& A blog post, and as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, CancerCares Disparities Program Coordinator and oncology social worker Leeann Medina-Martinez, LMSW discusses CancerCares Spanish language services and addresses health care disparities, including what can be done to overcome obstacles to care and the resources CancerCare offers to improve health care access.
How Soon After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Should Surgery Be Done
Surgery is a common treatment used to try to cure most prostate cancers. The main type of surgery is radical prostatectomy. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. Creating a checklist of things.
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A Minimally Invasive Bph Treatment
The iTind procedure is a new minimally invasive treatment that provides rapid and effective relief of enlarged prostate symptoms.1
The treatment gently reshapes the prostate, creating new channels through which urine can flow. The iTind procedure does not cause any of the side effects associated with prescription medications, and initial studies have shown that it preserves sexual function, urinary continence and avoids complications that are typically associated with major surgery.1
The iTind procedure is intended for the treatment of symptoms due to urinary outflow obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia in men age 50 and above.
Are There Support Resources For My Loved Ones Or Me
We hope you will turn to the Virginia Oncology Associates team of prostate cancer doctors as your primary resource for assistance during this challenging time. Our team of cancer specialists includes doctors, nurses, financial experts, and social support. They are experienced in helping patients work through the impact of cancer on you and your familys daily lives. Explore our list of community resources or learn about our cancer support group, which many patients find invaluable during the cancer treatment process and even after treatment is complete.
Genetic testing is also available through Virginia Oncology Associates to identify those at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer due to inherited gene mutations, many of which occur in families with specific medical histories. While testing can be beneficial in understanding your and your family’s risk, not everyone is an ideal candidate.
Related Read: Should I Get Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer?
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Are There Any Side Effects After The Treatment Is Complete
In clinical studies there have been no indications of long-term adverse side effects.1 Since the iTind device is completely removed at the end of the treatment week, there is no risk of implant migration, encrustation, or tissue overgrowth. Moreover, there are no obstacles in maintaining a regular prostate screening program, including physical exams or any type of imaging, such as MRI, if needed.4
What Questions Should I Ask My Oncologist
You’ll probably have to wait at least a few days between the prostate cancer diagnosis and the first oncology appointment. You and your loved ones will likely spend a lot of time discussing your cancer diagnosis and no doubt, as you are right now, researching the internet for what you might hear in the appointment.
As you go through your research process, write down any questions that come up so you remember to ask the oncologist, the benefits specialist, or the other cancer specialists youll meet on your first visit. Common questions include:
- Does my prostate cancer require treatment right away?
- If it does, what are my treatment options?
- Are there treatment side effects?
- Will the treatment result in long lasting effects on the bladder or rectum?
- How long does treatment last?
- Will I need to have prostate cancer surgery?
- Are there activities I should avoid or add to my routine?
- What should my diet consist of?
- Can I continue taking my supplements? Should I add any additional supplements?
- Will I still visit my primary care doctor?
- Are there any prostate cancer clinical trials I should consider?
- How likely is my cancer to recur after treatment?
- Should my family get genetic testing?
Also Check: Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer
How Soon After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Should Surgery Be Done : Freedomfighters For America
Learn about detection, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and. Radiation therapy , often with adt, is an option for men in this group. Find out more from the experts at webmd. Is still being carried out into when it should be used after surgery. Prostate biopsy is often done using a thin needle that’s inserted .
Survival And Time To Surgery
A 2016 study published in JAMA Oncology looked at data from over 115,000 people via the National Cancer Database . This study included people age 18 and older who were cared for at Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer centers across the United States.
All of the people had early stage breast cancer with surgery as their first treatment. They then looked at wait times to surgery and survival rates at five different intervals: a wait of less than 30 days, a wait time of 31 to 60 days, a wait time of 61 to 90 days, a wait time of 91 to 120 days, and a wait time of 121 to 180 days.
They found that for each 30-day interval of delay, survival rates decreased for people with stage I and stage II breast cancer. The conclusion was that although time is needed to discuss treatment options and prepare, earlier surgery is better.
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Choose Treatment Doctor Carefully
The study should reassure prostate cancer patients that they can take their time to choose the best treatment for them, but that should not take six months, says Robert A. Smith, PhD, who is director of cancer screening for the American Cancer Society.
“I’m not sure what would be gained by waiting that long, unless the patient is older and decides not to get treated at all,” he tells WebMD. “But patients absolutely should take the time to fully understand the different treatment options and the side effects associated with those treatments.”
Another important consideration, Smith says, is the experience of the treating surgeon or radiologist.
“Choosing someone with a lot of experience who keeps good data on their patients’ side effects is important, because this is highly variable from physician to physician,” he says.
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The Journal of Urology
Radiation Therapy Often With Adt Is An Option For Men In This Group
Recognize these common warning signs of prostate cancer. While you are waiting for treatment, you should meet with different doctors to learn about your . Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers men develop. Find out more from the experts at webmd. Learn what to expect if you have prostate cancer. If prostate cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the chances of survival are. Surgery is a common treatment used to try to cure most prostate cancers. These set maximum targets for waiting times of 14 days between fast track gp referral and first hospital appointment, and 31 days between . Learn about detection, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and. Prostate biopsy is often done using a thin needle that’s inserted . This type of surgery is done less often than in the past. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, learn all the essential information needed to understand this condition and what to expect from treatment. A radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node .
Learn about detection, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and. Your surgeon should be able to tell you how many operations they’ve done, . Prostate biopsy is often done using a thin needle that’s inserted . Recognize these common warning signs of prostate cancer. While you are waiting for treatment, you should meet with different doctors to learn about your .
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Risks Of Prostate Surgery
The risks with any type of radical prostatectomy are much like those of any major surgery. Problems during or shortly after the operation can include:
- Reactions to anesthesia
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Damage to nearby organs
- Infections at the surgery site.
Rarely, part of the intestine might be injured during surgery, which could lead to infections in the abdomen and might require more surgery to fix. Injuries to the intestines are more common with laparoscopic and robotic surgeries than with the open approach.
If lymph nodes are removed, a collection of lymph fluid can form and may need to be drained.
In extremely rare cases, a man can die because of complications of this operation. Your risk depends, in part, on your overall health, your age, and the skill of your surgical team.