Can Robotic Surgery Spare Nerves?
Prostate Cancer
Can Robotic Surgery Spare Nerves?
A robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), simply known as robotic surgery, may have the ability to address the biggest concerns in prostate cancer surgery: the severing of nerves, which results in the loss of urinary and sexual function.
Robotic surgery is performed by the surgeon who manipulates robotic arms with the assistance of a computer. Some surgeons say that with this technique, they can perform more exact and smaller cuts, which can help when it comes to dealing with all the fine nerves in the prostate area. “In general, this type of surgery involves less blood loss and better recovery rates–but has similar side effects and effectiveness to open surgery,” says Dr. James Brooks, Chief of Urologic Oncology at Stanford Medicine
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
A robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), simply known as robotic surgery, may have the ability to address the biggest concerns in prostate cancer surgery: the severing of nerves, which results in the loss of urinary and sexual function.
Robotic surgery is performed by the surgeon who manipulates robotic arms with the assistance of a computer. Some surgeons say that with this technique, they can perform more exact and smaller cuts, which can help when it comes to dealing with all the fine nerves in the prostate area. “In general, this type of surgery involves less blood loss and better recovery rates–but has similar side effects and effectiveness to open surgery,” says Dr. James Brooks, Chief of Urologic Oncology at Stanford Medicine
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Treatment: When to Start?
Active surveillance for prostate cancer is a very specific protocol with requirements and guidelines. While this is not ideal for everyone, it may work for certain patients and spare them the side effects of treatment.
Treatment: Watching and Waiting
Active surveillance for prostate cancer is a very specific protocol with requirements and guidelines. While this is not ideal for everyone, it may work for certain patients and spare them the side effects of treatment.
Before you decide on a surgeon or a surgical technique for prostate cancer, you should understand the options and some key questions to ask your surgeon.
Treatment: Considering Surgery
Before you decide on a surgeon or a surgical technique for prostate cancer, you should understand the options and some key questions to ask your surgeon.