Former ‘GMA’ Host Tony Perkins, 67, Says He’s ‘Doing Well’ a Year After Robotic Surgery for Prostate Cancer, Which Allows for a ‘Quicker Recovery’

When prostate cancer requires surgery, patients have several options. Traditional open surgery involves a large incision, while laparoscopic surgery uses smaller cuts and, doctors tell SurvivorNet, is now more commonly performed because it typically offers a shorter recovery time.

A newer technique, robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), allows surgeons to make those small incisions with even greater precision.

“The robot has really revolutionized our ability to operate in that small space, to be able to apply fine dissection, tremor, less movements of the hands to dissect these nerves off of the prostate, and at the same time, suture the bladder back to the urethra after the prostate is removed,” Dr. Randall Lee, a urologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, tells SurvivorNet.

“Historically, with open surgery … one of the big risks of that was leakage of urine at that connection site. Nowadays, that is less of a concern with the ability to visualize that area in the pelvis.”

WATCH: Robotic Surgery Vs. Open Prostate Surgery

“In general, robotic 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.

Dr. Sanjay Razdan, a surgeon at the International Robotic Institute for Prostate Cancer in Florida, tells SurvivorNet that patients shouldn’t expect to be in surgery for much more than an hour — and most leave the hospital the next day.

“My average time is about 80 minutes across the board, so that’s an hour and 20 minutes max,” Dr. Razdan says of the assisted surgery he performs. “We are done with the surgery; they go back to the recovery area, then to their room.

“Four hours later, they’re walking around in the hospital. Overnight stay; next morning, they have breakfast, and they’re out of the hospital,” he adds.

Many patients worry about side effects such as incontinence (trouble controlling urine) and erectile dysfunction, but most regain a high quality of life over time with proper healing and support.

Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs

When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.

One of the tests is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for higher levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.

Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.

Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.

SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

• Urinating more often
• Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
• Blood in your urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?

After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.

WATCH: Coping emotionally after a prostate cancer diagnosis

Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large or several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.

WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.

“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told SurvivorNet.

Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.

Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.

Finding Resources And Support

For patients and families navigating prostate cancer or another serious illness like a cancer diagnosis, gaining access to new treatment or trials can feel overwhelming. That’s why SurvivorNet encourages patients to use its proprietary Clinical Trial Finder, a free tool designed to help patients identify relevant trials quickly and easily.

Every year, new early-phase studies come online, each one representing another step forward in disease management.

SurvivorNet’s AI-powered “My Health Questions” tool was also built with patient needs in mind, to give patients and their caregivers access to health information vetted by professionals right when they need it.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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