Prostate Surgery Breakthrough Helps Get Sexual Function Back Faster - Nurse's Report

If you're facing any type of prostate surgery for any reason including an enlarged prostate gland, severe chronic prostatitis or prostate cancer you may want to know about a new robotic procedure. Current prostate surgery procedures and techniques leave the patient wishing they could improve faster and regain or get their sexual function back faster.

Of course if you can keep your prostate as long as possible that may be the best road to take. Prostate glands are not removed as much as they were in the past. There is a lot of watchful waiting with the prostate depending on the prostate problems and whether it's an enlarged prostate (BPH) or full-blown prostate cancer which is usually slow growing.

Men can live a lifetime with prostate problems and even prostate cancer without having surgery. But sometimes your doctor will tell you that there isn't really much choice. Of course you can always get a second opinion too.

But if you're in line to get prostate surgery you may want to check out this new technique called AIR (Athermal Intrafascial Robotic prostatectomy.) It was developed at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

This robotic technique saves more than 90 percent of the tissues around the prostate gland. The surgical robotic techniques that are currently used save only about 50 percent of the tissues. So this means that after six months the potency level is at 91 percent compared to 67 percent using the older robotic method.

All this means the AIR prostatectomy helps prostate patients regain their sexual function faster. Into also helps men get control of their bladder faster so there is less incontinence.

If you're facing prostate surgery soon or anticipate that you'll be having a prostatectomy in the future, you should check with your doctor or surgeon about the possibility of having this procedure. It's relatively new so you may have to do some research to find a surgeon in your area who is familiar with it and can perform it.

Again if you can avoid having surgery and have good alternative treatments or options that may be the best approach. Make sure to check with your doctor, urologist and/or surgeon to see if there are any alternatives or natural treatments or alternatives to your prostate surgery. Otherwise you may want to consider the Athermal Intrafascial Robotic prostatectomy so you can improve faster and get your sexual function back faster.

For inside tips and breaking news on prostate surgery, prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to a nurse's website http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com for inside info on enlarged prostate, prostate problems, prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments.

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Prostate Cancer Surgery - 3 Forms Of Prostatectomy

There are many forms of treatment available for prostate cancer but one of the most common treatments for early stage cancer which is confined to the prostate gland is prostate cancer surgery known as the prostatectomy.

The prostatectomy, which essentially involves the removal of the prostate gland and thus the cancerous cells contained within it, can be performed as open surgery or can be performed either laparoscopically or robotically.

Open surgery is the traditional form of surgery in which an incision is made in the lower abdomen to allow access to the prostate gland which is then removed using standard surgical techniques. This form of surgery is often used when the prostate is particularly large or where there is a suspicion that cancer may have spread to tissue immediately surrounding the prostate gland which may also need to be removed.

One problem with open surgery (and indeed laparoscopic surgery) is that the removal of the prostate gland can also damage nerves, muscles and other tissue in the region of the prostate gland leading to problems with sexual function. Recently however surgical techniques have been developed to minimize such damage and a growing number of surgeons are now skilled in nerve-sparing techniques.

In the case of laparoscopic surgery a number of small incisions are made in the abdomen to allow for the access of a series of long thin instruments which are used to provide lighting for and video of the area of the prostate gland, as well as access for the surgical instruments used to remove the prostate gland.

The latest surgical technique which is coming into increasing use is nerve-sparing robotic surgery using the da Vinci system. Robotic surgery is similar to laparoscopic surgery but requires a team of two highly skilled surgeons. The first surgeon operates beside the patient in the normal manner, while the second surgeon sits at a computer controlled console and manipulates the robotic operating arms.

The advantage of robotic surgery is that it allows for the use of extremely delicate instruments, the movement of which can be very precisely controlled. This degree of precision can lead to little or no damage to the nerves, muscles and other surrounding tissues, as long as the procedure is carried out by a highly skilled and experienced team of surgeons.

The main advantage of prostate cancer surgery is that it is a one-time procedure which, as long as the cancer is confined to the prostate gland, can often provide a complete cure for the condition. It's main disadvantage is that it can cause impotence and incontinence.

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Radical Prostatectomy Explained

Radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove the whole prostate gland and the nearby lymph nodes.

This surgery is performed under under general anesthesia.

After the surgeon removes the prostate gland, he or she will insert a catheter (a narrow rubber tube) through the penis into the bladder to carry urine out of the body until about 2-3 weeks after your surgery.

Are There Health Risks Involved in Radical Prostatectomy?

• The short-term risks of this surgery are low IF you are in good health. That said any surgery that involves anesthesia carries risks.
• You will most likely have to remain in the hospital for 2 to 3 days after your surgery and your catheter will be left in place for 2 to 3 weeks.
• You should be ak to go back to work after about 4 weeks.
• The majority of men don't experience severe pain with this surgery and most regain bladder control a few weeks to several months after their Radical Prostatectomy surgery.The main advantage of Radical Prostatectomy surgery is that it often offers men the most certain treatment. That is, if all of your prostate cancer is removed during your surgery, you are probably cured.

Also, the surgery provides your doctor with accurate information about how advanced your cancer is, since the nearby lymph nodes are taken out along with the tumor.

Radical Prostatectomy Surgery Does Have Risks and Complications.

• You could lose a lot of blood during this surgery.

You might want to talk to your doctor about saving 2 units of your own blood in case you need a transfusion.

The two main risks of this surgery (and the ones most men worry about) are:

1. You may develop incontinence (lack of bladder control)

2. You may become impotent (lose your ability to get or keep an erection long enough to have sex).

Luckily, only a very low percentage of men have severe incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

About 35% of men will experience a little accidental leakage of urine during:

• Heavy Lifting
• Coughing
• And Laughing.

And Impotence...

Well, the chance of impotence decreases if your surgeon is able to avoid cutting the nerves. This may not be possible if your tumor is large.

Your current age and the degree of your sexual function BEFORE you have your Radical Prostatectomy surgery are also important things to consider.

For instance, men under 50 years old when they have Radical Prostatectomy surgery, are likely to regain their sexual function. Those older than 70 years are more likely to lose their sexual function.

IMPORTANT: Bear in mind that, even if the nerves are cut, feeling in your penis and orgasm remain normal.

Only your ability to get a rigid penis for sexual intercourse is lost.

But even there, it is not all gloom and doom. There are numerous medicines and devices that can help make the penis rigid.

One thing you should definitely do is to find out everything you can about getting and maintaining a healthy prostate naturally - without drugs.

You can read more information about Radical Prostatectomy along with DOZENS of other prostate health tips at my website: http://www.ProstateSecretsReport.com where you can also see my own shocking prostate story on video

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Understanding Radical Prostatectomy As a Prostate Cancer Treatment Option

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in American men. It is also the most common cancer found among men over fifty in the United States and continues to grow at a rampant rate. If prostate cancer is detected early, it is very curable with the proper treatment.

There are quite a few treatment options to choose from when selecting the appropriate procedure. One of the best procedure options for you to consider is a radical prostatectomy. A radical prostatectomy is a common treatment method that involves the surgical removal of the prostate gland. The radical prostatectomy procedure is mainly encouraged for young, healthy men under the age of 70. A prostatectomy is not typically performed on men 70 and above because of the serious complications that can occur.

Choosing a Surgeon:
It's suggested that patients seeking the best treatment outcome seek a qualified urologist with training in prostate cancer prostatectomy. With an experienced surgeon, the radical prostatectomy should take no more than two hours to perform, with no need for blood transfusion. Depending upon the urologist's skill set in performing the procedure, the patient may wear a catheter for only a few days instead of the maximum three weeks.

Radical Prostatectomy:
A radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the prostate gland. It is a major surgical procedure which is performed in a hospital with the patient under general anesthesia. This procedure is considered to offer the second greatest chance for long-term survival (the highest cure rates are found at a radiation therapy practice in Georgia where they use a combined radiation procedure). During a radical prostatectomy, the surgeon removes the entire prostate and then reconnects the urethra and bladder. After surgery is complete, patients usually remain in the hospital from two to four days.

Complications to the Prostatectomy Procedure:
The outcome of the treatment, cure and complication rates vary based on the urologist performing the surgery. However, the most common complications following prostate cancer treatment are urinary incontinence (uncontrolled urine leakage) and erectile dysfunction (ED, the inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse). The majority of men receiving this treatment will suffer from some degree of urinary incontinence and ED immediately following surgery, but should gradually improve over time.

A prostate cancer radical prostatectomy is one potential solution. Let's look at the issue of prostate cancer from a higher level.

Selecting the Proper Treatment that's Right for You:
Choosing the most appropriate prostate cancer treatment for an individual depends upon several factors. These include:
- Which treatment option is going to offer the best chance of curing the cancer (and be careful here as there are many definitions of "cure" - but the only one that has been proven reliable is 0.2 ng/ml five years post-treatment).
- Potential side effects associated with the different forms of treatment.
- Examining the rate at which the cancer is growing and how fast it's spreading to determine the most effective course of treatment
- Patient age, life expectancy and general health, including any other medical conditions
- The experience and training of the treating physician

There is always some form of shock to men when diagnosed with this type of cancer. Men need time to react and not rush into any healthcare decision early. Its recommended men review all prostate cancer treatment options, outcomes and complications, with a physician to select the best treatment that's right for them. And don't be afraid to ask your physician tough questions - ask them how long they trained on the procedure they recommend, and what their personal cure rate is.

Where to Get Additional Information:
While your healthcare provider is a good source for prostate cancer information and answering your questions/concerns related to your medical condition, it's also important that if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer that you take the time to educate yourself on this disease. Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing, so you have time to do the research on the best treatment option for you, so check the web, read articles and books, and try to talk with others who have faced the battle you are now facing yourself and find out what they did.

No two patient's healthcare conditions are exactly alike and recommendations can vary with physicians. You should conduct your own research to learn and understand prostate cancer and all the available treatment options. With very few exceptions, you only have one chance at being cured; with proper knowledge you'll be able to make the most efficient and effective decision.

John Critz helps inform men about prostate cancer treatment [http://www.rcog.com/] options including prostate cancer radical prostatectomy [http://www.rcog.com/] His company, RCOG helps educate males about radical prostatectomy among other procedures.

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Podcast - Robotic Assisted Prostatectomy

Robotic Assisted Prostatectomy