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Doctor recommending RT because no Dr. in area does robotic surgery??!!
I had a consult with my doctor yesterday and the prognosis is good. My prostate cancer was caught in very early stages. I had taken a copy of your answer to BK2005 (above) with me. My doctor said that he wouldn't the recommend surgery option at this time. The only fellow that does the robotic procedure in our county is "still in the learning stages".
My doctor is scheduling a Radiation consult next week sometime He's thinking maybe 35 treatments will be required (7 weeks ) but we won't know until consult is done.
Part of me thinks that my doctor is recommending radiation therpay ONLY because there is no doctor in our area who does robotic surgery. Do you have any information that compares the "outcomes" of surgery vs. radiation? I'm willing to travel to get the surgery - I just want to do the BEST treatment, not just the treatment that's available in this area.
Thanks very much for your help!
Jack
My doctor is scheduling a Radiation consult next week sometime He's thinking maybe 35 treatments will be required (7 weeks ) but we won't know until consult is done.
Part of me thinks that my doctor is recommending radiation therpay ONLY because there is no doctor in our area who does robotic surgery. Do you have any information that compares the "outcomes" of surgery vs. radiation? I'm willing to travel to get the surgery - I just want to do the BEST treatment, not just the treatment that's available in this area.
Thanks very much for your help!
Jack
How funny!
Why not actively monitor your situation? Most men die with prostate cancer and rarely from it! The robot technique is so new and ever-evolving with a learning curve of 70 procedures or so! Be careful they get all of it and avoid nipping away at a future filled with ED.
What happens after surgery when they realize the positive margins? That being the cancer left behind! Obviously his hospital spent the 1.2 million on the robot and so it must get used! Instead of providing you with clinical advice, he rather promote a modality of economic interest! Its a sad place/topic in US medicine!
It all depends on WHO is delivering the procedure! A "radical" is exactly that and I would never let anyone cut out my prostate! Just ask NY Yankee Manager Joe Torre that! He had surgery and upon sending the specimen to the pathology lab, they learned he had positive margins and therefore required radiation! Not to mention the incontinence and impotence rates associated! Why did Mayor Gulliani have seeds and EXBRT? Because it works! Don't believe me, just read his book!
I would elect prostate brachytherapy with a stranded technology! I'd also reccomend a premier Radiation Oncologist and hospital! (ie. Mt. Sinai of New York City and Dr.'s Cesserati or Stock) Where do you live?
Providing of course he's an ideal candidate for treatment! Active surveilance never hurt anyone as MOST men die with prostate cancer and RARELY from it!
Hope this helps!
Why not actively monitor your situation? Most men die with prostate cancer and rarely from it! The robot technique is so new and ever-evolving with a learning curve of 70 procedures or so! Be careful they get all of it and avoid nipping away at a future filled with ED.
What happens after surgery when they realize the positive margins? That being the cancer left behind! Obviously his hospital spent the 1.2 million on the robot and so it must get used! Instead of providing you with clinical advice, he rather promote a modality of economic interest! Its a sad place/topic in US medicine!
It all depends on WHO is delivering the procedure! A "radical" is exactly that and I would never let anyone cut out my prostate! Just ask NY Yankee Manager Joe Torre that! He had surgery and upon sending the specimen to the pathology lab, they learned he had positive margins and therefore required radiation! Not to mention the incontinence and impotence rates associated! Why did Mayor Gulliani have seeds and EXBRT? Because it works! Don't believe me, just read his book!
I would elect prostate brachytherapy with a stranded technology! I'd also reccomend a premier Radiation Oncologist and hospital! (ie. Mt. Sinai of New York City and Dr.'s Cesserati or Stock) Where do you live?
Providing of course he's an ideal candidate for treatment! Active surveilance never hurt anyone as MOST men die with prostate cancer and RARELY from it!
Hope this helps!
To advise you better it is important to know your age, Gleason score(from your biopsy), height and weight.
Have you had an MRI and/or bone scan?
Surgery has a better survival advantage as compared to either watchful waiting or radiation . Please reference the following scientific articles which will give you the information you are seeking.
1. Tewari A, Divine G, Chang P, Shemtov MM, Milowsky M, Nanus D, Menon M. Long-term survival in men with high grade prostate cancer: a comparison between conservative treatment, radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy--a propensity scoring approach.
J Urol. 2007 Mar;177(3):911-5.
2. Tewari A, Raman JD, Chang P, Rao S, Divine G, Menon M. Long-term survival probability in men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated either conservatively or with definitive treatment (radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy).
Urology. 2006 Dec;68(6):1268-74.
3. Takenaka A, Tewari AK, Leung RA, Bigelow K, El-Tabey N, Murakami G, Fujisawa M.Preservation of the puboprostatic collar and puboperineoplasty for early recovery of urinary continence after robotic prostatectomy: anatomic basis and preliminary outcomes.
Eur Urol. 2007 Feb;51(2):433-40; discussion 440. Epub 2006 Jul 28.
4. Tewari A, Kaul S, Menon M.Robotic radical prostatectomy: a minimally invasive therapy for prostate cancer.Curr Urol Rep. 2005 Feb;6(1):45-8.
Also refer the following links for a better understanding of the advantages of robotic prostatectomy.
http://www.cornellurology.com/prostate/
http://www.cornellurology.com/uro/cornell/roboticprostatectomy/
This answer is not intended and does not substitute for medical advice- the information is for patient education only.
Follow-up with a urologist is essential.
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